Mechanical Mordor

[archteryx]

So, just saw the movie 9.

Comments

[dragondoodle]

Appropriate for children?

[archteryx]

It's PG-13 and set in a world where humanity had been rather explicitly murdered by rampaging Machines, ala the Terminator series.

And the Machine opponents of the Ragdolls look like someone's nightmares in abstract.

Definitely not appropriate for young children. This is a teen-to-geek movie. :>

[dragondoodle]

Got it. Haven't been paying attention to movies lately and I've only been vaguely aware of this one. Thanks ^_^

[expandranon]

I felt much the same way as you, that the whole thing was just a little too straight-from-the can, despite its otherwise amazing potential.

I thought they might be about to go beyond that when 9 found out what the Talisman was for, that maybe they were *supposed* to be consumed by the Machine, thus reuniting the inventor's mind and soul within, and finish with the Machine working to cleanse and repopulate the Earth with organic life. I guess the ghosts of dead dolls shooting into the clouds and making it rain paramecia is nearly as good, though. :P

[archteryx]

Well, the trouble is, the Machine wasn't able to have a soul itself. It was more like a necromancy device, merely feeding off the energy that it took into the Life Battery (or Soulstone, if you will).

The ending was rather shamanic. The idea was that the pieces of soul -- the ragdolls' own souls -- returned to the universe, imbuing life back into the world -- and I think Shane was pretty daring to mix shamanism, technomancy and steampunk like that. But it was really jarring to switch like that straight from steampunk to full-on shamanism.

As I said, he's got alot to learn about storytelling. But he will, I have ever confidence.

[expandranon]

Hmm. Seen in that perspective, it does make a bit more sense. I think the one dimensional character of the dolls might be explained, too, since they each contained an aspect of the inventor's soul.

[archteryx]

Likely yes. But it was storytelling rendered subservient to concept. It's a classic geek's mistake; just because there's a good explanation doesn't mean it makes for a compelling plot vehicles.

Then, I'm a huge character-driven person in a story. If I don't sympathize with the characters, the rest of the story tends to be lost to me. Compare this with a Miyazaki movie -- those characters you REMEMBER.

But Shane will learn with time. Everyone needs to start somewhere -- think of where Peter Jackson got his start!

[c_eagle]

Happyeeeeeeee Birthday, critterrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

[archteryx]

Thank you, dear one. *HUG* :>

[archteryx]

I survived another year. I survived it thanks to friends like you, Crowe. You're awesome. *HUG*

[archteryx]

Awwww, that's sweet! But you know what I look forward to the most? Seeing you again face to face, and giving you the biggest hug that I can, because I really think you deserve it after your gallbladder thing.