9
Lets get right to it ...
For one, the very first previews to this movie had me beating the seat (or anyone within reach) out of excitement. Oh god, I love movies, and this one looked so different and unique and, well, post-apocalyptic steam punkish AWESOME EXPLOSIONS AND STITCHPUNK PEOPLE.
I resisted the urge to watch the original short, because I didn't want to spoil anything.
I went and saw the movie opening day, the first showing that I could. It was fantastic, for what it was, but at the time I sort of agreed with the critics that it should have put more time into fleshing out the characters and having them react to each other.
Now, when I saw it for sale, I immediately bought it, because there were some very awesome bits to it, even if it wasn't Nightmare Before Christmas or District9.
I put it on and watched it that night, and discovered something.
There is a subtlety and simplicity about it that is just beautiful. It does tell you about the characters, and about how they feel about the others, but in whispers, and gestures. Every single time I watch it, I garner something new.
Now, going back to my very first viewing of it in the theatre, there was one line that sort of stuck out to me; when 1 was yelling at 5 for going 'out into the nothingness', he says "How many times have I told you?". Even then I seemed to realize, this wasn't a random throw-away line to take up space; there's a history there. Now when I hear it, I imagine 2 and 5 trekking out there to pick up more debris for their gadgets and devices.
As I watched 9 a second time, and then a third, and a fourth, I started to pick up more and more of these moments, lines and gestures and nuances that spoke of moments in the characters past where they had butted heads, or helped each other out, or fended for themselves.
Listening to the commentary with Shane Acker and his cohorts gave me a much deeper insight to these moments, and a greater appreciation for them. I probably would have made the connections they mentioned (7 and the bird cage, the globe-library and its' broken plinths, etc) with further viewings on my own, but there was something a bout them mentioning it that made me realize this movie is far better than I think anyone gave it credit for.
I think that's mostly because people, in general, I have found, don't get subtlety, especially on the levels that were used for this movie. I don't know if anyone else realized just how significant EVERYTHING is, on some level, in that movie, not just to the atmosphere or the visual effects, but the plot and the characters and their relationships.
It's become one of my most favorite movies, and the kind of movie I will never tire from seeing over and over.
I hope that Shane Acker will be able to stick to this subtle treatment, although I predict that he'll have to be a little more blunt for the typical American Hollywood audience.
For one, the very first previews to this movie had me beating the seat (or anyone within reach) out of excitement. Oh god, I love movies, and this one looked so different and unique and, well, post-apocalyptic steam punkish AWESOME EXPLOSIONS AND STITCHPUNK PEOPLE.
I resisted the urge to watch the original short, because I didn't want to spoil anything.
I went and saw the movie opening day, the first showing that I could. It was fantastic, for what it was, but at the time I sort of agreed with the critics that it should have put more time into fleshing out the characters and having them react to each other.
Now, when I saw it for sale, I immediately bought it, because there were some very awesome bits to it, even if it wasn't Nightmare Before Christmas or District9.
I put it on and watched it that night, and discovered something.
There is a subtlety and simplicity about it that is just beautiful. It does tell you about the characters, and about how they feel about the others, but in whispers, and gestures. Every single time I watch it, I garner something new.
Now, going back to my very first viewing of it in the theatre, there was one line that sort of stuck out to me; when 1 was yelling at 5 for going 'out into the nothingness', he says "How many times have I told you?". Even then I seemed to realize, this wasn't a random throw-away line to take up space; there's a history there. Now when I hear it, I imagine 2 and 5 trekking out there to pick up more debris for their gadgets and devices.
As I watched 9 a second time, and then a third, and a fourth, I started to pick up more and more of these moments, lines and gestures and nuances that spoke of moments in the characters past where they had butted heads, or helped each other out, or fended for themselves.
Listening to the commentary with Shane Acker and his cohorts gave me a much deeper insight to these moments, and a greater appreciation for them. I probably would have made the connections they mentioned (7 and the bird cage, the globe-library and its' broken plinths, etc) with further viewings on my own, but there was something a bout them mentioning it that made me realize this movie is far better than I think anyone gave it credit for.
I think that's mostly because people, in general, I have found, don't get subtlety, especially on the levels that were used for this movie. I don't know if anyone else realized just how significant EVERYTHING is, on some level, in that movie, not just to the atmosphere or the visual effects, but the plot and the characters and their relationships.
It's become one of my most favorite movies, and the kind of movie I will never tire from seeing over and over.
I hope that Shane Acker will be able to stick to this subtle treatment, although I predict that he'll have to be a little more blunt for the typical American Hollywood audience.