Escape to the Movies: 9

[mykalwane]

-LOUD UNCONTROLLABLE COUGH- Excuse me! I pretty much forgot about that game. All it was was a dude carrying a lightsaber and decapitating people which intern trigger very graphic bloody messes, it was mediocre at best.

You miss the emphasis on characters and nostalgia completely.

Both of you are right, but I suggest getting back to the topic at hand about the movie rather then the usage of a game. This is a movie review after all and not a game review.

Now on regards of Pixar in general they do work with a good deal of formulaic points. They understand what is the working formula so they end up making the story of getting there entertaining or clever. Finding Nemo for example was a simple tale of A goes to far and gets lost so B goes off and finds A. Having for example the person who knows where to go, but can't remember where adds to being the journey. Sure the Shark chase was predictable, but it being from an addict who is trying to quit was what made it interesting to watch.

Though I think the main reason Pixar is regard with such praise is they keep to the idea that Looney Toons and a lot of cartoons did in making a story that is enjoyable for all. I put the Phantom Tollbooth up there with One Flew Over the Coco's Nest, but the key difference in that Phantom Tollbooth is something all audience can understand. Something that use to be the golden staple of cartoons or things animated in general. Now this is the main idea behind what is considered a Mature Animation. Batman the Animated Series and Batman Beyond kept to this idea. Hell the spin off from Batman Beyond called The Hex Project(could be wrong) though not as popular did the same job. A machine designed to be the perfect assassin that doesn't want to hurt anyone, but ends up having to fight in these battles trying to protect others from the people out to get him. A rather interesting concept that came down to just being the engine that allowed a new robotic battle each week. Sure it was formulaic and a bit cliched because of that, but how it got to each battle is where the guys were being cleaver.

Now this is one example I am thinking of, but I think this is the goal of any good and popular movie. The overarching machine may be routine, but the little bits that will wow people is what changes. Now 9 looked from the trailer to not be that, looked like a great designed monster movie that at best would be a good Sci Fi(or whatever they are calling it these days) movie of the week. From the review, for the most part kind of just retold what I thought from the trailer. Kind of wish he gave a little more to the review. This may be mainly because what you get out of the trailer you be getting out of the movie. Which was said in the review.

Now odds are I am probably wrong here, since I still have no clue what is meant by Mature animation when the culture by in large that define that consider the more tits and pricks as considered being Mature. Something that I think that by in large doesn't make much sense. I haven't seen Mature meet the definition of mature. Simply been used to say something can have drugs,tits, or swearing. Just putting the word mature into google is evidence of that.

Sorry if I am not making much sense here, but the short hand of this is I don't get how what gets labeled in movies as PG-13 is considered Mature in animation.

 

[Kuchinawa212]

=/
*sigh* I mean you got the point across of what the movie is and how it fairs. But I feel you could have done better. Elaborated a tad more, given us more a character development. Like who is 9, and what does he do. and I suggest you could do that by cutting the anime fan critic. Yes, you have an opinion, and I respect it. But imagine if I was to flip opinion my local paper and read that review. It wouldn't be shoehorned in there.

 

[theultimateend]

NO MORE HEROES WAS AWSOME I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU SAY

I agree. "NMH" will probably be remembered as one of the defining games of this console generation. That said, YOU try finding enough images that immediately and universally scream "obnoxious Japanophile" to a web-saavy audience that ISN'T part of someone's personal flickr account

It came down to Francis and Travis because I couldn't remember the name of the slacker neighbor from Shin-Chan. Though I'm just now realizing it would've been a nice place to drop a Chinpokomon bit. Ah, well...

Not to get too ball cupping friendly but I tend to find your reviews to be pretty informative.

This one was no different. Plus the best part was seeing the LBP reference since the second I saw a commercial for this I thought "Whoa that's a little dark for little big planet!"

I wonder why Titan AE was considered mature... I've watched it and it didnt have any mature stuff in it...

You do realize someone gets their neck snapped?

Happens on Disney Rides all the time in real life which must mean it is kid friendly in cartoons .

 

[MovieBob]

i.e. the "otaku thing..."

Look, I'm a pretty big Anime fan and a diletante of Japanese pop-culture in addition, so this isn't some sort of anger thing, more just an observation about "blind spots" in this specific regard. When anime was first taking off in the U.S., it was the more "adult" stuff like Akira, Vampire Hunter D and the rest of the "first-wave-anime-roll-call" that led the charge. But now it seems that Anime fandom has morphed from being "discerning animation fans who were aware of Japanese animation" to "fans of ONLY Japanese animation to the exclusion of everything else."

What I think it comes down to is that, in a lot of cases, people who define themselves as "fans" of a medium don't fully grasp what they are actually fans of. For example, I think it's no exaggeration to state that a working majority of American "comic book fans" are REALLY "superhero fans" who read comics because thats where the genre primarily exists. Likewise, I think that because Anime is now so prevalent in the U.S. "adult animation fandom" has been drowned-out by people who are REALLY "fans of Japanese popular culture" and who are into Anime because thats where most of their "fix" is coming from. I mean, look at how little regard Hayo Miyazaki - Anime's greatest living artist/filmmaker - has among American "Otaku" fandom because his stuff is so lacking in J-pop "hooks" and Anime mecha/schoolgirl/yuri/yaoi/hammerspace/nosebleed style cliches. And I'm willing to bet that American Otakus WON'T be turning out in the same droves to see how the "Astro Boy" revival movie turns out with the same furvor that they packed theatres for the brief runs of the live-action "Death Note" movies.

 

[mykalwane]

That might be a deal of generations is all. Personally have a bigger interest in Astro Boy simply because Death Note showed when it loses its trick pony, it isn't much more then of pure fantasy that get to live out. I hate such and such, I write there name down and no more. That is what I think brings in the fans on that. I do agree with you, since in America when adult is done it is ussually look down on. It is ok for it to work in Japan, but in America looked as too strange to work with. It's ok, because it isn't in American. Its ok for it to do the same old same old love triangle cliches that are horrid in American, because its from Japan. I agree that it is stupid. It is simply a medium, nothing more. It has its good and bad just like any other medium.

The only reason I have moved from comics to managa is I can read it from start to finish. Sure I love to cheek it out the stories in comics but outside of webcomics it isn't avalible to purchase is all. Y-the Last Man I was able to read because it had a fix amount that came in the volumes to buy.

Still I understand and agree with you because having that fix is how I was introduced to the medium of manga threw a friend. Which I think is ok, as long as it is understood that is all one is getting into. Thinking that it is better simply where you get your fix from leads to stupidity. Which is the point I think you are making. I understand that for the action fix, they go to the people that make pop corn flicks like Independence Day. Just because that is the case, it certainly does not make it any better then Casa Blanca simply because it doesn't have your fix in it.

That is your point from here right? Which sounds like you are using the word otaku properly then. In it meaning someone who stays at home all the time and doesn't have a life. Life in this point meaning can function in society. Which is something that most people wear as a badge of honor when its cement shoes(foot encased in cement). For using the word properly while using to describe them, I applaud you for that good sir.

 

[Vect]

Having seen the movie, I did agree with much of the review: Really cool setting/background but incredibly dull characters/story, making an overall incredibly average film.

I also agree with your thing against Anime diehards. As much as I enjoy Anime (meaning I've watched a fair amount of series, keep up with some mangas and like to MST the really corny ones to myself) I also like to think that I appreciate Western Animation just as much. For those who say that Anime is inherently mature, just because a series has females hit with The Jiggles and Sudden Clothing Loss Effect does not make it "Mature". Western Comics are hardly all about characters in spandex prancing around and defeating losers with no motives to their action (The Joker is an example of how you can make such a character terrifyingly evil).

Overall, I like your reviews though your hatred for Transformers may not need to be mentioned in every other video.

 

[ALKATRAZACAZ]

Really disappointed with this movie, i had high hopes for it but nooo it went all to hell.

 

[Jay Cee]

Beowulf was an abysmal romp through mediocre acting and hideous effects, with the eye straining only comparing to the pathetic narrative.

"Watchu talkin' bout Bob?"

 

[TIMESWORDSMAN]

NO MORE HEROES WAS AWSOME I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU SAY

I agree. "NMH" will probably be remembered as one of the defining games of this console generation.

It will be remembered as a Wii-defining game.

People without Wii couldn't care less about an action game where they force you to collect stuff for idiots, then a quick fight and start all over again. Like Assassin's Creed, but you must buy a Wii just to play it.

Other than someone calling you an assassin, NMH has NOTHING to do with Assassin's Creed.
Assassin's Creed encourages you to slit throats from the shadows while NMH encourages you Ashley Williams on there ass.

 

[Abedeus]

NO MORE HEROES WAS AWSOME I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU SAY

I agree. "NMH" will probably be remembered as one of the defining games of this console generation.

It will be remembered as a Wii-defining game.

People without Wii couldn't care less about an action game where they force you to collect stuff for idiots, then a quick fight and start all over again. Like Assassin's Creed, but you must buy a Wii just to play it.

Other than someone calling you an assassin, NMH has NOTHING to do with Assassin's Creed.
Assassin's Creed encourages you to slit throats from the shadows while NMH encourages you Ashley Williams on there ass.

Yeah, and how often does that work with targets from 5 to 9? The end of the game (especially with King Richard Lionheart scene...) is nothing BUT fighting dozens of soldiers. And few of the target either know they are being targeted or are more clever and try to escape/disguise themselves.

 

[DayDark]

I was honestly let down by Titan A.E. I mean, it was directed by Don-Fucking-Bluth, had beautiful artistic design, almost seamless integration of cel- and computer-animation. Yet, once you watch the movie a second time, the story makes you go "Bwuh?"

I mean, Scientist creates genetic database of all loving things on earth, "evil" alien energy-beings attack and destroy earth for no clear reason, boy finds genetic database and discovers that the only way to power it is to consume the entire species of energy-beings.

Bwuh?

There has to be something that happened before the Cale was born where there was some sort of animosity between the humans and the Drej because Cale's father had to have planned to power the Titan with the Drej while building it. It would make sense, then that the Drej would want to destroy Earth, home to the species that is actively trying to wipe them out. But this is never developed, nor understood by the audience until after the Titan is activated, creating Planet Bob (which, by the way, is the best part of the movie)

Nah, I found it okay entertaining, it gave a sense of humans kind of being nomads, and underdogs, which I found interesting, and I'm a sucker for science fiction. But your right, it could definitely be better, no question about it, when I saw it, I didn't have any real idea about the director, or much experience with real masterpiece quality animated movies, so part of it could be nostalgia.

 

[herio]

the world is at lest nice

 

[rampantcreature]

I saw this movie right when it came out. The setting and design is so original...and the story just isn't. And I think having these high hopes for it is what never let it get past "mediocre" on my scale.

[sub]That and some of the walk cycles near the beginning bugged me a bit.[/sub]

 

[inpachi]

THANK YOU FOR BASHING ON WEABOOS!! Weaboos are the cancer of the world.. THEY MUST BE DESTROYED!! Same goes for the wanna be american japs.. There just as bad.. In some cases even worse.. My point is if you truly want to get to know a culture dig deeper than just the surface and dont act like you know how or what the culture is like until you have done your research.. And please for the love of god stop using jap words in the middle of a english sentance.. IE. (Such a kawaee hat you have awww-desu) OMGGGGGGGGGGG Even just typing that makes me want to punch the shit out of myself..

 

[JourneyThroughHell]

Nightwatch and Daywatch?
Seriously?
Bob, how could you?

Great review, of course.

 

[Rooster893]

it looks pretty awesome, though I couldn't get a chance to see it. That's another movie I missed out on, courtesy of cranberry movies.

 

[pumasuit]

So let me get this right

9: brilliantly crafted visual effects + great action sequences + predictable narrative = not so great

but

Avatar: brilliantly crafted visual effects + great action sequences + predictable narrative = make a mess in my pants awesome?

is that the message i'm supposed to be getting here?

boooooo

 

[Giantcain]

well to me the sack people represent human emotion 1 is the religious side 2 is the scientific side 3-4 are the part of humans that wants to find out things 5 is the cowardly side 6 it side of insomnia and paranoia 7 is the fighter mindset 8 is the protector and 9 is the part of people that never gives up but the ending its a tad confusing and sad but at the same time happy.

to me 9 is a in itself a big morale which says quite a lot of important life lessons but that just my opinion about 9 but i still love the movie

 

[lailula97]

There aren't many movies I simply can't finish, but this was one of them.
I was so bored, and the cinematics didn't blend well. I didn't feel sucked into the world, I felt like I was watching it one step before complete and wonderful visual completion.

It's horrible to say, but the reason I watched this was because of the Coheed song in the trailers.

 

[omegawyrm]

I hated this movie. It's like this...

The big conflict of the movie is there is this evil soulless machine that sucks
out the souls of these little sack robots and apparently destroyed the world at some point.
Now, it's established that why this machine is bad is because scientists made it without a soul.
From this explanation I'm expecting the end of the film to be that when the machine finishes
sucking out all the sack robots souls, which are different aspects of the soul of the scientist
that created them, it will realize the horrible things that it has done, because now it has
one "complete" soul, and the final shot will show it build another little sackrobot or
something else cute and loveable. That's not what happens. The few remaining sack bots
just kill the big evil one and the movie ends with a magical soul rain that makes plants
grow and the souls of the dead ones fly into the sky. Basically, the movie is about how
magic is good and wholesome and science is a dangerous evil thing that will destroy the
world, and it really didn't resonate with me at all.