The movie 9
Well, let's try this thing! 8D I'm going to see how this goes. It's an...experiment, of sorts. I'm going to just write about any of my fandoms, and why I like them and my favorite things. I'm starting with the 9 movie, because I have been obsessed with that lately. The downside? I have only seen it once. (And it's not coming out on DVD until AFTER Christmas! In fact...just a few days after Christmas. What in the world is up with that?) So I apologize for anything that's...inaccurate on this post. XD
So without further ado...
Fandom: 9
Form: Movie
Favorite Character: 2 and 6
(what else should go here? I have no idea)
(oh, and, while it should be obvious...major SPOILERS lie under that cut.)
Ideally, as I said, I would have waited until I saw the movie again before making this post. However, I tend to be very impatiant about these things. We'll start with the fact that, even though apparently I was watching a preview for this movie at some point while in the theater seeing another movie, I did not remember this and asked my husband what this movie was because there was fanart for it on DA. Then my interest was hooked on it (even though I still hadn't seen a preview, to my memory...no I don't know why I did not just watch it online). Well, my friends also wanted to see it, so we were going to wait to see it until we could all see it together. Unfortunately, this date never came, and I finally asked my husband if the two of us could just go see the movie. We looked for showings (may it be noted that this was in October, nearly a month since it had come out) and found that we could either have left immediately, skipped dinner, and seen it...or waited to see it at 10:45 PM. I opted for the second option, being the crazy person that I am, and we went to see the movie.
It was, frankly, amazing and I loved it a lot, and it was totally worth staying up late for. First off, the graphics were stunning. I'm bad at describing asthetic things (and I call myself a writer and artist? Ha.) but the animation was gorgeous. Everything looked so realistic and homemade, like it was all actually burlap and cloth and metal and stone. The stitchpunks had such unique designs, yet you could tell they were all from the same mold, so to speak, and the machines were creepy and wrong and awesome, too. XD Seamstress was one of the creepiest things I've seen in a movie in a long time, holy crap...and how s/he hypnotized the others using Two's body? *shivers* The whole mood of the movie was set so well. A confession: I normally -hate- post-apocalyptic movies with a fiery passion. They're just so rarely done right, and if you've seen one you've seen them all. And don't even get me started on disaster movies and the horrible physics even I can't suspend my disbelief for (and I am very good at suspending my disbelief and forgiving even glaring errors for the sake of a good plot). But this one? I really liked the way they set it all up, the plot, while not entirely unique, was done in a new way and one that I appreciated. But as with most things, what always sells the movie for me...are the characters.
Since this movie had so few main characters comparatively, I'd like to touch on all of them...assuming I can find things to say, which doesn't seem like it will be hard, given all the stuff I've written so far. But we'll start with my favorites, which are of course, 2 and 6, as stated above. Two...how could I not adore him? He's intelligent, kind, and just a little quirky. He won my heart within the first few seconds of his screen time. His obvious wonder for everything around him and his joy in life despite what a broken world he's been forced into, and the terrible things that he's seen in his comparatively short life. He still had hope. If I had to compare him to another character...I'd say he's a bit Xavier-ish. A mentor type who's seen so many terrible atrocities, but can also see the good in life and in everyone around him. And he has a partner/friend who has seen the same things, but is much more jaded and bitter about them. But more on that later. The fact that he's also an inventor is just icing on the cake of awesome.
Now...for 6. He's...well, he's very weird, mysterious, has visions...is very cute with mismatched eyes. And of course draws things with his very awesome little pen-nib fingers. Honestly I couldn't not love him. XD I really have a thing for odd characters, and for shy ones, and it's just so cool that he's got those visions. And the key around his neck, I adore that too. It just makes it so mysterious and I really feel they could have actually done a lot more with him...though the part of the movie where he's yelling to 9 and trying to make him understand right before his 'death' is very stirring. If that's even the right word for it. Exciting, but with a touch of shock and sadness too? Anyway, all that just really adds to why he's my second favorite character for this movie.
I think next we'll go to my least favorite stitchpunks, for a chance of pace, haha. Which are, honestly...3 and 4. *hides from people throwing bricks* It's not that I dislike them. No, they were cool and all, and I really did like their flashing eyes to communicate. I just felt like, as characters, they didn't have as much depth as the others. And it's kind of weird to me that I'm not big on them, since I love to read and I generally love twins and all...but yeah. They just don't do a whole lot for me, at least comparatively. And everyone thinks they're the cutest little things ever and...eh, I don't see it. So yeah, I do like them somewhat, but they are my least favorites, sadly. Now, maybe that will change when I see the movie again, who knows. XD And I'll probably have to write a follow-up when that happens.
And for the rest we'll just go in order of number. So starting with 1, the self-proclaimed leader of the clan. I have to say that I really felt for 1, actually. Yes, he did some selfish, horrible things, and he was a coward through most of the movie, but he had a lot of depth, and you could tell that he had this constant war going on inside him between the obsession with survival and the part of him that, I think, really did care for Two and the other punks. He's seen a lot of ruin in the world, and he doesn't want to lose what life he has left. For him, like is all about survival, because there's nothing else worth it. He looks out of his safe haven he's constructed for himself and his 'subjects' and all he sees is junk. The refuse left by a failure of a civilization known as humanity. All he has is his own life, and he fears to lose it above everything else, so he will sacrifice everything and anything, and even anyone, to keep holding on. His is really a very sad story, and yes he is the Magneto to Two's Xavier. He refuses to take responsibility for something that he didn't cause or to live for anything beyond himself...until he realizes that the fear that's holding him together isn't really what's most important. I tend to really appreciate good character development and self-sacrificial behavior, even more so from a character that's shown themselves in the past to be selfish. So One's death scene was very meaningful and moving for me. "Sometimes, One must be sacrificed..." So I really have to say I quite like him.
On to 5, now. Oh gosh, 5 is adorable. >_> I dunno how anyone else, while watchign the movie, could possibly not want to hug the poor little dear at least once! He finds his courage when he needs it, despite the fact that he was never able to stand up to One before, and his bond with Two just makes my heart melt. T^T He deals with so much, and yet he is still able to forgive Nine and stand by him, even when no one else really will. Yeah, he's also a great character and I adore him.
The thing about 7 that's unfortunate is that she's the only female (unless you're one of those fans who insists one or both of the twins are female), which normally I might have more of a problem with, but considering that they're all parts of the scientist's soul? I can definitely buy that the majority of the entities split from the soul of that man would be male. Anyway, the character herself is pretty cool. I like that she's tough, but also cares a lot about her fellow stitchpunks and is almost motherly towards 3 and 4. I really like her helmet, I think it's really awesome actually.
Ah yes...8. Not one of my favorite characters, but I really think he has more depth than people give him credit for. His loyalty to 1 and desire to protect the others are very noble, I feel, and he's more than just the big, dumb brute with strength and an unfortunate magnet addiction. Say what you will, but he's obviously very skilled with the weapons he uses, and he really does care.
Nine. Elijah Wood. All I have to say. ...okay maybe not. XD Nine is the character that needs to be there for the plot to work. He's the one that's going to 'save the world', but ends up nearly screwing everyone over. I can't help but like him, though, despite the fact that he's completely responsible for 2's death. (And possibly the deaths of the others, too.) And yes, I was sitting there in the theater screaming silently in my head at him to put down that talisman, what do you think you're doing?? But really, his curious nature is what makes him so endearing, and he honestly didn't know better considering yes, he really was born yesterday. And the fact that he wanted to save Two when everyone else, even Five, were ready to give up on him, really says a lot for him. He also listened to Six when everyone else thought he was crazy. He's the main character. They're often a little dumb. XD
That covers all the main characters and...here I would talk about my favorite part of the movie but...after just one viewing I'm not entirely sure that I feel up to that. So instead I'll talk about the negatives. What did I not like? Well, the plot was actually extremely confusing at some parts, and a bit more exposition would have been appreciated. If I didn't already know a little bit about the plot before I went to see it, there were parts I would have been totally lost at. Heck, I already was totally lost at some parts! Also, the ending. Now, it was very fitting, and at least there was a sort of bittersweetness to it, but I really don't like plots where the majority of the characters die. Especially since all my favorite characters had to kick it. >_> At least there's fanfiction, haha.
Now on to...fandom and random things.
I kind of love what I've seen of the fandom so far. XD Sure, there's a lot of...oddness and some not-so-nice things, but there is in every fandom. And there's lots of pretty art, and interesting fic, and it's all just sort of win. Everyone seems rather friendly with each other, and from what I've seen most shippers are cordial and there haven't been big wars or anything. ^^ Speaking of shipping...do I ship anything in 9...well. I am...slightly ashamed to admit it but...I ship 2/5 just a little. >_> I can't help it. I mean, don't get me wrong, I don't think it's canon or anything silly like that and I love them as mentor and student just as much. But I ship them a bit too. Which confuses me because I normally do not like mentor/student ships. HUH. Yeah, I also like canon 7/9. It's cute. And there's other things I will ship or at least read about too...XD Because this fandom fulfills my requirement for rampant slash making sense: very few female characters. I just really can't see the twins shipped with anyone, because that's just...wrong.
I've drawn a bit of 9 art, which I am hoping to post somewhere very soon...I also doodled a bit in chruch bthe other day od it and even designed the stitchpunks as SoD characters...because i'm a nerd...XD Since this post is long enough, I think I will make a separate post for that, though. XD
On another note, I have decided I'm physically incapable of drawing 2 with anything other than a huge grin on his face...XD
And one more thing...I already am plotting to make an AMV of 9 when I get ahold of the DVD. >_> Because guess what song began to play on the way home from the movie? And EVERY LINE AND NOTE reminded me of the movie I had just seen? "Human" by the Killers. It's beyond perfect and it must be. I am now officially incapable of hearing that song without thinking of 9.
And that...might be about it. Wow.
...I think this was a huge success and I will be sure to do more of these! XD;;
I can't wait for 9 to come out on DVD.
So without further ado...
Fandom: 9
Form: Movie
Favorite Character: 2 and 6
(what else should go here? I have no idea)
(oh, and, while it should be obvious...major SPOILERS lie under that cut.)
Ideally, as I said, I would have waited until I saw the movie again before making this post. However, I tend to be very impatiant about these things. We'll start with the fact that, even though apparently I was watching a preview for this movie at some point while in the theater seeing another movie, I did not remember this and asked my husband what this movie was because there was fanart for it on DA. Then my interest was hooked on it (even though I still hadn't seen a preview, to my memory...no I don't know why I did not just watch it online). Well, my friends also wanted to see it, so we were going to wait to see it until we could all see it together. Unfortunately, this date never came, and I finally asked my husband if the two of us could just go see the movie. We looked for showings (may it be noted that this was in October, nearly a month since it had come out) and found that we could either have left immediately, skipped dinner, and seen it...or waited to see it at 10:45 PM. I opted for the second option, being the crazy person that I am, and we went to see the movie.
It was, frankly, amazing and I loved it a lot, and it was totally worth staying up late for. First off, the graphics were stunning. I'm bad at describing asthetic things (and I call myself a writer and artist? Ha.) but the animation was gorgeous. Everything looked so realistic and homemade, like it was all actually burlap and cloth and metal and stone. The stitchpunks had such unique designs, yet you could tell they were all from the same mold, so to speak, and the machines were creepy and wrong and awesome, too. XD Seamstress was one of the creepiest things I've seen in a movie in a long time, holy crap...and how s/he hypnotized the others using Two's body? *shivers* The whole mood of the movie was set so well. A confession: I normally -hate- post-apocalyptic movies with a fiery passion. They're just so rarely done right, and if you've seen one you've seen them all. And don't even get me started on disaster movies and the horrible physics even I can't suspend my disbelief for (and I am very good at suspending my disbelief and forgiving even glaring errors for the sake of a good plot). But this one? I really liked the way they set it all up, the plot, while not entirely unique, was done in a new way and one that I appreciated. But as with most things, what always sells the movie for me...are the characters.
Since this movie had so few main characters comparatively, I'd like to touch on all of them...assuming I can find things to say, which doesn't seem like it will be hard, given all the stuff I've written so far. But we'll start with my favorites, which are of course, 2 and 6, as stated above. Two...how could I not adore him? He's intelligent, kind, and just a little quirky. He won my heart within the first few seconds of his screen time. His obvious wonder for everything around him and his joy in life despite what a broken world he's been forced into, and the terrible things that he's seen in his comparatively short life. He still had hope. If I had to compare him to another character...I'd say he's a bit Xavier-ish. A mentor type who's seen so many terrible atrocities, but can also see the good in life and in everyone around him. And he has a partner/friend who has seen the same things, but is much more jaded and bitter about them. But more on that later. The fact that he's also an inventor is just icing on the cake of awesome.
Now...for 6. He's...well, he's very weird, mysterious, has visions...is very cute with mismatched eyes. And of course draws things with his very awesome little pen-nib fingers. Honestly I couldn't not love him. XD I really have a thing for odd characters, and for shy ones, and it's just so cool that he's got those visions. And the key around his neck, I adore that too. It just makes it so mysterious and I really feel they could have actually done a lot more with him...though the part of the movie where he's yelling to 9 and trying to make him understand right before his 'death' is very stirring. If that's even the right word for it. Exciting, but with a touch of shock and sadness too? Anyway, all that just really adds to why he's my second favorite character for this movie.
I think next we'll go to my least favorite stitchpunks, for a chance of pace, haha. Which are, honestly...3 and 4. *hides from people throwing bricks* It's not that I dislike them. No, they were cool and all, and I really did like their flashing eyes to communicate. I just felt like, as characters, they didn't have as much depth as the others. And it's kind of weird to me that I'm not big on them, since I love to read and I generally love twins and all...but yeah. They just don't do a whole lot for me, at least comparatively. And everyone thinks they're the cutest little things ever and...eh, I don't see it. So yeah, I do like them somewhat, but they are my least favorites, sadly. Now, maybe that will change when I see the movie again, who knows. XD And I'll probably have to write a follow-up when that happens.
And for the rest we'll just go in order of number. So starting with 1, the self-proclaimed leader of the clan. I have to say that I really felt for 1, actually. Yes, he did some selfish, horrible things, and he was a coward through most of the movie, but he had a lot of depth, and you could tell that he had this constant war going on inside him between the obsession with survival and the part of him that, I think, really did care for Two and the other punks. He's seen a lot of ruin in the world, and he doesn't want to lose what life he has left. For him, like is all about survival, because there's nothing else worth it. He looks out of his safe haven he's constructed for himself and his 'subjects' and all he sees is junk. The refuse left by a failure of a civilization known as humanity. All he has is his own life, and he fears to lose it above everything else, so he will sacrifice everything and anything, and even anyone, to keep holding on. His is really a very sad story, and yes he is the Magneto to Two's Xavier. He refuses to take responsibility for something that he didn't cause or to live for anything beyond himself...until he realizes that the fear that's holding him together isn't really what's most important. I tend to really appreciate good character development and self-sacrificial behavior, even more so from a character that's shown themselves in the past to be selfish. So One's death scene was very meaningful and moving for me. "Sometimes, One must be sacrificed..." So I really have to say I quite like him.
On to 5, now. Oh gosh, 5 is adorable. >_> I dunno how anyone else, while watchign the movie, could possibly not want to hug the poor little dear at least once! He finds his courage when he needs it, despite the fact that he was never able to stand up to One before, and his bond with Two just makes my heart melt. T^T He deals with so much, and yet he is still able to forgive Nine and stand by him, even when no one else really will. Yeah, he's also a great character and I adore him.
The thing about 7 that's unfortunate is that she's the only female (unless you're one of those fans who insists one or both of the twins are female), which normally I might have more of a problem with, but considering that they're all parts of the scientist's soul? I can definitely buy that the majority of the entities split from the soul of that man would be male. Anyway, the character herself is pretty cool. I like that she's tough, but also cares a lot about her fellow stitchpunks and is almost motherly towards 3 and 4. I really like her helmet, I think it's really awesome actually.
Ah yes...8. Not one of my favorite characters, but I really think he has more depth than people give him credit for. His loyalty to 1 and desire to protect the others are very noble, I feel, and he's more than just the big, dumb brute with strength and an unfortunate magnet addiction. Say what you will, but he's obviously very skilled with the weapons he uses, and he really does care.
Nine. Elijah Wood. All I have to say. ...okay maybe not. XD Nine is the character that needs to be there for the plot to work. He's the one that's going to 'save the world', but ends up nearly screwing everyone over. I can't help but like him, though, despite the fact that he's completely responsible for 2's death. (And possibly the deaths of the others, too.) And yes, I was sitting there in the theater screaming silently in my head at him to put down that talisman, what do you think you're doing?? But really, his curious nature is what makes him so endearing, and he honestly didn't know better considering yes, he really was born yesterday. And the fact that he wanted to save Two when everyone else, even Five, were ready to give up on him, really says a lot for him. He also listened to Six when everyone else thought he was crazy. He's the main character. They're often a little dumb. XD
That covers all the main characters and...here I would talk about my favorite part of the movie but...after just one viewing I'm not entirely sure that I feel up to that. So instead I'll talk about the negatives. What did I not like? Well, the plot was actually extremely confusing at some parts, and a bit more exposition would have been appreciated. If I didn't already know a little bit about the plot before I went to see it, there were parts I would have been totally lost at. Heck, I already was totally lost at some parts! Also, the ending. Now, it was very fitting, and at least there was a sort of bittersweetness to it, but I really don't like plots where the majority of the characters die. Especially since all my favorite characters had to kick it. >_> At least there's fanfiction, haha.
Now on to...fandom and random things.
I kind of love what I've seen of the fandom so far. XD Sure, there's a lot of...oddness and some not-so-nice things, but there is in every fandom. And there's lots of pretty art, and interesting fic, and it's all just sort of win. Everyone seems rather friendly with each other, and from what I've seen most shippers are cordial and there haven't been big wars or anything. ^^ Speaking of shipping...do I ship anything in 9...well. I am...slightly ashamed to admit it but...I ship 2/5 just a little. >_> I can't help it. I mean, don't get me wrong, I don't think it's canon or anything silly like that and I love them as mentor and student just as much. But I ship them a bit too. Which confuses me because I normally do not like mentor/student ships. HUH. Yeah, I also like canon 7/9. It's cute. And there's other things I will ship or at least read about too...XD Because this fandom fulfills my requirement for rampant slash making sense: very few female characters. I just really can't see the twins shipped with anyone, because that's just...wrong.
I've drawn a bit of 9 art, which I am hoping to post somewhere very soon...I also doodled a bit in chruch bthe other day od it and even designed the stitchpunks as SoD characters...because i'm a nerd...XD Since this post is long enough, I think I will make a separate post for that, though. XD
On another note, I have decided I'm physically incapable of drawing 2 with anything other than a huge grin on his face...XD
And one more thing...I already am plotting to make an AMV of 9 when I get ahold of the DVD. >_> Because guess what song began to play on the way home from the movie? And EVERY LINE AND NOTE reminded me of the movie I had just seen? "Human" by the Killers. It's beyond perfect and it must be. I am now officially incapable of hearing that song without thinking of 9.
And that...might be about it. Wow.
...I think this was a huge success and I will be sure to do more of these! XD;;
I can't wait for 9 to come out on DVD.