Magic Number

9 *** 12A

THIS post-apocalyptic animated tale produced by Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted, Night Watch, Day Watch) is one of the year's most visually stunning movies.

Although beautifully crafted, it's let down by an overly familiar storyline. Also, it's caught between too scary for younger kinds and not violent enough for adults.

The film is an extension of director Shane Acker's 2005 Oscar- nominated short of the same name. Set in an alternate reality where the world has been destroyed by machines (think Terminator), 9 tells the story of a bunch of strange-looking, rag doll-likecreatures who have to figure out what happened to the human race. They must also stop a massive machine from creating mechanical monsters designed to destroy them.

Elijah Wood, Martin Landau, Christopher Plummer and Jennifer Connelly are among the actors whose vocal talents bring the puppets to life. The film earns its stars more for its magnificent animation than its Terminatorstyle man vs machine storyline.

GRANT LAUCHLAN'S

MOVIE REVIEWS & RATINGS

***** EXCELLENT - A MUST SEE

**** GREAT - CATCH IT IF YOU CAN

*** GOOD - YOU'LL ENJOY IT

** AVERAGE - TAKE CARE

* AVOID - LIKE THE PLAGUE

(c) 2009 Daily Record; Glasgow (UK). Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.

A service of YellowBrix, Inc.