Maybe people were expecting too much from 9. The plot is actually good but not perfect. It’s about 9 rag dolls who were brought to life by the Scientist. They are known through the number printed on them. Their mission is to shut down the Brain, which is made up of the Scientist’s intelligence.

The good thing about 9 is its pace is super-fast. The viewer is led from one scene to another in lightning speed and the action doesn’t let up. But the fast pacing led to one of the downsides of the movie. It was not enough time to think about what just happened.

Actually it’s a good thing. Then you wouldn’t realize that the plot depended on lucky circumstances to resolve the problems in 9. It’s one close call followed by another. But I forgive Shane Acker and his team for that because I enjoyed the movie.

One thing that made 9 somewhat tedious to watch is that the characters were devoid of personality other than 9 (Elijah Wood) being the designated lead of the movie and 7 (Jennifer Connelly) as the strong woman role. Aside from 9, character development was an unknown entity in 9.

5 (John C. Reilly): I don’t mind having one eye. It just means I can focus on one thing at a time.

9 is a good visual experience and while there were obvious flaws to the plot, there was a vital message it tried to convey. The world today is full of conflict and the post-apocalyptic world of 9 might be our future. But we must not lose our optimism because even in darkness, as long as we maintain our humanity, there is hope.

Even with all the flaws I found in 9, I still found myself liking 9 but I can’t recommend it to everyone. If you like sci-fi thrillers or just a straight up action animation then check out 9.

Keanu Reeves is just right to play Klaatu because he already perfected the role of an emotionless humanoid. Jaden Smith and Jennifer Connelly did well for what was given to them. John Cleese and Kathy Bates are great thespians and it’s a shame to see their talents wasted in The Day the Earth Stood Still.

The Genetically Organized Robotic Technology or GORT had a lot of potential but just as the giant Oscar-like robot was about to pulverize everything in sight, Klaatu comes out and gets shot in the process. The title should have been The Day the GORT Stood Still.

Klaatu (Keanu Reeves): Klaatu barada nikto.
This phrase was used by Klaatu when he was shot near the start of The Day the Earth Stood Still and in the end to stop the sphere from destroying the planet. The meaning of the phrase was not explained in the remake. In the original it was Helen who uttered this phrase to stop GORT.

The threat of a zombie invasion in World War Z was more believable than The Day the Earth Stood Still remake. The main issue of global warming was not given the importance it deserved. It was just in the background, just like GORT, with a lifeless robot getting all the attention. You know the feeling when time seems to go slow when you’re not having fun? Well, you’ll experience it while watching this movie. Skip the remake and look for the original instead.

The characters in He’s Just Not That Into You are interconnected with each other and show various types of relationships. But it failed to impress me. Maybe because I’m a guy and this movie a major chick flick. I do enjoy romantic comedies but this one will belong to my worst list.

The movie stereotyped guys to be shallow. Males are supposed to be only after going into a female’s pants and breaking their hearts after. I’m disappointed to learn that this movie is based on book co-written by a guy.

The girls in He’s Just Not That into You are just plain stupid. Take for instance Ginnifer Goodwin’s character who desperately waited for the guy to call her after their date. If the guy doesn’t call, she should take it as a sign that he’s not into her. The girl characters lack common sense.

Gigi (Ginnifer Goodwin): Girls are taught a lot of stuff growing up. If a guy punches you he likes you. Never try to trim your own bangs and someday you will meet a wonderful guy and get your very own happy ending. Every movie we see, Every story we’re told implores us to wait for it, the third act twist, the unexpected declaration of love, the exception to the rule. But sometimes we’re so focused on finding our happy ending we don’t learn how to read the signs. How to tell from the ones who want us and the ones who don’t, the ones who will stay and the ones who will leave. And maybe a happy ending doesn’t include a guy, maybe… it’s you, on your own, picking up the pieces and starting over, freeing yourself up for something better in the future. Maybe the happy ending is… just… moving on. Or maybe the happy ending is this, knowing after all the unreturned phone calls, broken-hearts, through the blunders and misread signals, through all the pain and embarrassment you never gave up hope.

That quote is just an example of how He’s Just Not That Into You is hopeless. It over-analyzes things that could have been explained by common sense. It stereotyped both sides that messed up the meaning of love in the process.

I thought the movie would pick up as it progressed but it got much worse. A couple got divorced, long-time partners got married, stupid girl ended up with adviser, realtor hooked up with the producer of the movie, and hot girl gets nothing. How’s that for an ending?