The Hero's journey • 9
So I took the notes from a heroes journey and applied it to a film I remember enjoying in the past, 9
So going through the list with a few adjustments to the order given I'm going to try and outline the heroes journey in this film.
The world is introduced, post-apocalyptic and devoid of life, our protagonist 9 is awoken and alone.
9 meets 2 another like himself, being unable to speak 2 helps him speak and mentions there are others.
The call to adventure
2 and 9 are attacked by a creature of machine and bone referred to as ‘the beast’
2 and a talisman are taken by the beast, 9 tries to follow and help but collapses as he was injured by the beast.
Refusal of the Call
9 is taken on whilst knocked out, fixed my 5, he meets 1, 6 and 8.
1 is a ruler who acts as a dictator to the group being the first, he claims there are rules, ones he made to 'protect' the group, it's later revealed that he is just a coward and hiding from the problem and saving only himself.
Crossing the Threshold
9 speaks with 5 and both agree to go save 2, they leave, travelling to where 9 saw them headed.
Whilst there the beast attacks again, but when hope seems to be lost, 7 jumps in from elsewhere and defeats the beast.
They save 2 and their own skins and celebrate, as at the time the beast was their only enemy.
They save 2 and their own skins and celebrate, as at the time the beast was their only enemy.
Belly of the Whale
9 awakens The Machine, purely out of seeing similarities and putting one thing in another, not giving the others a chance to stop him.
The Machine takes 2's soul and tries to get the others getting close to stealing 7s.
The Road of TrialsAfter narrowly escaping 7 leads the others to a library for answers that being in 3 and 4 curious child-like creatures that have scanned and read so much, these two reveal the fate humanity had suffered, revealing that the scientist had created The Machine and shows how it was used to create more machines that were used for war which turned against their creators.
5 and 9 try to sneak back into 1's safehouse to take some notes off of 2's but they get caught and revealing they awakened 'something'.
They are punished by 1 and 8, with 1 claiming that he is protecting everyone, this is where 9 point out that he's fearful.
They are punished by 1 and 8, with 1 claiming that he is protecting everyone, this is where 9 point out that he's fearful.
They are then attacked by a creature created by The Machine and try to keep everyone alive.
After collectively slaying this winged beast, but by losing their safehouse in the process they seek a new location.
Meeting with the Goddess
There is no clear Goddess but is seems that the talisman itself being the very thing that gave the characters life, and is sought after by both the characters and machines.
There is no clear Goddess but is seems that the talisman itself being the very thing that gave the characters life, and is sought after by both the characters and machines.
Temptation
2's body is used to create an awful creation, with the allure of it being someone they once knew, giving the characters a reason to let their guard down.
2's body is used to create an awful creation, with the allure of it being someone they once knew, giving the characters a reason to let their guard down.
This gives the characters a reason to go back to The Machine as this creature takes 8 and 7, both tied up in its insides for The Machine to have, we are later shown this creature offering them up to The Machine like one might a god.
9 also appears to be seeking reason, why things are the way they are trying to go back to the first room to find 'The Source'.
Atonement with the Father
I believe this is finally understanding where they come from but also when they give 2 a form of burial as well as burying the others at the end of the film.
Especially with this the characters souls are released, which appear to lead to it raining spreading the pieces of human soul everywhere.
Especially with this the characters souls are released, which appear to lead to it raining spreading the pieces of human soul everywhere.
Ultimate Boon
They face The Machine as it is presented with 7, 9 then tricks the creature that took 7 with a dummy and uses this to attack it, saving 7 and killing it in the process.
As these two escape the others set up an explosion to take out The Machine.
When the explosion is set the living characters are all outside and celebrate believing that The Machine is dead.
It seems overly happy as the characters are celebrating too music and 9 appears to show interest in 7.
When the explosion is set the living characters are all outside and celebrate believing that The Machine is dead.
It seems overly happy as the characters are celebrating too music and 9 appears to show interest in 7.
Refusal to Return
The Ultimate Boon seemed to be the ending but The Machine is not dead as the previously suspected, the explosion only released it from its bindings being the factory, it becomes free to move around.
The Ultimate Boon seemed to be the ending but The Machine is not dead as the previously suspected, the explosion only released it from its bindings being the factory, it becomes free to move around.
9 then returns to the 'first room' the one where he woke up at the beginning of the film, he finds out here that each of the characters 1 through 9 have a piece of the scientist's soul in them, but The Machine was made with the scientist's thoughts but was given no soul, the scientist explains that it can be easily manipulated, and it was as seen through the film it was used for war.
Magic Flight
With the new knowledge 9 goes back to try and save those left living and the souls taken by The Machine, he races back so the living don't destroy The Machine and the souls inside.
9 explains the situation to the others as they try to run from the machine.
9 explains the situation to the others as they try to run from the machine.
Rescue from Without
1 sacrifices himself to save 9, jumping in the way when 9 was trying to sacrifice himself, saving our protagonist, up until this point he has been hiding away and avoiding death.
1 sacrifices himself to save 9, jumping in the way when 9 was trying to sacrifice himself, saving our protagonist, up until this point he has been hiding away and avoiding death.
Crossing the Return Threshold
Whilst The Machine is taking 1's soul, 9 takes the talisman and uses it against The Machine, sucking the souls it had taken back out and destroying it in the process.
Apotheosis (god-like) and Master of the Two Worlds
I thought to combine these two as 9 holds the talisman, which has their friends, souls, he releases them having saved the living and the dead from The Machine and the scientists wrongs of the past.
Freedom
The characters are free from The Machine and its creations, the souls of those dead have been released, its a literal freedom.
9 states at the very end of the film 'this world is ours now, its what we make of it.'
9 states at the very end of the film 'this world is ours now, its what we make of it.'
Supernatural Aid (mentor)
The mentor is there throughout the film being the scientist and soul within the characters themselves.
The mentor is there throughout the film being the scientist and soul within the characters themselves.
His words come through in multiple ways.
He starts the film talking about how technology was what lead us to the end, he wanted life to continue, that being the reason he created the 9 creatures.
If you fancy a little explanation about the characters I found this very helpful
https://www.wired.com/2009/07/first-look-filmmaker-de-constructs-9-sci-fi-character-cards/
I used the image of 2 earlier in this post.
https://www.wired.com/2009/07/first-look-filmmaker-de-constructs-9-sci-fi-character-cards/
I used the image of 2 earlier in this post.
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