‘Number Four’ is number one

Amelia Ruthven-Nelson
Staff Writer
I Am Number Four has all the conventions of a typical super-hero movie, but it  avoids becoming overly predictable through its strange mix of genres. The film seems like a cross between Twilight and Spiderman – its indie music and awkward high school angst combine with an epic score and heroic action scenes.
The plot is simple enough to understand but original enough to keep audiences genuinely interested. In the movie’s back story, nine gifted alien children are sent to Earth to avoid being hunted down by a race known as the Mogadorians. At the start of the movie, the first three aliens have already been killed; it focuses on Number Four (Alex Pettyfer) as he relocates to a small town and enrols in high school in hopes of remaining well-hidden and safe.
The way the scenes are shot and the small town setting give off the feeling the film was produced by a smaller, independent company, and not DreamWorks. The soundtrack has a definite indie music feel, with bands such as The Xx and Jimmy Eat World contributing. In contrast, the original score done by Trevor Rabin fits nicely within the superhero genre, as its songs strengthen the epic fight scenes and more magical moments in the story.
The second half of the film is filled with action, but all of it is completely relevant. There are no cars blowing up just for the sake of an explosion and the characters continue to develop strong and entertaining relationships through these scenes. I Am Number Four is also not just a film for science fiction fans, as the high school setting provides a relatable story about a boy trying to fit in and go out with a pretty girl (Dianna Agron from Glee).
The film’s sinister villains have an eerie sense of humour that makes them truly chilling and dangerous. The plot twists made you question the intentions of most characters in the hero’s life and the believable, endearing friendships allow the audience to find relatable characters to root for.
The movie is also suitable for children; the scenes, although well-executed and filled with many surprises (I jumped within the first ten minutes of watching it), avoid excessive amounts of gore. The script is well written with witty characters that make cute jokes typical of a family movie. The story’s multiple layers make the film suitable for everyone and anyone.
My biggest issue with the film was the ending. Toward the last ten minutes, I thought to myself “Oh no! Another one?” because as the movie was winding down I realized the story was far from over and a sequel must be planned. I really wanted to know the fate of the characters, but I am not one hundred percent sure I will pay to see the saga’s conclusion. It would have been nice to watch a movie with a firm ending instead of yet another attempt to make repetitive epics. That being said, I Am Number Four is definitely worth seeing.
I recommend everyone go and check it out. Bring your friends and family and find out for yourselves whether or not you’ll wait around for I Am Number Five.