City of Ember

2008

Action / Adventure / Drama / Family / Fantasy / Sci-Fi / Thriller

100
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 46% · 129 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Spilled 46% · 50K ratings
IMDb Rating 6.4/10 10 72616 72.6K

underground world dystopia mayor post-apocalyptic future puzzle steampunk

Plot summary

For generations, the people of the City of Ember have flourished in an amazing world of glittering lights. But Ember's once powerful generator is failing and the great lamps that illuminate the city are starting to flicker. Now, two teenagers, in a race against time, must search Ember for clues that will unlock the ancient mystery of the city's existence, before the the lights go out forever.

Director

Gil Kenan Photo
Gil Kenan

Top cast

Simon Kunz Photo
Simon Kunz as Captain Fleery
Lucinda Dryzek Photo
Lucinda Dryzek as Lizzie Bisco
Ian McElhinney Photo
Ian McElhinney as Builder
Frankie McCafferty Photo
Frankie McCafferty as Arbin Swinn
720p.BluRay 1080p.BluRay
756.71 MB
1280*720
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 30 min
Seeds 12
1.44 GB
1920*1080
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 30 min
Seeds 56

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by regnarghost 7 / 10

Flawed... but with enough of its own to separate it from the flock

Had some trouble deciding my rating on this one. There is much about it to like, for sure, but there are also some flaws that cant be overlooked. It has great setting and atmosphere, an intriguing plot and charm to boot. Such things scores a lot with me. The directing is at times questionable though, there is little sense of pacing and there are some parts that feel tacked on (the crazy flumride anybody)just because its supposed to be a summerfranchie. The cute little girl is completely superfluous, and Bill Murray and Treadaway's Doon doesn't make enough with their characters (or isn't allowed too). One thing is clear. Its strenghs of this film mostly resides within the source material(witch i haven't read though). Its really nice for a change to see a fantasy film without a lot of monsters, the enemies here are brain-stagnation, greed and selfishness. Some parts had me snickering. The parts where they are handed there jobs through lottery (a jab at communism?)and the old man with the pipes. THe story is actually pretty good, not original, but tightly woven and deceivingly fresh with a timely message. In short, the source-material had the brains, but the director lacked the guts (or maybe just the talent, or were assasinated by his studio) too go through with it.Still, it beats the latest Narnia installment, and the latest Harry Potter too for that matter. Also, Ronan, the kid from Atonement, turns in a good performance.
Reviewed by steviekane 6 / 10

Decent movie, lacking some story, lacking some direction.

If the only thing City of Ember does is show that Belfast can play host to high concept movies, then it was worthwhile, but no doubt, it was aiming for more than that. Perhaps to stand next to such fare as Harry Potter, or a Pixar flick.Unfortunately, it falls short, but only just. This is without doubt, an exciting romp about two coming-of-age children who break out of the mold forced on them by the dying Ember, and in doing so, change everything. The acting is solid, the set design and music excellent. The concept, the builders of Ember leaving behind secret instructions to get back to the world, is genuinely engaging.Unfortunately, they don't get to these instructions fast enough, and a lot of time is spent wandering around the, albeit, beautiful city. Often times there is a lack of a perceived threat. Despite being replete with a nefarious mayor and a mutated mole (like the massive moths, never explained), the story uses neither of these things enough, leaving some scenes to be propelled solely by the heroes following the by-the-numbers instructions left to them. Worst of all, the ending feels like a poor man's Goonies.In the director's corner, he is guilty of some slow scenes, but what is almost unforgivable is the flat looks of the actors during intense CGI action. Somebody wasn't thinking ahead.Nonetheless, a charming film that I hope made enough money to spawn treatment of the books sequels.
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