City of Ember (2008)
Genre: Adventure / Fantasy
Duration: 90 minuten
Country:
United States
Directed by: Gil Kenan
Stars: Saoirse Ronan, Harry Treadaway and Bill Murray
IMDb score:
6,4 (72.727)
Releasedate: 7 October 2008
City of Ember plot
"Escape is the only option"
For generations, the inhabitants of the City of Ember have lived in a beautiful world filled with wonderfully glittering lights. When the inhabitants find out that these lights start to lose their power and the light source deteriorates sharply, a race against time begins. Two teenagers embark on an adventure to discover the existence of the City of Ember and help all its inhabitants escape before the lights go out forever.
Actors and actresses
Lina Mayfleet
Doon Harrow
Mayor Cole
Chief Builder
Loris Harrow
Looper
Clary
Mrs. Murdo
Barton Snode
Lizzie Bisco
Reviews & comments
Alathir
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- 2133 messages
- 1638 votes
City of Ember is primarily a film that relies on worldbuilding. The world that has been created gives this film the atmosphere it needs. People always naturally have some kind of curiosity, although some people are more curious than others. But curiosity is something that is not always appreciated, as this film also shows. Curiosity sometimes causes you to unravel secrets that others (here the mayor of Ember, for example) prefer to keep to themselves.
I'm curious in a way myself. Not so much in what keeps people busy, but in how I can enrich myself. Life is a continuous process of learning - but I don't get the impression that most people are trying to learn and that is a missed opportunity. Here in the film even the chance for a better life or dying sooner or later.
Saoirse Ronan is doing well together with her opponent Harry Treadaway. Somewhat smaller roles are reserved for Bill Muray, Toby Jones and Tim Robbins. I like worldbuilding and that is a very strong point here. Mainly because of this, I found the film enjoyable to watch.
Translated from Dutch · View original
knuppel ihhh
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- 391 messages
- 216 votes
Quite childish indeed. Seen it years ago, but I only remembered it at the end. People live underground in a big city. Only everything seemed to take place around a square. The city is 200 years old and is lit by lamps. I also want a lamp with that many burning hours. The power supply falters and that causes unrest. The fact that there are huge moles that eat people crawling around seems to be less of an issue. The fathers have dug a secret tunnel in an attempt to get out. Her father drowned when water flowed into the tunnel. The children take this same tunnel but there is no water. The tunnel ends in another part of town that they could have just walked to. In order to escape, they must later rise water to be able to sail on a paddle wheel. Why don't they climb over the side of the installation. Well in the end a funny vintage children's adventure movie with spoiler.. spolier.... a happy ending
Translated from Dutch · View original
Shadowed
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- 11421 messages
- 6719 votes
Disappointing Kenan.
Think he's better as a director in more adult horror movies with a childish twist, like his remake of the classic. Despite the fact that few people agree with me on this point, I have to say that I don't like his more childish films. City of Ember has that to its disadvantage.
Nice concept that humanity is underground these days, though. That world is also beautifully portrayed and decorated by Kenan. It even reminded me a bit of Jeunet at times, but the sad thing is that it's not really the right setting for such a story. The children are central and ensure that the beautiful decorations have little space to be noticed at all.
In addition, the effects are repeatedly disappointing and the adventurous elements are too limited to create a strong flow. Kenan still manages to show some nice scenes such as the "water slide" but it lacks a lot in terms of excitement and adventure. Original environment that still manages to lose some power, but in the end the film doesn't get much further than a sewer and a city as environments.
The course was sometimes even on the boring side while the story seemed to be designed to keep the viewer entertained. It doesn't matter to me that it's on the simple side, I especially hoped that I could experience a bit more with it than what I'm experiencing with it now. Still, the film has some strong visually appealing scenes, but City of Ember doesn't know how to help that.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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