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City of Ember (2008)

Director: Gil Kenan

Time Out rating

Average user rating

18 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Gil Kenan’s scary animated movie ‘Monster House’ acknowledged its young audience’s ability to engage with a surprisingly grown-up story. This dystopian sci-fi adventure also refuses to talk down to the ‘family’ audience. Its fluid visual storytelling draws us into Ember’s subterranean world, where 12-year-old Lina (Saoirse Ronan) and her friend Doon (Harry Treadaway) scrabble to survive. The orphaned Lina also has to care for her doolally grandmother (Liz Smith) and her cute baby sister Poppy.

Presiding over this makeshift community is Mayor Cole (Bill Murray), who is too busy slurping tinned fish to bother with the city’s imminent demise. But messenger Lina and pipe-fixer Doon know that the lights are about to dim for ever. In a race against time, they pit themselves against the smug Mayor, his smarmy flunky Barton Snode (Toby Jones) and his rat-like henchman Looper (Mackenzie Crook). Other obstacles include Doon’s fatalistic inventor father (Tim Robbins) and, when they venture into the forbidden hinterlands, a fearsome giant mole.
There are mysteries to be solved, but Lina and Doon have no idea what lays beyond Ember. Its myopic citizens have long since forgotten the teachings of their founding fathers, who created this city as a refuge from some surface-level calamity.

So as the exciting, theme-park-ride finale flings the children towards an unknown future, their excitement is tinged with fear. Adapted from Jeanne Duprau’s novel by ‘Edward Scissorhands’ writer Caroline Thompson, this seriously entertaining film celebrates the idea that, despite their elders’ complacency, the young will find the strength to imagine a better future for themselves.

Author: Nigel Floyd

Time Out London Issue 1990: Oct 7 - 15, 2008

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User reviews of this film

Faller said...

Posted on Feb 19 2011 15:14 kLa ko nung una booorriiinnng...'peroa maganda pLa ung kwento...'cLa ang mga taong gs2ng lumabas sa kadiLiman 'at pmunta sa isang lugar na my liwanag at dun magsimula ng panibagong bukas...'

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sheraz iqbal said...

Posted on Aug 03 2010 14:26 Terrible film, utterly pointless and unimaginitive, This begs the bigger question, how many of these film critics are either on the take or simply haven't got a clue? Probably not many apart from this one.

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your mom said...

Posted on Apr 22 2010 17:17 this movie is nothing like the book ...the book was way better i mean come on like in the book doon wanted to make a moveable light but in the movie the have lights with helments wtf ugggggggh you can do better

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your mom said...

Posted on Apr 22 2010 17:17 this movie is nothing like the book ...the book was way better i mean come on like in the book doon wanted to make a moveable light but in the movie the have lights with helments wtf ugggggggh you can do better

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fifi love said...

Posted on Jan 30 2009 05:50 i love the movie

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Emily said...

Posted on Jan 08 2009 21:19 IS IT FUNNY..............IS IT WORTH SEEING

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PAULO said...

Posted on Oct 30 2008 13:37 Ah what a fab film, definiteky go!!

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dyigzm said...

Posted on Oct 30 2008 03:22 Pangit pero maganda ending..... wahhahahahaha

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Parvinder's Mum said...

Posted on Oct 29 2008 20:38 Oi you two stop arguing! can you help th man out with the bubble lawnmwer query tat is much more on the subject! and just a bit of advise for that poor man turnips are dangerous if not cooked for long enough!

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Parvinder's Brother said...

Posted on Oct 29 2008 20:32 I didnt kno you knew my sister! i thought she was out buying a bubble lawn mower! but i was wrong.. oh and the film was ok

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Maureen said...

Posted on Oct 29 2008 20:16 Ahh im glad this subject was brought up, my son has said they are dangerous if used incorrectly but not as dangerous as tornadoes. He would know as he is 15 years of age

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The Whittle Family said...

Posted on Oct 26 2008 14:01 Though missed the start by a minute or two, the film built into an enjoyable experience and beautifully told. Bill Murray was brilliant as ever but the young cast did very well. My son, of 9, was a little scared at times but the young Poppy kept his attention, commenting how cute she was. My daughter of 11 loved the story, as she had to think about the events in the film to understand the world presented before her.
I would thoroughly recommend this film for families though I would say your children need to be around over 7or 8.

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courtney said...

Posted on Oct 17 2008 20:06 i think it is very g

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treaclebob said...

Posted on Oct 17 2008 08:53 Went to see it again. Just as good second time around, however cinema almost empty. Noone seems to know or have heard about it. It seems to be more popular with audiences than with critics but they have to know about it to go and see it. Final scenes were shot near my house!!

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Chuck said...

Posted on Oct 15 2008 17:36 We loved it and would love to see it again!

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