Product Description

Genre: Comedy
Rating: PG
Release Date: 20-JAN-2009
Media Type: DVD

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2879 in DVD
• Brand: RYALL,DAVID
• Released on: 2009-01-20
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Full Screen, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, French, Spanish
• Dubbed in: French, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 90 minutes

Amazon.com
Light bulbs speckle the sky instead of stars in City of Ember, a fantasy in which a secret city has been built to preserve mankind from worldwide disaster. But over time, the purpose of the city is lost--and the city gradually decays. As power failures threaten to bring on the collapse of everything, young messenger Lina Mayfleet (Saoirse Ronan, Atonement) discovers damaged instructions for leaving the city. Her friend, pipeworker Doon Harrow (Harry Treadaway, Brothers of the Head), helps her find the hidden mechanisms that will let everyone escape...but the city's corrupt Mayor (Bill Murray) is more interested in personal gain and tries to stop Lina. City of Ember begins marvelously; the story unfolds smoothly, the production design is rich and engaging, the young leads are charming (Ronan is particularly good), and Murray is as superb as ever. Unfortunately, the movie starts to stumble; some plot turns are baffling (there seems to be some connective tissue left on the cutting room floor) and what should be an action climax flounders with subpar special effects. But even when the movie loses its sure-footedness, there are delightful moments and visual wonders. The strong supporting cast includes Tim Robbins, Mary Kay Place (Sweet Home Alabama), Mackenzie Crook (The Office), Toby Jones (Infamous), and Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Secrets & Lies). --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews

A pretty good evening's entertainment
I was looking forward to this film after having seen the trailer, but it came and went quickly. While the story is a bit slight, and the last portion of the film plays out like an adventure game, I would recommend at least renting this one. I liked the fact that none of the kids were smart-alecky stereotypes and there was none of the usual pandering to popular culture that destroys so many other young adult films and renders them to the dustbin of history ten minutes after their release. Furthermore, it was refreshing to see a film that doesn't require main characters (especially children) to fight a war or kill something in order to succeed. Instead, the kids rely on their ingenuity to overcome obstacles. I don't necessarily assume "wholesome" means "worthwhile," but City of Ember retains a kind of innocence in its adventure while still remaining watchable and interesting.

Love movie, but read the book too
Caught this movie recently on cable. (I'm 54 with no children.) Saw the movie first and loved it, then read the book and loved both. Book is just as exciting. Movie is different story than the book - I was surprised how much. Loved the theme of changing the world and finding "new" (which were the original) ways to do things. Wrote to the author about the Christian theme of Builders being God and Instructions being Scriptures - she said she had no intention to do that but had received a lot of feedback about it. Am now looking forward to reading the entire series.The City of Ember (Books of Ember)

A Series of Unfortunate Events meets Harry Potter
Not as good as either Lemony Snicket, A Series of Unfortunate Events; nor Harry Potter; but an enjoyable film nonetheless.

The story of three children who try to find their way out of Ember, an underground city, to save mankind. This is a well told story of the mysteries they have to solve and perils they have to overcome to make their escape. Like Harry Potter, the lighting is dark, the color muted. There are several puzzles the three have to solve. The city has a feel of Diagon Alley. Like Lemony Snicket, the girl is extremely intelligent, the boy is strong, and the little girl never speaks; their age differences seem about the same. Their world has a retro-future look. Both are laced with voice over narration, that beautifully supports the film. The common element, all three movies are based on young adult novels and are intelligent mysteries. They are all pleasant, interesting, family movies.

Telling more of the plot might well ruin the mystery. The children actors are fantastic. Tim Robbins is very well cast and plays his role well. Bill Murray, just perfectly creepy as a super fat mayor.

From a film standpoint, this one is fairly well done. There were several moments that made us all jump, the surprises were well built. The conflict was extremely well constructed, the resolution at the end makes complete sense and works very well. In general shots were in focus, framing was well done to add to the suspense. Music was extremely well used to reinforce the mystery.

The one not so great area was the CG work at the end of the film. On a movie theater screen the whole water montage might have looked really great. On a television screen, albeit a large one, the CG effect just looked very bad, like toys in a river or people in front of a green screen. The film also opens with, what must be, an animated series of shots of the city from above. It looked like a cartoon for too long.

The DVD is really sad. The transfer is not great, there are many compression artifacts. Dark blacks are bands of color, not smooth black. The sound is well done, surround channels used to good effect. The subwoofer worked overtime rumbling the room. The worst part of the DVD, the bonus features are trailers for other movies.

A film for the whole family. Intelligent enough that adults will enjoy the mystery and story. No violence. The mole montage is subtly done, Bill Murray is never seen actually being eaten. No nudity or even double entendre anywhere. A perfectly fine family film for all ages.