City of Ember

Certainly City of Ember isn't the dud that most would-be sci-fi from this year (2010) has been. For a while I was even considering a weaker 4 stars, but for that City of Ember has weak art direction, some pretty boilerplate characters, and some not-so-effective digital effects. Pity. 65-70%. (04/06/2010)

I haven’t heard much about the film City of Ember, and I can understand why, as it’s not particularly groundbreaking or worth rushing to see right after its premiere. I didn’t even know it had played in our movie theaters. In the film, we follow the story of an underground city and a mysterious briefcase. The briefcase was created two hundred years ago but got a bit lost, and people don’t really know what it’s supposed to be for. However, the right girl discovers it. She is part of the upcoming job lottery, where every teenager must draw a profession they will undertake. Lina (Saoirse Ronan) was supposed to become a pipe worker but ends up switching with Doon and becomes a messenger, relaying important news quickly. Based on this information, she learns that something is wrong in the city and that the mayor (Bill Murray) may not have the best intentions for Ember. The fact that the electricity keeps failing, and the city is sinking into darkness is also not a positive factor. But Lina finds the briefcase, and at that moment, the film shifts into a puzzle-solving narrative. The previous generation had prepared something, and Lina and Doon must figure out what it is, like piecing together a large puzzle that needs to fit. As a child, I always had a weakness for such mysteries and "treasure hunts," which has stuck with me even today. However, this time, it lacks tension. The characters are destined to find the treasure, and their journey, although attempting to be fraught with challenges, is actually quite straightforward. There’s no real villain to stand in their way. There are moments that try to be suspenseful, but the film is ultimately very simple. The visual aspect and the city of Ember itself are interesting and well-crafted, but that’s about it. We follow a pair of uninteresting characters trying to save the world, even though something possibly more interesting is happening to someone else in the city. It’s nice to peek into, but as a whole, the film is rather dull. (02/03/2013)

Before watching this movie, I was in doubt if Gil Kenan was capable of making a good adventure movie, however, this movie convinced me that he really can. Saoirse Ronan surprised me a lot with her talented acting ability, and pleasant demeanor, while Harry Treadaway acted like he was unimpressed, and overly mature. The soundtrack was also a very good feast for the ears, giving the movie a real edge. I must also commend the screenplay, which (unlike Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D) is quite unpredictable (even though the happy ending was pretty predictable), and left a good impression. I also liked the set design (the underground city looks really cool), the special effects and some illogicalities in the plot (the final voyage to the surface) were the only things to bring the rating down to three stars. (24/02/2009)

An enjoyable fantastic fairytale about the right values presented in a tasteful, non-violent and entertaining way. Moreover, it is set in a stunning backdrop and features a cast of lovable characters led by Bill Murray and Saoirse Ronan. I have the book at home, but somehow I still haven't gotten around to reading it. Now I'm sure I'll fix that soon, and I'm counting on the book to fill in the few not-quite-explained miraculous coincidences that were about the only thing in the film that creaked here and there towards the end. (28/10/2015)