City of Ember looked like it might have some promise, then it suddenly fell off the radar. It was in theaters for about 17 seconds and the next time I heard of it, it was on the DVD rack.
So when I saw that FilmJunk reviewed the DVD I gave my monitor the “oh yeah! I forgot about that movie!” face, and read up:
Based on the Mark Twain Award-winning children’s book by Jeanne Duprau, City of Ember takes place in a man-made city that is surrounded by darkness. The entire settlement runs on an underground generator, and its inhabitants are not aware anything existing outside of the city. As the story picks up, frequent power outages are becoming a major problem and the city is on the brink of disaster. When twelve-year old Lina Mayfleet stumbles across a mysterious box in her home, she unwittingly unlocks the secret to saving her people, but she must fight corruption within Ember’s city council in order to help everyone escape from the darkness.
See, I liked this movie much more when it was called “The Island”.
Innocent people living their life in secluded peace until someone realizes all is not what they were lead to believe.
The theme has been hit up a number of times in a number of ways. Movies that open your eyes up to how the world is different than what you were taught are hardly new. Its not a BAD concept and can be done well. Apparently this isn’t one of them.
According to FilmJunk the movie isn’t terrible, but its not great. Might be worth a rental.
