All Critics (128)
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Top Critics (27)
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Fresh (67)
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Rotten (58)
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DVD (9)
It's an unfortunate end to a promising movie.
Ultimately, it didn't move me in any way.
Even if it occasionally goes off course, City of Ember provides audiences with a thought-provoking and family-friendly adventure.
A thrilling adventure tale and teen fantasy that is grounded in real concerns about who is managing the planet.
The story, based on Jeanne Duprau's novel of the same name, is beautifully constructed. It builds until it reaches the point that it's one edge-of-your-seat moment after another.
Except for watching Bill Murray get attacked by a giant mole (something unique in Billy boy's career so far) this sci-fi fantasy aimed at kids feels wan and warmed over.
A lot of thought and effort has been put into City of Ember but the whole is never more than the sum of its parts. It wants to be an adventure story and a fable and a mystery all at the same time and never quite decides what it is.
One of the best family films of the year...if you like your kid movies with a little more bruising than normal.
Built upon a bedrock of dazzling and richly constructed sets -- think Dr. Seuss meets Jules Verne meets Mad Max -- and complemented by rock-solid storytelling, it's an enormously enjoyable family film.
Ultimately, this journey to rekindle the fire of humanity fails to burn bright enough, leaving only the unpleasant taste of ashes.
A shaky platform of sense but the visual genius is so great, the film must be seen.
Consistent with its box office failure, the only extras this movie gets on DVD are a handful of movie trailers.
In addition to being fascinating and exciting, City of Ember invites its young viewers to constantly ask questions and never give up.
Tween audiences should be awestruck, and the message of audacity in the face of orthodoxy feels genuinely heroic.
Murray playing the glutton doesn't exactly fit the bill and for all the architectural care that's gone into Ember's creation, the secret at its heart is no mystery to us, the audience.
Murray is always good to have around, and so are Tim Robbins, who plays Doon's defeated father, and Martin Landau as one of the drones who tries to keep the city in working order. The young actors are excellent.
An extraordinary children's adventure...
Although it starts slowly, there are plenty of rewards in this well crafted family fantasy adventure, as it explores a world in which light bulbs form the sky and a powerful generator acts as its heartbeat.
This well-designed and executed piece of entertainment is actually very satisfying.
Pure escapism fun, with plenty of stark visuals and inventiveness to go around.
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