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City of Ember is visually arresting, and boasts a superb cast, but is sadly lacking in both action and adventure.
All Critics (126) | Top Critics (33) | Fresh (67) | Rotten (59) | DVD (4)
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. Dec 12, 2008 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
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.
Sandra Hall
It's an unfortunate end to a promising movie. Nov 10, 2008
It's an unfortunate end to a promising movie.
Ben Mankiewicz
Ultimately, it didn't move me in any way. Nov 10, 2008 | Full Review…
Ultimately, it didn't move me in any way.
Ben Lyons
Even if it occasionally goes off course, City of Ember provides audiences with a thought-provoking and family-friendly adventure. Oct 10, 2008 | Rating: 2.5/4
Even if it occasionally goes off course, City of Ember provides audiences with a thought-provoking and family-friendly adventure.
Claudia Puig
A thrilling adventure tale and teen fantasy that is grounded in real concerns about who is managing the planet. Oct 10, 2008 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…
A thrilling adventure tale and teen fantasy that is grounded in real concerns about who is managing the planet.
Susan Walker
Though City of Ember is a bit hurried in execution, this first live-action film by director Gil Kenan has the subterranean feel of a dream being described. Oct 10, 2008 | Rating: 3/4
Though City of Ember is a bit hurried in execution, this first live-action film by director Gil Kenan has the subterranean feel of a dream being described.
Tom Keogh
The movie benefits from solid performances from Tim Robbins as Doon's dad and Martin Landau as Doon's elderly boss. The design teams successfully bring the city to life. Aug 13, 2018 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
The movie benefits from solid performances from Tim Robbins as Doon's dad and Martin Landau as Doon's elderly boss. The design teams successfully bring the city to life.
Brandy McDonnell
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. Mar 18, 2011 | Rating: 7/10 | Full Review…
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.
Joshua Starnes
One of the best family films of the year...if you like your kid movies with a little more bruising than normal. Jun 2, 2010 | Rating: B+ | Full Review…
One of the best family films of the year...if you like your kid movies with a little more bruising than normal.
Brian Orndorf
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. Sep 4, 2009 | Rating: 3/4
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.
Mike Scott
Ultimately, this journey to rekindle the fire of humanity fails to burn bright enough, leaving only the unpleasant taste of ashes. May 12, 2009 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…
Ultimately, this journey to rekindle the fire of humanity fails to burn bright enough, leaving only the unpleasant taste of ashes.
Jon Hamblin
A shaky platform of sense but the visual genius is so great, the film must be seen. Jan 14, 2009 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
A shaky platform of sense but the visual genius is so great, the film must be seen.
Jules Brenner
An uninspiring tale that just limply moves on with no real conviction. seen much better familly dramas!
Super Reviewer
Gil Kenan's adaptation of Jeanne Duprau's book, City of Ember, leaves the occasional blackout.
It's a brief 90 minutes to reach its conclusion, and while this film is a quick draw because of that, the lack of extensive details really hurt in the second half. The first part of the story works well with the character and setting development; however, the pace ends up too fast for its own good by the time the ending comes around.
Despite classification in the fantasy genre, there isn't much reliance on effects. What's there is passable, but it's nice to watch a film like this without the overdose of CG.
Award winning acting cannot be found here, yet everyone gets by. Saoirse Ronan is actually a delight on screen with her lively personality.
City of Ember has its ups and downs, and with that said the positives outweigh the negatives, thus making it a recommendable picture.
It's a weird movie. But wasn't boring. Watchable.
This movie has so much promise for its demographic. The themes, the visuals, the actors... but none of it comes together in a truly compelling manner that would move an older audience. In the end it's a coming-of-age movie full of obvious metaphors, allegory, themes and a cast of two dimensional characters that represent them. It's not bad, a pretty decent entry-level into the SciFi genre for younger generations. But I suppose the inaccessibility of the movie for us "old" folks brought about its own demise.
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