City of Ember (2008)
Directed by Gil Kenan
For generations, the people of the City of Ember have flourished in an amazing world of glittering lights. But Ember's once powerful generator is failing and the great lamps that illuminate the city are starting to flicker. Now, two teenagers, in a race against time, must search Ember for clues that will unlock the ancient mystery of the city's existence, before the the lights go out forever.
4 connections found
View:
4 films that influenced City of Ember
What critics say influenced City of Ember
Adults are unlikely to embrace it either because the characters aren’t very interesting (after seeing her acclaimed performance in “Atonement,” it is somewhat disconcerting to see the talented Ronan take two steps back in order to appear in material like this that is clearly beneath her talents), the story is little more than a dumbed-down mix of such classics as “THX 1138,” “Logan’s Run” and “Dark City” and the religious symbolism thrown in here and there is so heavy-handed at times that it will inspire only giggles from certain viewers.
Visually, the film has a similar look and feel to Alex Proyas's "Dark City."
His classmate, Lina Mayfleet (Saoirse Ronan, the horrible sister from "Atonement" ), a descendant of one of Ember's mayors, becomes Doon's compatriot when she discovers an ancient box among her grandmother's possessions.
Adults are unlikely to embrace it either because the characters aren’t very interesting (after seeing her acclaimed performance in “Atonement,” it is somewhat disconcerting to see the talented Ronan take two steps back in order to appear in material like this that is clearly beneath her talents), the story is little more than a dumbed-down mix of such classics as “THX 1138,” “Logan’s Run” and “Dark City” and the religious symbolism thrown in here and there is so heavy-handed at times that it will inspire only giggles from certain viewers.
Trying to fit into their newfound professional roles in Ember, teens Lina (Saoirse Ronan, “Atonement”) and Doon (Harry Treadaway, “Brothers of the Head”) submit themselves to the numbing grind of the city, only to come across an escape plan left behind by the Builders.
Fortunately, the plan lands in the hands of two spunky teenagers -- Lina (Saoirse Ronan of "Atonement") and Roon (Harry Treadaway) -- whose plight it becomes to defy the never-leave-the-city dictates of their society and find their way to the surface.
With her heart set on being a messenger, Lina - played by Saoirse Ronan, the teenager nominated for an Oscar for last year's "Atonement" - secretly switches job assignments with a young man (Harry Treadaway) who drew her dream job, and their clandestine act forms the basis of a fast friendship.
Kenan has also cast a pair of very appealing actors, Saoirse Ronan ("Atonement") and Harry Treadaway ("Control"), in the lead roles of Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow, two young rebels who are determined to spearhead an escape from Ember before the lights go out forever.
Its wondrous steampunk production design evokes the films of Terry Gilliam (Brazil and Twelve Monkeys) and Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Delicatessen, The City of Lost Children).
That director Gil Kenan's second feature -- following the snappy motion-capture animated film "Monster House" -- never quite succeeds as either is a shame for all the dazzling craftsmanship brought forth from its production team.
Directed by Gil Kenan ( "Monster House" ) from a screenplay adaptation by Caroline Thompson ("The Nightmare Before Christmas," "Corpse Bride" ), the film boasts a stylish art-deco-inspired production design and plenty of engaging twists and turns in the plot.
However, the most disappointing aspect of “City of Ember” has to be the fact that it was directed by Gil Kenan, making his first film since his 2006 animated debut “Monster House.”
A natural flow of story is absent from the movie, as director Gil Kenan (the charming “Monster House”) and screenwriter Caroline Thompson try to maintain a ripping pace to Lina and Doon’s underground discoveries.
But director Gil Kenan ("Monster House") and his screenwriter Caroline Thompson ("Corpse Bride") also have fashioned their premise into a first-rate, no-nonsense adventure saga that plays nicely off the timely idea that energy is finite and precious.
But, directed by Gil Kenan (“Monster House”) and featuring first-rate performances by a fine cast, it’s a spirited teens-save-the-world drama that has more relevance than its fantasy roots might suggest.