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CITY OF EMBER

With Tim Robbins, Bill Murray, B.J. Hogg, Saoirse Ronan, Harry Treadaway, Toby Jones, Lucinda Dryzek, Martin Landau, Mackenzie Crook, Catherine & Amy Quinn

Written by Caroline Thompson (based on the book by Jeanne Duprau)
Directed by Gil Kenan

This fascinating film is filled with fantasy elements and pulls the viewer into an underground civilization, holed up after a devastating war. The reintegration plan set up by the powers that be had a fundamental flaw in that the important information passed down from one mayor to the next in a secure time-triggered box is lost when one dies (the knowledge of this info cut off). The city of Ember was set up to be self-sufficient and maintain life until everyone was meant to be head back to the surface. But, with this plan lost in the dust, the enormous generator powering the city is way past its sell-by-date. One of the very cool aspects of this movie is the huge set design and visual style which reflects how this society has developed, changed and adapted to the confined, sunless void in which they find themselves. Jobs in this new world includes engineers working on the failing generator, pipe workers battling to keep the leaks under control, and messengers. Doon has a drive to get to the generator, knowing that something is not well with the constant power failures. Together with his friend Lina, they are destined to save the city from a certain doom, while sinister forces are also colluding beneath the surface.

Extras: A look at the sets in all of its full scale wonderment; and the dissection of the scene where the generator is revealed for the first time, combining live and digital elements.

4 / B
- Paul Blom


0 1 2 3 4 5 6
- A - B
- C





never let a review decide for you, but for those who need a rating, see the Flamedrop scale below
6 - Volcanic
5 - Blistering
4 - Hot
3 - Smolder
2 - Room Temperature
1 - Fizzled
0 - Extinguished

A: Multi-Viewing Potential

B: Could Enjoy A 2nd Look

C: Once Should Suffice



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