City of Ember Review

I don't typically review movies I watch (if I did that I'd be posting about 4 reviews per day) but I came across one that I feel has been severely under-appreciated. I have occasionally come across City of Ember on Netflix and finally got around to watching it. I had my brother watch it with me, and even he turned to me and said, "They advertise the wrong movies." We both agreed it was an incredibly unique and enjoyable movie, and of much higher quality than most movies that have come out recently!

The movie is about a city called Ember that was created when the world was ending. The greatest minds of the time gathered and decided the city would be cut off from the rest of the world for 200 years, hopefully enough time for any radioactivity or whatever else to diminish. At the end of the 200 years, a box was to open that would lead them out of Ember and back to the surface. Unfortunately, the box was lost and when the 200 years were up, the citizens of Ember were left in the dark, literally. The generator that had been supplying them for 200 years was dying, and the lights that supplied their city started blacking out more and more often. Two young citizens of Ember decided they needed to act, and find a way out of Ember. After finding the box, they worked to discover the way out. A fantastic adventure unravels which shows you the ingenuity of the "builders" (the men who created Ember) in their plan to release the citizens from Ember.

The quality of the movie is great (they obviously spared no expense) and the acting isn't bad either! There are many familiar faces, such as Bill Murray, Tim Robbins, Mary Kay Place, Martin Landau, Simon Kunz and Mackenzie Crook. There are also some new faces, such as the two main characters. The movie is a fantastic family movie, with no harsh language or crude humor. This is easily a movie for kids, however we're adults, and we loved it! My only wish is that the movie had given a bit more at the end to show what happens next. Oh well!

From what I've read, those who have read the book judge the movie very harshly (That's nothing new in book/film adaptations). They feel as though much of the symbolism of the book has been left out. I haven't read the book, however, I can't say I watch movies to find the symbolism behind every detail. I watch a movie for enjoyment, not necesarily enlightenment. So, if you're just watching this movie to have a light and enjoyable evening, I highly recommend it!