City of Ember

2008 • 95 minutes
4.3
723 reviews
54%
Tomatometer
PG
Rating
Eligible
Watch in a web browser or on supported devices Learn More

About this movie

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, and help the citizens escape before the lights go out forever.
Rating
PG

Ratings and reviews

4.3
723 reviews
Ryan Kelly
November 9, 2013
I HATE this movie more than the Percy Jackson movies or even The Last Airbender! In the trailer they give away the plot twist at the end of the book in the first few seconds! None of the actors have personality and the movie decides to completely ruin any sort of relation to the plot by adding things like giant mole-monsters and secret telephone messages!!! Oh, and by the way, the job of one of the main characters is messenger, someone who runs across the city to deliver messages to people by voice. They never had phones! The only thing that is remotely good about the movie, the city itself, is still hugely flawed! Why is everyone wearing strange clothing? Why is the lighting not match the gritty, electrical feel of the city, and instead looks like broad daylight? Why is everything cramped? (Yeah I know, that whole "underground" thing, but in the book, you are not suppose to know it's underground, so it is described as a large, wide open city. This ruins the whole effect! I have written a longer rant on this horrible film's youtube page. But to attempt to summarize. THIS IS THE WORST MOVIE I HAVE EVER SEEN!
26 people found this review helpful
20 Year Old Doomer
December 18, 2014
For a lover of the book this film adaption was just mediocre. It lacked several key aspects of the plot and ultimately failed to present. On the other hand though it was good by standing out by itself. It showed its own twist which I liked, not to mention the soundtrack is 5 stars. If you haven't read the book watch this then read the book. Overall, this movie was great but was far to different from the book. Despite the unfaithfulness it really did do well for a 90 minute movie.
2 people found this review helpful
Kenneth Green
March 7, 2014
So after reading the books I heard there was going to be a movie. I was excited, more excited than I should have been... Now normally, I don't give bad reviews on book-to-movie films, but this was pretty awful. First off, cast choice. The characters were not portrayed at all as I pictured them while reading the books. And seriously, would it kill them to have just a little emotion? Everything's all "Oh no... The lights are gonna go out, how terrible." Compared to the book where its like "We gotta do something about this lighting situation." Get what I'm saying? Either way, I honestly understand why they haven't continued the movie series for this. Anyway, that's my review. Thanks for considering my opinion by reading this. :-)
34 people found this review helpful