Review of City of Ember (2008) by Alec B — 04 Nov 2011

City Of Ember is a Science Fiction Fantasy based on the novel of the same name. For generations, the people of the City of Ember have flourished in an amazing world of glittering lights buried deep underground. But as Ember's once powerful generator starts to fail the great lamps that illuminate the city start to flicker and it becomes increasingly clear that their world is fatly falling apart. Until one day a young girl Lina Mayfleet a descendent from a Mayor gone by comes across a secret box. Unlocking the secret of this box could change not only her life but the future of her whole generation so she goers on a mission with her trusted friend Doon Harrow to unlock its secret.

I watched this with my daughter and we both thoroughly enjoyed it. It doesn't have the epic adventure of a film like The dawn treader and feels a little "studio" based in its settings and set pieces but I applaud originality especially in today's climate and this has bundles of it. Good performances and star guest turns including the ever-funny Bill Murray. Family film for slightly older kids.