Review of City of Ember (2008) by Dave A — 18 Feb 2010
The potential is wasted in spades for a movie casting Bill Murray as the villain.
Futuristic tale is based on a children's book, in which a centuries old underground city finds that it's generator is dying over time. Two teenagers however, find a secret long hidden within the city's reach that could have profoundly good implications for the future.
It seems as if the movie wasted it's budget on the production and costume design, but left very little for action. Instead, what is left is the first and part of the second act of a film that extends to 95 minutes. Bill Murray appears in a supporting role as the bulging, corrupt mayor who presides over the city as a classic slimeball. But he's reduced to few scenes without any real development. Tim Robbins and Martin Landau make the most of what they can in relatively well developed supporting roles, but the film's imagination only extends to an underground city and not beyond. Like I said, very little action is found here, and the film suffers from that.
This review of City of Ember (2008) was written by Dave A on 18 Feb 2010.
City of Ember has generally received mixed reviews.
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