City of Ember (2008)

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.

Director:

Gil Kenan

Writers:

Caroline Thompson (screenplay), Jeanne Duprau (book)

Stars:

Saoirse Ronan, Toby Jones, Bill Murray

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
David Ryall	...	Chief Builder
Ian McElhinney	...	Builder
Harry Treadaway	...	Doon Harrow
Tim Robbins	...	Loris Harrow
Bill Murray	...	Mayor Cole
B.J. Hogg	...	Mayor's Guard
Toby Jones	...	Barton Snode
Lucinda Dryzek	...	Lizzie Bisco
Matt Jessup	...	Joss
Lara McIvor	...	Roner
Myles Thompson	...	Smat
Eoin McAndrew	...	Student
Rachel Morton	...	Student
Conor MacNeill	...	Student
Lorraine Hilton	...	Miss Thorn

Storyline

When mankind is about to come to an end, a group of scientists decide to create and populate a city deep underground. The city of Ember is to last for 200 years after which its inhabitants are to retrieve from a strong box instructions to return to the surface. Over time however, the message is lost and life in Ember is rapidly deteriorating. Their power supply is failing and food is being rationed. It's left to two young adults to unearth the secret of Ember and to lead the way out.

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Plot Keywords:

food | box | scientist | mayor | pipeworks | 

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Taglines:

Escape Is The Only Option

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Genres:

Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

Metropolitan Films [France] Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 October 2008 (Canada)

Also Known As:

La cité de l'ombre

Filming Locations:

Belfast Methodist College, Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$55,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£496,909 (UK) (10 October 2008)

Gross:

$7,871,693 (USA) (9 January 2009)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Playtone, Walden Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

There were so many sets built for the film that some of them wound up never being used. They do sometimes feature prominently in the background, like the hairdressers, but they play no part in the story.

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Goofs

(at around 20 mins) As Doon is walking to look at the Generator room, a girl in full orange work gear and yellow boots walks across the control room and towards a hall. The shot changes to the door. Then when it goes back to Doon, the same girl (orange gear, yellow boots) gets up from the left and starts walking across the room again, before the shot changes back to the door.

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Quotes

Loris Harrow: [narrating] Lina and Doon tied their hope to a rock and tossed it down toward the city. The rock could've ended up on a roof. Or kicked into a gutter. But fate ran another course. And the message found its way. Now the path was clear for all. All of us who kept the flame of Ember burning, through the darkness, so that we could live again on the earth, in the air and the light.

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Connections

Featured in Getaway: Episode #17.39 (2008)

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Soundtracks

Mrs. Murdo's Believers Song
Written and Performed by Mary Kay Place

User Reviews

Very good movie

I wasn't expecting much from this film, but I ended up loving it quite a bit. It's a great kid's adventure, lots of mystery and action, good character development, and plenty of cool settings.

Bill Murray and Tim Robbins do a fine job in their roles, but they are mostly supporting cast. It's the two kids who are the real heart of the story. I also love how the filmmakers created an entirely plausible distant future where beauty still thrived despite crumbling infrastructure. Above all, this is a movie about hope for the future.

If you are looking for a good adventure similar to THE GOONIES, check this out. Great for kids, and great for folks of all ages who enjoy light adventure.