when i saw this movie it was mostly very boring and a dissapointment.
City of Ember
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Fast-paced fantasy has lots of tense moments.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 8 and Up
The good stuff
What to watch out for
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Violence & scariness:
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Sexy stuff:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of City of Ember was written by Betsy Bozdech
Parents need to know that this fantasy based on the popular middle-grade novel of the same name doesn't have much to worry about in the way of sexual content, language, drinking, or strong violence. But its constant tension and often-dark mood -- it's about a decaying underground city founded to make sure humanity survived the end of the world -- make it too intense for the youngest viewers. The teenage main characters face challenges ranging from corrupt officials to a ravenous giant mole; they navigate these problems with persistence and resourcefulness.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about why so many of the grown-ups in Ember were afraid or unwilling to accept what was happening to the city. Why were Lina and Doon different? Do you think that's a realistic reflection of the differences between adults and kids? Assuming the city's resources hadn't started failing, do you think Ember could have survived indefinitely? Is it possible to set up an ordered society? Families who've read the book can also discuss how the movie is similar and different. Which do you like better? Why?
Have you seen it? Review It!
More on City of Ember
What’s the Story?
It's been more than 200 years since the CITY OF EMBER was founded deep underground to protect a small segment of humanity from an impending doomsday on Earth's surface. During that time, the secret to leaving the city when the time was right got lost; now, the town's massive generator is failing, supplies are running low, and no one wants to think about what lies in the darkness beyond the city limits. No one, that is, except curious teens Lina Mayfleet (Saoirse Ronan) and Doon Harrow (Harry Treadaway), who are determined to find a way out of Ember before it's too late. To succeed, they must puzzle out an ancient document, navigate the city's crumbling pipeworks, and dodge everything from an enormous mole to the city's overconfident mayor (Bill Murray).
Is It Any Good?
Based on Jeanne DuPrau's best-selling novel, City of Ember has an original premise and a fast pace -- both of which are sure to entertain tween fantasy fans. The sets and costumes are great; in a nice departure from the tech-heavy dystopias so popular in other post-apocalyptic stories, Ember is a Dickensian landscape of grimy streets and scruffy urchins. Even with all of the lights hanging above, it's a dark, dirty place.
The teen actors are also good -- particularly Ronan, who was so memorable in Atonement -- even though the movie doesn't give them too much to do besides race from place to place and suddenly come up with "aha!" ideas when the situation calls for it. That may be City of Ember's biggest flaw: In the effort to keep young viewers' attention by moving the action along briskly, it sacrifices some storytelling logic. But chances are the kids who want to see it will remember it more for the made-to-be-turned-into-a-theme-park-ride sequence in which Lina and Doon navigate a roiling river than anything else, anyway.
Movie Details
Studio: Fox-Walden, Director: Gil Kenan
Run time: 95 minutes
Theatrical release: 10/9/2008, DVD release: 1/20/2009
MPAA Rating: PG for mild peril and some thematic elements.
Run time: 95 minutes
Theatrical release: 10/9/2008, DVD release: 1/20/2009
MPAA Rating: PG for mild peril and some thematic elements.
Our Members Say
See all 14 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title iffy for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
b-ba-ba... BORING!
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Not that great.
I had to read the book over the summer for school and i think the book is a whole lot better than the movie! =P
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I rate this title iffy for age 9 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
A bit too "dark"
It's a movie geared towards kids 7-11 but my son who is 9 said it was too "dark" for him and he ended up having a nightmare after watching it. This is a child who loves Transformers, but yet this movie didn't work for him.
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
My seven year old had some trouble with the whole premise of the city itself. I think the idea of living underground and running out of power frightened him. The mole was pretty scary too.
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I rate this title off for age 7 and give it
not.......
not as good as it seems
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
Boring!
This movie was horrible. The acting was all over the place and the special effects were very fake looking. Don't waste your money.
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I rate this title iffy for age 5 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
you need less violence
awsome i'm only 4 and i love it !!!!!
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I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Gratuitously scary
My 11-year old son saw this movie in school after reading the book. The kids were generally disappointed in it, as it did not follow the book. My son said, "The mole was really creepy and there wasn't anything like it in the book, and there was no point at all in having it in the movie." It created weeks of fears because of the violent imagery.
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I rate this title on for age 6 and give it
Really Bad
I disliked this movie. Not a big-budget, obviously (if you've seen it) but the actual acting and storyline is bad and gets worse as the movie progresses. Don't watch this, go see The Cronicals of Narnia instead.
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I rate this title on for age 14 and give it
Not as Good as the Book!
There is a gigantic monster in the sewer pipes that attacks the kids. This may be a little too scary for kids under 12. It's interesting but it is not very much like the book. Also there is a scene where the little girl is threatened by the mayor which is a little too scary for younger kids.
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I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
This Movie Is Horrible
The City Of Ember Is Soo Bad I dont Consider It a Movie.The acting was Terrible,The Story was just flat out Stupid & no offense to the director and the people who made it But The City Of Ember Should Have Never Been Made.
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
Loved every bit of it!
I thought it was so great that I had to watch it twice, in the same week! Good action, good graphics, superb acting and nice story. It definitely has it's mystery side! I would recommend kids 10 and up, only because it's a movie that may not appeal to younger ones.
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I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
this movie was the bomb
my mom owns this account and im 11 this movie is my ultamit faveriot movie im in the middle of the book and it is so good so far my mom wants to read it after me thats how good it is the movie has no language or violence or anything it ios great for all ages
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
cool movie
This movie was pretty awesome! It is full of suspenseful moments, such as the giant mole, which can ( and probably will be) potentially frightening for younger viewers. Also, every time they turn a corner, the music gets darker as though they're about to run into something, but they never do. except for the mole. Also, Lena's granny dies offscreen but she is shown in bed when Lena finds her after she has passed. Cool movie for 12+.
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Ratings at a Glance
| 80% | of parents say it's too violent |
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