 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
City of Ember
- Review Date: October 1, 2008
- PG
- Genre: Fantasy
- 2008
Common Sense Media says
Fast-paced fantasy has lots of tense moments.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
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.
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.
What families can talk about
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?
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AGE
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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AGE
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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AGE
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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AGE
Not as Good as the Book, but Not Bad
This movie was great, but not nearly as good as the book.
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AGE
you need less violence
awsome i'm only 4 and i love it !!!!!
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AGE
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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AGE
Could have been better....
It could have been much better if they didn't add things or dragged things on. Otherwise it wasnt too bad. I loved the dramatic music, but the mole thing was not in the book, I see no reason to add that, and the mayor did not get eaten, he drowned, and I think the pop actually died of a disies, not of a drowning. Doon and Lina are a little too serious, but Doon's pop was pretty funny. I don't remember them being inside of the generater, or the moth. I'm just saying they could have at least kept to the book more, they kind of messed it up otherwise.
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Kid, 12 years old
June 7, 2011
AGE
TOTALLY FINE!
It's a great, action-packed movie. Its very suspenseful and fun! Despite the sentence, "If this is a potato, then I'm 16 and sexy,", this movie is TOTALLY fine for youngsters. It's quirky, dark at sometimes so if you are a person who doesn't enjoy that it isn't the best, and verrryyyy fun to watch. <3 it!
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AGE
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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AGE
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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| Topics: | adventures, book characters, friendship, great girl role models |
| Studio: | Walden Media |
| Director: | Gil Kenan |
| Cast: | Bill Murray, Harry Treadaway, Saoirse Ronan |
| Genre: | Fantasy |
| Run time: | 95 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | October 9, 2008 |
| DVD release date: | January 20, 2009 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | mild peril and some thematic elements. |
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