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IMDb > City of Ember (2008)
City of Ember
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City of Ember (2008) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 29 | slideshow) Videos (see all 27)
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.
City of Ember (2008) -- Clip: What You Get Is What You Get
City of Ember (2008) -- Interview: Saoirse Ronan "On the story"
City of Ember (2008) -- To save the human race, and underground city was built to last only 200 yeaers...now time is up!
City of Ember (2008) -- Trailer: Vote for Cole

Overview

User Rating:
6.4/10   11,937 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 16% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Caroline Thompson (screenplay)
Jeanne Duprau (book)
Contact:
View company contact information for City of Ember on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
10 October 2008 (USA) more
Tagline:
Discover The Secret more
Plot:
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. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
3 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(64 articles)
User Comments:
Decent Film With Good Characters & Sets, But A Little Too-Little, Too-Late more (64 total)

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 #1
Rachel Morton ... Student #2

Conor MacNeill ... Student #3
Lorraine Hilton ... Miss Thorn
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated PG for mild peril and some thematic elements.
Runtime:
90 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
USA:PG (certificate #43559) | Ireland:PG | UK:PG | Singapore:PG | Philippines:G (MTRCB) | Hong Kong:IIA | Australia:G | Czech Republic:U | South Africa:10M | Canada:G (Manitoba/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | France:U | New Zealand:PG | Argentina:Atp | Portugal:M/12
Company:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The word Ember also refers to the embers of a fire, a metaphor for the situation that the characters find themselves in. more
Goofs:
Continuity: The scene where Doon is watching the boat follow its track, the boat automatically launches into the water. Yet when the three get into the boat, the boat does not launch until Doon pulls a lever. more
Quotes:
Doon Harrow: Sul, what are you doing up here?
Sul: This thing is jammed stuck. I've gotta free it.
Doon Harrow: How do you know that's what you should do?
Sul: [pause] It's my job!
more
Movie Connections:

FAQ

A Note Regarding Spoilers
What happened to Lina's parents?
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
more
21 out of 25 people found the following comment useful.
Decent Film With Good Characters & Sets, But A Little Too-Little, Too-Late, 3 February 2009
7/10
Author: ccthemovieman-1 from Lockport, NY, United States

Overall, this was an "okay" film; not bad, but nothing that memorable. I enjoyed the sets of the subterranean city and the teen kids were likable, but it took a little long before anything happened and when it did it was a little too far-fetched with poor special-effects. Nonetheless, the visuals and acting were fine and supporting performances by the always-goofy Bill Murray and Tim Robbins were somewhat entertaining.

The most intriguing actor, to me, was Saoirse Ronan, as "Lina Mayfleet." At first she minded me a bit of Peggy Ann Garner in "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn," but maybe two years older. Ronan has a plain but expressive and intelligent face, a la a very young Cate Blanchett. She looks like she's on her way to a good career.

Her counterpart, the male teen "Doon Harrow," was played nicely by Harry Treadaway.

Although it's a nice, safe family film, I think a lot of kids will be bored by the time anything happens, and adults will be so-so on it. I stuck around for the visuals, mainly, but was disappointed in how amateurish the action scenes in the last 20 minutes looked.

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more (64 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for City of Ember (2008)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Good movie but a question stealthblue2001
Similarties to Anthem crimsonphoenix
I liked the movie and im an adult! jon-1546
Poppy! presariO_29
worst CGI ever simonjwhitaker
are the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th book becoming movies too? tdubster22
more

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