With the end of the world approaching, a team of the most wise scientists decides to create a new city underground, known as Ember, powered by an enormous generator. Many years after, as the power source begins to fail more and more often, two teenagers start looking for a way out of the dying city, although this act would mean to break the law. It's a story which bases on a very interesting idea, of building an entire city underground, but fails in implementing it and especially in creating an interesting story, one which can build up suspense or drama. What is even worse is that the characters seem to act very childish, almost like they were ten year old kids who cannot tell the difference between good and wrong, making often head scratching decisions. The whole movie looks and feels as it was designed for kids, especially when taking about plot and characters, although the dark atmosphere would make me think otherwise. Many things do not add up or even make sense, thus leaving a bad overall impression. No satisfaction with the finale, no drama, no suspense. It really is a shame that they couldn't do more with such a good idea that they had.

If you've seen any sci-fi film or TV show, you can not only plot out everything this film does, but cite where others have done it better. I feel like the book writer must have seen all the worst versions of this story and set a plan to make the worst version, yet. I've seen this plot at least a dozen times -- Logan's Run, for starters -- a terribly camp, ridiculous 70s film that, due to it's terrible campness, is quite fun. Guess it goes to prove -- if you can change just enough things from the original that you steal it from, it's not 'stealing'. Just watch Logan's Run. At least it's enjoyable terribleness.This was absolutely dreadful, I cannot believe how bad this was. The first half wasn't alarmingly dreadful, but it just spiralled down very quickly. The ONLY thing that is worth a compliment is the main actress, Saoirse Ronan, she was quite good and held a quite terrible film up higher than it really should be.

City of Ember is a 2008 British-Irish-American science fiction fantasy film based on the 2003 novel The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau. It was directed by Gil Kenan from a screenplay by Caroline Thompson, and stars Saoirse Ronan, Harry Treadaway, Bill Murray, Mackenzie Crook, Martin Landau, Mary Kay Place, Toby Jones and Tim Robbins. It was released in October 2008, just two months after the release of the final book in the series; The Diamond of Darkhold. 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. Now, two teenagers in a race against time, must search Ember for clues that will unlock the ancient mystery of the city's existence, and help the citizens escape before the lights go out forever.

...but it never really bursts into flame in this adaptation of a somewhat popular young adult novel. Someone was obviously hoping to establish a new franchise to be exploited ala Harry Potter or the Twilight series, but alas, it was not to be, Tom Hanks support or not; "City of Ember" bombed at the box office. Problem: it's a mite too derivative (see other commentaries elsewhere) and a little too low-key for its own good. Saoirse "Hanna" Ronan is likable enough in the lead, but her co-star, Harry "Control" Treadaway, seems more of a cipher, leaving the audience somewhat indifferent to what happens to either of them, or anyone else in their poorly designed underground haven, for that matter.Sadly, there are just a few too many "Say whats?" and "Oh, c'mons!" in the scenario to allow discerning viewers to relax and enjoy willing suspension of disbelief. Underground quarters dedicated to the survival of the human race with one power source and no back-ups? How do they control their population? What happened to cultural/scientific progress/evolution? What about those ridiculous giant creatures? Job assignments by random lottery---really? That's incredibly inefficient, if not downright stupid. A lockbox with the key to eventual exit from this survival colony with no failsafe, entrusted to a single person--- really? An escape route that goes down, down, down and then forces everyone to climb up, up, up? Sadly, if one thinks too hard about the whole thing, it's just incredibly silly. None of these people remember the past? No one kept a history? And where's all the advanced machinery that ought to be running this little community? Did technology just sort of wither away? Very, very poor planning on the part of "The Builders," methinks.In its defense, "City of Ember" sports some sporty Brazil-castoff production/set design and costuming, and decent camera-work from sophomore director Gil Kenan's collaborator, Xavier Pérez "Monster House" Grobet, so I have at least mild hopes for Kenan's upcoming remake of "Poltergeist." Nonetheless, "City of Ember" fails to ignite any great sparks, and seems unlikely to spawn any sequels. This is likely a good thing. Meanwhile, folks like Bill Murray, Mary Kay Place, Toby Jones, Martin Landau, and Liz Smith take paychecks. I guess that's a good thing, too.Okay for the kiddies who may not have sufficient film/book experience to distinguish the mundane from genuine inspiration, but otherwise little more than just another example of Sturgeon's Revelation. Discriminate viewers can pass this one up and suffer no great loss.