CITY OF EMBER

Well, it isn't quite the hidden gem I'd hoped for, but it is a pretty stone. Ember itself is an imaginatively designed world, with plenty of rusty bits and steam-punky pieces. That's what attracted me to this film, in the first place. Think low-rent City of the Lost Children.

The young people here, lead by Saoirse Ronan deal with a dilemma that's relevant our political situation, right now. My friends also noted the heavy Orwellian influences. ...And that's as far as I'll go into the plot.

The flaw that keeps it out of the "really good film" category for me is the rushed feel of this thing along with some overly-simplistic dialogue, common to kids' book-to-movie translations. The ending was also pretty abrupt.

But the idea? The actors (Tim Robbins, Martin Landau, Marie-Jean Baptiste, Toby Jones, Bill Murray)? And ESPECIALLY the set-design? Wonderful. I can even see this becoming a minor cult-classic in the future.

The kids behind me were definitely feeling this, talking at the screen-characters in a way that let me know they were really involved with the outcome. And there is a brilliant bit of creature-design that I can see leading to some unexpected nightmares for the kiddies.

...Yes, this a good thing, in my opinion.

...WHAT?!

I'm just saying, if I had to endure the Poltergeist clown and this ish...


I think it's okay for a matinée or rental, but I have a feeling the book's much better.


PARENTS: There is creeper of a creature, but I think a little scariness for the kids is a good thing. Your little ones, who have read the book will likely be disappointed, another good thing. :)