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Film Title: City of Ember

 Best for ages: 7 and up.

Movie Website: Click Here

Year Released: 2008

Rated: PG (US)

SYNOPSIS

   After an Apocalypse occurs and renders the Earths surface uninhabitable, the survivors built an underground city of Ember which is run by a huge generator that gets it's energy from an underground river and help the human race live on.  Two hundred years later the generator is still going but is on the brink of failing. Many of Embers citizens reuse to believe that this could actually be the end, so they live their lives in denial that anything bad will happen. But something is about too and Doon Harrow the son of an inventor believes that the generator is in major need of repair, but he does not know how to get to it.  Doon meets up with a classmate of his Lina on what is known as Assignment Day, a day when kids becomes adults and are put to work in the city. When Lina's sister finds a box, it contains clues to the cities past. Doon and Lina soon realize that the city is in trouble and go on an adventure that involves clues to the mystery of the city.  However around every turn there is danger and as the mystery becomes clear the duo soon find out what the city was actually meant for and where the human race should be going. But there is something or someone that does not want them to solve this mystery.

VIOLENCE/GRAPHIC CONTENT/language

   There is a very little violence and graphic content in the film, but there is a lot of exciting action packed sequences that put our heroes in danger. There is a giant like mole that about the size of truck that have some features that make them look a bit scary. this creature chases them around and even kills an unlucky  main character off screen. But we're subject to just seeing the inside of the moles mouth rather than the kill take place.

   The Mayor of Ember has major issues and is the kind of politician that abuses his power. He really does not care for the kids either. There are scenes where he gets into arguments, fights and disagreements with many of the characters in the film. he locks one of his loyal friends out of a secret storage room and leaves him for dead.One of his head figures drags Lina into the mayor's office, and another one of his cronies in one scene forcefully and even psychically throws Doon out of a food storage unit onto the streets.  There are also a few other scenes in the film where minor characters and extras in certain roles take abuse from one another as well, but it's pretty much just a sign that the city is about to dwindle into chaos.

   Other than the things mentioned about there is really nothing else that I was able to point out. There might be a few little things here and there, but there is no bad language in the film at all and I think the only word that I really heard that might be anything offensive is when Lina delivers a messages and says something about being "sexy". 

OVERALL VIEWS

   City of Ember was a a lot of fun and I had a great time watching it.  The movie is really good, but I'm sure the book is better and this might be a read that you may want your kids to dive into before seeing the movie. Sure there are a few things that might be of concern but the movie is one of survival and the drive of the human spirit.  It has some very well written action and fantasy scenes that really give the movie a great push of excitement. I felt like a kid watching this film and got the same feeling of excitement when I watched movies like The Goonies and Monster Squad when I was a kid. It's a bundle full of fun.

   The film has great visual effect and some great production value. The set design is out of this world (or should I say under it) and you really feel like your there and part of the adventure. The movie has some new faces in it as well as some very familiar ones. Actors Bill Murray, Tim Robbins, Mary Kay Place, Mackenzie Crook and Martin Landau. The film was also produced by Tom Hanks. It's one of those film where your dazzled by the effects as well as the story.  it has a great script and is one of those movies that your kids will watch over and over again.

   The DVD does not have many features but does come on a flip disc which includes both the full screen and widescreen versions of the film. Still the DVD alone is worth the buy just for the movie. It's just one of those great films that fun for the whole family. It's a movie that about hope, love and human survival. Like I said its a movie that your kids will probably watch over and over again. It's a very fun fantasy, action film, and I highly recommend it.

BUY THIS MOVIE.