City of Ember

I like a good science fiction flick, not too often though but I prefer them to fantasy and romantic comedies any day of the week. I knew absolutely nothing about this movie, I never saw a trailer or heard it’s title out loud, but checking out the trailer I thought I would give it a little look-see. It was visually compelling, I loved the decay and the atmosphere an existence of 100watt light bulbs could do to a civilization.

Due to an unspecified disaster making the earth uninhabitable, a small fraternity of engineers known as “the Builders” created a city under the earth that would sustain life for 200 years. Placing the instructions of escape into a time-capsule that will be protected by each Mayor of Ember and will open to show everyone the way out.

Time goes on and the box is passed down to each Mayor, until the case becomes forgotten and tucked away in the back of a closet where the countdown hits 200 and the box silently unlocks. At this time, the generator that has been powering the city for two centuries begins to breakdown, causing blackouts in the city lat leave everyone in a frightening darkness each time. Each blackout is getting longer and the food rations are depleting, no one feels the need to find a way out of Ember more than Doon and Lina. Two teenagers with curious minds and who were destined to be Ember’s saviors.

Lina, a direct descendent from the seventh mayor finds the box in her grandmother’s closet and finds a crumbled message written by the Builders. Intrigued, she finds Doon and asks for his help. The two search the pipes for clues, and reveal that their father’s had joined forces many years earlier and sought the exit. The journey ended in disaster as Lina’s father drowned, and Doon’s father gave up. Together they discover the mysteries of Ember and unlock the puzzle that was left to them.

The set design was phenomenal and the cast selection was great, but it was more adventure than action.