Good start, but then it gets ruined

Good concept, poorly executed.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

Blistering performances.

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.

I kinda like the the trailer, okay, but trust me, this movie is not worth it to watch for. You will just waste your precious hour. I kinda a bit regret it.At first, i think the story is quite interesting and unique. Let say, 15 minutes at the beginning you will feel like... oh wow, it's an interesting concept. 30 minutes later, you would say..err okay, so what's next? ( the story kind of left many plot holes especially since i do not read the book so like hell i will know what happen. There are too many things left unexplained, come from out of nowhere, or just left out-untouched ). Then you will start to wonder and doubt yourself, should you stop watching it or just continue it. I decided to continue it, since i still expect things would turn out to be better. It was a false hope. The development of the story itself and the character, were so poor. Everything seemed so rush and the ending was so horrible.

...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.

I really enjoyed this film – it had a fairly interesting and original idea that of a disaster befalling mankind and the only escape was to construct a sort of generational enclosed underground city (similar to the idea of a generational spaceship travelling from a polluted earth to find a new earth) but then the purpose is forgotten over time. In this case the power is running out and there's a corrupt Mayor (played by Bill Murray) with his evil sidekick played by the splendid Toby Jones. Over time the instructions for exiting the city are lost and forgotten. Martin Landau also makes a cameo appearance. The production design of the retro underground city and its associated (very analog) technology is believable and excellent. There is a strong emphasis on engineering and mechanics rather than computers and software which when you want something to last 200 years makes sense with a small enclosed population which needs to self- sustain itself with limited resources and which is in a back-to basics de-evolving state. Very good – but as with 'When Worlds Collide' (1951), 'Logan's Run' (1976) and 'THX 1138' (1971) I would have liked to have seen more of the 'new world' and the way in which our protagonists adapt (or fail to adapt) to it. There's a nice (predictable) sunrise scene at the end of the film which I was fully expecting.