City of Ember (2008) : 5/5 STARS
City of Ember (2008) is a fantasy adventure film Directed by Gil Kenan and produced by Tom Hanks, based on the 2003 novel by Jeanne DuParau. The film is about an underground city, built by scientists and supported by a large generator. The city was designed to last 200 years but after the box handed down to each mayor gets lost, time runs out and the city starts to falter. Two adolescents, Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow attempt to find a way out of the city while escaping the ones trying to stop them. Gil Kenan had previously directed Monster House (2006) which was a fantastic animated Halloween movie that I still watch every year in October. After City of Ember (2008) he directed Poltergeist (2015) which I haven’t watched, but it won the ‘Worst Film Award’ at the Fangoria Chainsaw Awards. It’s fair to say that not much came after City of Ember (2008) and he’s only 44 so has plenty of time to make some great films, but I consider this one as his best.
In the movie Lina Mayfleet is played by Saoirse Ronan and Doon Harrow is played by Harry Treadaway, along with other notable actors involved such as Bill Murray, Tim Robbins, Toby Jones and Mackenzie Crook. It was most notably Saoirse Ronan’s 5th ever film, and one that led her to star in both The Lovely Bones (2009) and Hanna (2011). I only mention Saoirse in detail as she’s only two years older than myself and has achieved so much since her role in City of Ember (2008). I really appreciate that there is little romance to overshadow the adventure side of the movie, with main focus on the unravelling plot and intricate set. The set itself was based in an old paint hall in Belfast’s Harland and Wolff shipyard, transformed into the post-apocalyptic underground city.
Although plenty of people from Northern Ireland can recommend the film, the reviews for the film were average. Many of the negative reviews I’ve come across seem focused on comparing the books to the film, one reviewer stating “everyone left the theatre disappointed with what director Gil Kenan and screenwriter Caroline Thompson have given us with this translation from the page to screen.” (IMDB) Therefore I think this is one of those films you have to watch with an open mind, and then perhaps give the books a read afterwards. Overall I would recommend this film as it has a little bit of everything and is great to see Saoirse Ronan at the beginning of her acting career. When my home city is used both for filming on set and showing off Northern Ireland’s beautiful landscapes, that’s enough to encourage me to watch the film.
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