City of Ember

[Watashi]

http://www.cityofember.com/

I had this as an avatar a while back because I thought it was pretty cool.

Still looks cool from the trailer, and after his excellent debut, Monster House, I'm looking forward to anything Gil Kenan does next.

[megladon8]

Great cast, cool idea.

But another case of a trailer that seems to show pretty much everything.

[EyesWideOpen]

My wife is a school teacher and read this book to her students this year and loves the book.

I just had her watch the trailer and she hated every single thing about it.

[Sxottlan]

Looks intriguing.

[Sven]

Monster House may very well land in my top five films of the past three years, but I've gotta say, this looks kinda lameo.

[Kurosawa Fan]

That didn't look very good at all, but it did generate my interest in the book. So there's that.

[Spinal]

This was a wonderful surprise. Easily the best family film since Happy Feet. It's a thoughtful, captivating thriller with a first-rate cast. From the opening scenes, you know that you are in good hands and it all builds towards an exciting and ultimately moving finale. If this doesn't make my top 5 of 2008, it will have been an exceptional year for cinema. Highly recommended.

[Raiders]

Awesome. I'm all over this tomorrow. I was already psyched after Kenan's previous film was terrific.

[Watashi]

Seeing this in a hour.

Can't wait. Gil Kenan = Next Richard Donner?

[Spinal]

Looking forward to hearing from both of you. Hope you like it.

[number8]

It kinda sucked.

[Spinal]

Ha! 47% on the Tomatometer. I love going into films with no knowledge of the critical consensus. :)

[Watashi]

It kinda sucked.

Really? I thought you would like this.

Anyway, very good! Not as enthusiastic about it as Spinal is, but a good live-action debut from Gil Kenan who is slowly (along with Zach Helm) among my budding directors to look out for. The art direction was splendid, very Fritz Lang-inspired, as were the performances of the two leads (Saoirse Ronan is a doll), yet most of the plot is too hurried and the adult characters (Robbins and Murray) are not developed enough in their paper thin roles. It works as a nice companion piece to WALL-E and it's rare to see two post-apocalyptic children's movies in one year.

[DavidSeven]

Anyway, very good!


City of Ember (2008) 65

D'Angelo scale murders logic once again.

[Watashi]

"D'Angelo scale" murders logic once again.


I'm Not There (Haynes) **1/2
Tropic Thunder (Stiller) **

Don't make me even start.

[Watashi]

Technically I would give the film a 7/10 on non-D'Angelo scale, which a 65 (6.5) rounds up to be. It's not that murderous.

[DavidSeven]

Don't make me even start.

If you want to escalate, I will escalate.


52 is a positive score? Lay off the D'Angelo whack, brother.

[Watashi]

If you want to escalate, I will escalate.

Actually, 52 is not a positive score on D'Angelo's scale, so I have no idea what Rowland was saying.

[Sven]

6.5/10 is MUCH clearer than 65/100.

[/isn't helping]

[DavidSeven]

Actually, 52 is not a positive score on D'Angelo's scale, so I have no idea what Rowland was saying.

Well, if a 65 is "very good," it would be fair to assume that a 52 would be a passable (positive) rating on your scale as well.

[Watashi]

Well, if a 65 is "very good," it would be fair to assume that a 52 would be a passable (positive) rating on your scale as well.

Don't question the ratings, Seven. They have powers. Dark, wicked, godless powers.

[Spinal]

What did you think of the score, Watashi?

[Watashi]

Better?

[Watashi]

What did you think of the score, Watashi?

Good from what I heard. The theme was very recognizable and I'll probably track it down so I can hear it again, but I'm not too familiar with Andrew Lockington.

[Spinal]

The comparison to Wall-E in terms of thematics is apt, and for my money, this film is ultimately more satisfying in that regard, though I do not expect to get a long line of people agreeing with me.

[eternity]

I find both the source material and Gil Kenan's Monster House to be incredibly meh, so I'll wait for DVD.

[Kurosawa Fan]

This was a wonderful surprise. Easily the best family film since Happy Feet. It's a thoughtful, captivating thriller with a first-rate cast. From the opening scenes, you know that you are in good hands and it all builds towards an exciting and ultimately moving finale. If this doesn't make my top 5 of 2008, it will have been an exceptional year for cinema. Highly recommended.

Is it okay for my 7 year old?

[Spinal]

Is it okay for my 7 year old?

There is one part that seemed to be a little bit tense/scary for my kid. I have to spoilerize it, but in case you want to know:

A giant mole is roaming loose in one section of the city. It chases after people on a couple of occasions and seemed to freak out the kids in my audience a bit. A nice PG-rated thrill, but you'd have to make a call depending on your kid.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Hm. I think that would be okay. We watched The Spiderwick Chronicles, which he made it through (though if I had it to do over, I probably would have waited a year or so), and that seems tamer than the stuff that was in there. If we get a chance, maybe we'll go check it out. Thanks.

[number8]

Really? I thought you would like this.

I thought so too for the first 15 minutes. Did you read my review of it?

[Rowland]

I've never said I use the D'Angelo scale, you just assumed I was.

[Watashi]

This is already leaving our theater on Friday.

Children these days suck.

[Stay Puft]

This was fun. I liked the sets.

[Rowland]

This was pretty damn good. It works rather lucidly as political allegory and as a rousing adventure tale; the performances are uniformly strong, including Bill Murray as a hilariously smarmy villain; the art direction is splendid, backed up by convincing effects work; it doesn't patronize its young audience, with the courage of its convictions to include some surprisingly dark material and intricate, almost-abstract plotting; the direction is graceful, with many evocative touches; and it clocks in at a mere 90 minutes, so fatigue never has an opportunity to set in, which is unfortunately a double-edged sword in this case, because the plotting often comes across as overly rushed and sometimes even clumsy in its particulars, indicating more often than not the possibility of extensive, studio-mandated editing. Otherwise, while there isn't anything terribly fresh here material-wise, the intelligence, ambition, and skill clearly evident in its conception prove most satisfying. Quality stuff here.

[Spinal]

Some fair criticisms, but overall, I'm glad that you enjoyed it so much. I was rather bewildered by the critical (and Match Cut) indifference to this film.

[[ETM]]

I agree with Rowland to, and the running time did indeed leave a great sense of unfinished work. There were hints at detail, and I enjoyed that very much because it felt real, with some very inspired choices and concepts. But in the end it leaves a bitter taste because the bow is wrapped plot-wise but the hart is not exactly there yet in 90 minutes. Decent soundtrack too, if I might add. Three or four very nice tracks.

[Spinal]

According to Box Office Mojo:

Production Budget: $55 million
Worldwide Gross: $17.8 million

Ouch.