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First City of Ember Trailer Lights Up!

by Alex Billington
May 15, 2008
Source: Official Website

The first full trailer for the new family fantasy film City of Ember has launched. The trailer does a great job of explaining the story and concept and I must say this looks thoroughly entertaining. It has been a long time since I've seen an adventure fantasy film of this caliber. I really believe a great film like this is necessary to establish an ideal for the kids of this generation, and City of Ember looks like it could be it. You can't deny that this looks and feels like a kids movie, but it's still something even I'm excited to see, quite a bit! If you need any more encouragement, the film is about an underground city full of warm yellow lights, but the city's generator begins to fail and the lights begin to flicker.

Did anyone else get a feeling like this was a mix of The Truman Show and Dark City, but made for children? I honestly think this looks great - the trailer is really energetic and thrilling and the production design looks simply wonderful. Plus its got Bill Murray as Mayor, Martin Landau, and Oscar-nominated youngster Saoirse Ronan. What are your thoughts after watching the trailer?

Watch the first trailer for City of Ember:

You can also watch the City of Ember trailer in High Definition on the Official Website

City of Ember is directed by Gil Kenan, of the animated movie Monster House previously, with a script by Caroline Thompson, of Homeward Bound, The Secret Garden, and Nightmare Before Christmas previously. The film is based on the Book of Ember series of books written by Jeanne DuPrau. City of Ember arrives in theaters on October 10th this year. The first teaser poster is featured below.

City of Ember Poster

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Related categories: Hype, To Watch, Trailers

Kevin

I read this book when I was younger. I remember it being very good, so this has a chance.
Andrew

This looks like right up my alley! =)
Iron Man Fan

looks cool
coyo

let me guess the city wasn't needed everything is fine topside.
E

This was a FLAWLESS book ... this movie could be excellent. I look forward to it ... and coyo: you're WRONG. Learn to read instead of making assumptions. I hope they will keep all of the powerful moral and social issues the book brought up in place. Its a powerful book for adults as well as children. I highly recommend it. The second book ... hmmm ... not so much. But The City Of Ember is a must read. I'm looking forward to this movie.
IHateChildren

The first thing I thought of when I saw this trailer was "Wow...this reminds me of Bioshock". It looks good, I'll probably take my younger siblings to see it.
Jojo

Wow something fresh, unique and much different then usual fantasy children flicks and that too from FOX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fox sucks but damn this looks very good. I will be there opening weekend.
Richard

Reminds me of Bioshock for some reason.
Djo

People who say it reminds them of BioShock are dealing only with surface. The textures are similar - and the similarity ends there. Everything reminds one of a videogame, if they haven't taken the time to immerse themselves fully in the richness and variety of the nuanced, imaginary Reality of books, perhaps... At any rate- this looks top notch. Although Alex's assertion that 'this generation needs a movie like this'? Looks a bit traumatic & paranoid, doncha think? Like a combination of Goonies & the Truman Show. I'm sure kids'll love it. That's the ticket, after all, ennit? Teach them to question reality nice & EARLY ... I say go for it, kiddos. The society your parents have handed you certainly ain't cuttin' it!
Josh Rowe

That sounded really good in my cheap headphones
coolio

i can't describe how bad the trailer looks..
Young Dave

You're kind of spoiling the ending by revealing that the city is actually underground.
http://blog.myspace.com/shero_rauf shero

It really looks nice ... by the way Alex ...why there is no posts or topics about the Cannes festival .... I am asking because there will be nice movies there too ...and if you can to give some topics about the events...
http://www.firstshowing.net Alex Billington

Shero, there really is just no time and space to fit in Cannes coverage... I'm swamped already and about to start excessive Indiana Jones hype, too, and really don't have time to do Cannes write ups. I'll see what I can do and I know it's a big event that I love reading about too... Stay tuned!
IHateChildren

*Sigh No Djo, it's not just the 'textures' that reminds me of Bioshock. It's the whole retro look and 'dying city' scenario. Have you ever even played the game? With your snobby 'books or bust' attitude, I'm surprised you even own a computer.
Djo

All I'm saying, IHC, is that if the book came first - Bioshock should remind you of the book; and not the other way around; if you're paying attention to the culture you're living in. And for the look & feel, there's another film that this is taking cues from: "City of Lost Children". I assure you Lost Children are far more interesting than regular children, IHC. Give it a look - you won't be disapointed.
Djo

(Apologies for the semi-colons & typos. Typing at work ... best get back to it!)
http://9thsf-igc.com SHANE D

I did think of BIOSHOCK when I saw the trailer................... BILL is in it so I will stream it
Alfredo

trailer looks pretty nice. The logo, on the other hand, looks a little too cheesy... like a superhero logo or something.
http://movieguyreviews4u.blogspot.com Ryan

Very cool but I really hate the logo. It makes it look like a movie it isn't. I love Gil Kenan. He is so original and innovative with somewhat scary concepts and giving them a wide and family-friendly appeal.
http://movieguyreviews4u.blogspot.com Ryan

Very cool but I really hate the logo. It makes it look like a movie it isn't. I love Gil Kenan. He is so original and innovative with somewhat scary concepts and giving them a wide and family-friendly appeal...
DavidR

Man, I loved this book too, glad to see faithful adoptions on beloved material.
http://blog.myspace.com/shero_rauf shero

Thanks Alex for the replay and don't worry you really got a lot of work and I respect that ... and as you said I will be near by ..if anything came out .. thanks again
http://www.cityofember.com Blair Landon

The trailer looks so good you know the movie is going to be awesome. I love how dark and ominous the sets look, and that the plot of the apocalypse looming just ahead really relates to today’s world. Plus Bill Murray playing the villainous Mayor Cole is not something I want to miss! My name is Blair and I am an official ambassador for City of Ember and I have access to first-look pics of the movie not seen in the trailer, which I would be more than happy to share with you. I would love to have your help spreading the word about City of Ember and get the buzz going! I hope I’m not over stepping any bounds by posting on your blog. Hope to speak with you soon. Best, Blair Landon Official Ambassador Blair.ambassador@gmail.com
john

Its Journey to the SURFACE of the earth!
Alora

Hello all, I teach elementary school and I have read this book to my classes two years in a row. They both loved it! They always want me to read the next book in the series, People of Sparks. I simply LOVE this book and the imagination it takes for my kids to try and figure out the "secret code" and exactly where they live, is what kids need more of these days. I agree that knowing they live underground does spoil a bit of the mystery of the plot; however, the movie could still be fantastic. One thing I dont' understand about the trailer is the noise they hear in the tunnel. Is that supposed to be the river? It sounded like a growl. Either way, it looks promising. -Alora P.S. My husband plays Bioshock and the trailer did not remind me of the game at all. Bioshock has a creepy feeling, the trailer is mysterious.
Al

It really does remind me of a less creepy Rapture I also saw a brief glimpse of the logo "For the Good of All Mankind" in large letters - which is exactly what you see in the first room of Bioshock.
fatcat

bioshock? city of lost children? - only a trailer but this felt bereft of originality. the socre was dreadful & so was the acting seemingly
Dyi

Looks like a good adaptation. (Wonder if "The Seventh Tower" will be adapted...)