Comments on: City of Ember: Worth Watching

By: Jha

Jha — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:23:59 +0000

I'm really late on this discussion, but I definitely felt some of what was being discussed in here. I did a quick review of it on my Livejournal here

By: Yo-so-no-name

Yo-so-no-name — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:34:11 +0000

I don’t think they should of used two actors of THAT age difference, because what if in the 4th book the writer decides to hook them up? would a say 20 year old want to snog a 13 year old? I think not! it just wouldn’t be right. but the film is fantastic and I think the lack of romance may be a good thing.
But hey! I love romance between characters my OWN age, hate adult romances for some reason, doesn’t seem real enough to me, I think there should be some major Lina/Doon romance action in the 4th book or following books! wo0t! The writer (names left me) should have what HP books had in the finale book, 17 years in the future thing but they don’t live that long in ember so maybe like 5 year when like you see Lina and Doon getting married maybe? oh well see what that fantastic writer comes up with! (someone please tell me her/his name!) thanks.

By: Brinstar

Brinstar — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 04:29:05 +0000

I want to see this movie. Mainly, because oliemoon said the book was good. I haven’t read the book, though.

By: SunlessNick

SunlessNick — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:52:58 +0000

I’m definitely keeping an eye out for this.

By: KLee

KLee — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 06:35:21 +0000

Revena,

really? I would love to compare titles/authors with you some time.

I would also rec Nelson’s The Girl Who Owned a City (older YA). It starts a bit with a similar premise to the classic Trek episode “Miri,” in that all the adults are killed by a plague leaving a world of children. One girl starts to organize her street & it grows from there.

Less likely to be found anywhere but worth the search is Wilanne Schneider Belden’s ‘Mind’ series.

By: Revena

Revena — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 05:08:08 +0000

KLee – yeah, I’m a big YA speculative fiction fan. I’ll have to track down some of Hoover’s stuff!

By: KLee

KLee — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 03:56:17 +0000

revena,

I agree, it certainly seems as if marketing really dropped the ball. I have to wonder whether the ad budget was really small or was put primarily towards ad time on Nickelodeon and Saturday mornings.

If you like reading Juv books, then I would definitely recommend Hoover’s This Time of Darkness… that is if you can find it at your local library system. The book does show it’s age a bit but Hoover’s novels are classic children’s sci-fi and most of the author’s books, if memory serves, feature strong female protagonists. I would also recommend Hoover’s Children of Morrow, which has a not as well done IMO sequel called Treasures of Morrow. All 3 stories are set in rather dystopian futures but ultimately end on a good note.

Although I had to sell most of my collection, I used to collect my favorite juv/ya books, mostly SF-F or future/apocalyptic adventures, that featured strong female characters. I’ve fallen out of the loop on my reading list so I haven’t even looked at the “City of Ember” novel.

By: Revena

Revena — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 10:45:35 +0000

Scarlett – that’s part of why I mentioned it, actually. Even when the female characters are talking about men, it’s not the usual way around in this film.

By: Scarlett

Scarlett — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 10:30:39 +0000

At one point, Lina asks an old friend of her father’s about him.

I dont’t think that even counts. When it’s obvious the female in question has no romantic interest in the male in question I think it negates the ‘talking about men’ thing. (Scarlett would do a tongue-in-cheek face if she could find the key.)

By: Revena

Revena — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 08:05:30 +0000

KLee – I wondered about that myself. I got really excited when I saw previews for City of Ember several months ago, but I hadn’t realized it was in theaters until I checked the paper to see what was playing locally right before we went to see it. It seems like marketing dropped the ball.

I haven’t read This Time of Darkness, but it sounds interesting. Would you recommend it?