City of Ember, the sort of movie I would've  worshipped as a kid, boasts a unique style and emphasis on discovery reminiscent of Flight of the Navigator, The Goonies and other countless adventures comprising my cinematic diet back in the day. At the risk of sounding like a crotchety old-timer, they just don't make movies like this anymore, for truly riveting tales all too often get pushed to the side in favor of something heavy with lame-brained pratfalls. Although perhaps not the "be all, end all" of family pictures, City of Ember has a lot more going for it than a good chunk of the material usually aimed at the grade-school set.

Once upon a time, a catastrophic disaster forced a fraction of mankind to retreat into an underground city called Ember. A box was entrusted to the city's mayors, a box that would open in 200 years and provide instructions about what to do next. But those two centuries have passed, and the box has long since been lost to the sands of time. It's especially unfortunate, since the generator keeping Ember surging with power has begun to fail, and various sections of the city are crumbling apart as well. With a lame-duck mayor (Bill Murray) who assures the people of Ember that everything's under control, the task of figuring out how to save the city falls into the hands of two children. Lina (Saoirse Ronan), a rambunctious girl who uncovers the forgotten box, joins forces with stalwart pipe worker Doon (Harry Treadaway) in order to defy the mayor and escape Ember before it's too late.

City of Ember opened in the fall of 2008 to a rather chilly reception, especially in terms of finanical success. It was easily overshadowed by the likes of High School Musical 3 and Beverly Hills Chihuahua, though I don't know why. This film has more spark (pardon the pun) in one frame than those two offerings included in their entireties, but for some reason, kids didn't respond too well. Perhaps it was too retro-looking for their tastes, too offbeat and risky to dive into right off the bat. But if being original and creative is a crime, then consider City of Ember guilty as charged. It's the first movie I've seen in many an age that immerses you in such a fantastic, complex world with seemingly little effort. Though director Gil Kenan (Monster House) firmly establishes Ember as not a great place to live, I still felt like diving through the screen and exploring the city on my own. It's a veritable labyrinth, packed with all sorts of gadgets, gizmos, mazelike corridors, and lights as far as the eye can see. Kenan does a masterful job of bringing Ember to life and ensuring that you don't forget it too soon.

Besides being flat-out amazing on a visual scale, City of Ember also hooks you in with its solid storytelling. Kenan carefully establishes the mystique behind Ember's existence before launching Lina and Doon into an engaging race against time. It goes without saying, though, that the first two-thirds work better than the last part of the film where the script appeared to drop what it was doing and make a mad dash to the end credits. The climax feels painfully rushed, and a few too many questions are left unanswered. Much like The Golden Compass, City of Ember sets itself  up for the sequel it really, really wants. I'm fine with being kept in the dark on some matters, but when you throw in a multitude of half-developed supporting characters and a few bizarre creatures without explanation, I can't help being irked. Still, kudos for Treadaway and (especially) Ronan for delivering spunky and spirited performances. Some of the adult cast members are left in the dust (Murray included), but these kids know just how to get you rooting for them during their perilous quest.

Now that City of Ember has made its DVD debut, I hope parents will take the time to introduce this gem to their little ones. It's a tad scary at times, but it contains an adventurous spirit and a valuable message about hanging onto hope in the darkest of hours.

MY RATING: *** (out of ****)

(Released by Fox-Walden and rated "PG" for mild peril and some thematic elements.)