Bill Murray stars as a corrupt mayor in this fantasy-adventure flick that’s probably more suited to young viewers than adults. The “city of ember” is an underground village where the only light comes from a power generator. When teenagers Lina (Saoirse Ronan) and Doon (Harry Treadaway) find a box that includes an emergency plan that will get them out of the quickly deteriorating city, they start to set their escape into motion, infuriating the mayor and his team of cronies. While the movie, an adaptation of a Jeanne DuPrau novel, is well-crafted, its story doesn’t have quite the same magic as the Harry Potter movies or even the recent Spiderwick Chronicles. HH 1/2

This article appears in Oct 15-21, 2008.

Jeff has been covering the Cleveland music scene for more than 25 years now. On a regular basis, he tries to talk to whatever big acts are coming through town. And if you're in a local band that he needs to hear, email him at jniesel@clevescene.com.