REEL CRITICS:

The mysterious “City of Ember” is deep underground and self contained in every way. It was fashioned by unknown builders to provide a safe haven for mankind when life on the surface became untenable. The founders built a giant generator with a complex water and plumbing system. It was designed to service the surviving population for 200 years until the surface became inhabitable again.

The movie begins near the end of the 200-year period when the master generator is starting to fail. Blackouts are common, and panic begins to overcome the populace. But the current leaders don’t know the end game intended by the builders. Bill Murray is excellent as the clueless mayor whose ignorance compounds the problems. Martin Landau and Tim Robbins have great supporting roles.

But a couple of earnest teenagers become the real heroes when they figure out the master escape plan of the builders. The plot borrows heavily from other PG-rated science fiction fantasy films. “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” “The Golden Compass” and the “Narnia” series come to mind. Like those other efforts, the adventures that follow provide a family-friendly movie experience.

Implausible ‘Body of Lies’ is DOA

I would like to be able to say that “Body of Lies” is a great movie, instead of a disappointment.

I’d like to be able to say the story made sense, instead of being an implausible muddle.

I’d like to say the teaming of Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio as CIA operatives was fierce and awe-inspiring. Instead, we only see them posturing and going through the motions, with Crowe literally phoning in his performance.

I’d like to have seen a clever thriller centered on Middle East terrorism and the search for a bin Laden-type villain. Instead we get a mix tape of “The Bourne Supremacy,” ”The Departed” and “Blood Diamond.”

Leo is frantically trying to be king of the world with shaky accents and feverish intensity — over what, exactly, we’re never sure. Russell Crowe, as his smirky boss, recreates the chubby schlub look from his role in “The Insider.”

The film zips around the globe amid a dizzying array of satellite surveillance shots, terrifying explosions and ominous black sedans.

Director Ridley Scott is trying to create a frenzy of emotion and tension that just isn’t there.

I would like to say that an interesting premise finally comes up that could have saved this “Body,” but oops too late — it’s already been taken off life support.

JOHN DEPKO is a Costa Mesa resident and a senior investigator for the Orange County public defender’s office. SUSANNE PEREZ lives in Costa Mesa and is an executive assistant for a financial services company.