Film Review Mortal Instruments, The City of Bones

Film Mortal Instruments, City of Bones Review

 

Synopsis
When her mother disappears, Clary Fray learns that she descends from a line of warriors who protect our world from demons. She joins forces with others like her and heads into a dangerous alternate New York called Downworld.

My Musings

I was really looking forward to mortal Instruments, I 'd really enjoyed the book even though there are continual whispers of plagiarism. Well as far as I'm concerned all writers and artists take inspiration from something and Clare makes this world her own. I really liked the casting . It is set up nicely with Lilly Collins playing Clary when she discovers she is a Shadow Hunter and holds the secret to where the Mortal cup is hidden which everyone is searching for. The Action is fast and furious and the growing romance builds in knowing looks between Clary and Jace much to the distress of Simon her BF. The look of the film is great, totally OTT with Gothic rock looks abounding. Bowers poses well and looks like he spent longer in the hairdresser than Clary. (I wasn't complaining) However it is the directing that lets the film down ultimately. It's a little fragmented which is not surprising as these are BIG books to put on to screen. The story isn't told clearly enough of the different worlds. The action as i said is goood but can border on the childish.

The WORST part though is the werewolves. Such great characters int he books but OMG. I though the ones in Twilight were bad but these make Michael J Fox in Teen Wolf look up to date. The actors also acted like they new it was embarrassing. I am not sure if the director could decide to go for the Harry Potter children's audience or Twilight teen audience so it was a bit of a mish mash.  I feel it could have been al ot darker but don't want to lose the humour as Jace especially has some great lines thought the books.  Jonathan Rhys Meyers makes a great baddie, altho a little young for the book character. I did feel he wasn't used enough, just popped up at the end for a great fight scene and also I feel he was slumming it a teenie bit and hopefully if they do the next film he will believe in himself a bit more.  Also looking forward to seeing more of Magnus Bane , great looking actor but may need acting lessons before next one. (nothing that can't be fixed:))

Disappointed also in the recreation of the kissing scene on Clary's birthday in the flower garden. I loved that part of the book but they made it look like a Disney movie when it should have been breathtakingly romantic.

All in all i understand why it didn't set the box office alight as it tryied to be all things to all people. However i really hope it does well enough that they will do another. They should start filming this month so the signs are good.  But they should build on the darker edgier element and leave the silly childish monsters alone. Make the editing tighter and more caustic humour would be great. There are some interesting relationship to build on and This is pure escapism and if this genre has past it's peak i really think there is still room for this series. I am on the 3 rd book and the plots and twists are great. Can't wait!

If you like this you might like

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, TV
Twilight, Film
Harry Potter, film
Merlin, TV

His Fair Assasin Series by Robin LaFevers

Book one, Grave Mercy
Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?
Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.
Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart

Book 2 Dark Triumph

Sybella’s duty as Death’s assassin in 15th-century France forces her return home to the personal hell that she had finally escaped. Love and romance, history and magic, vengeance and salvation converge in this thrilling sequel to Grave Mercy.

Sybella arrives at the convent’s doorstep half mad with grief and despair. Those that serve Death are only too happy to offer her refuge—but at a price. The convent views Sybella, naturally skilled in the arts of both death and seduction, as one of their most dangerous weapons. But those assassin’s skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to a life that nearly drove her mad. And while Sybella is a weapon of justice wrought by the god of Death himself, He must give her a reason to live. When she discovers an unexpected ally imprisoned in the dungeons, will a daughter of Death find something other than vengeance to live for?

My musings
This is the start of a great and addictive series. A wonderful miz of medieval history and fantasy. The first book sets the scene and backround for future stories and the story of our first heroine, Ismae. One of a handful of young women taken into the convent of St Mortain where they are trained to become assasins. The second tells of the very unstable Sybella and really isa a new take on Beauty and the Beast. I loved this one even more than the first. Darker with sensitive issues a really gripping read as Sybella fights her own inner demons as well as trying to out manipulate her manipulators.
Swashbuckling romance this series hails a new voice for those with a more historical tastes but who also like a pinch of fantasy thrown in. A machiavellian setting. Who will they trust, what pather will they follow? Their heart oro their head.

For more on the author
http://www.robinlafevers.com/books/

If you like this you will like
Books
Throne of Glass series, City of Bnes series. The Borgia Bride by Kalogridis, Pirate and Sovay by Celia Rees
Film and Tv

Game of Thrones, Alias, Xena Warrior Princess(sorry couldn't resist)