I went into the movie with really, really low expectations so there wasn't much it could do to disappoint.
It wasn't terrible but it wasn't amazing, spectacular or anything that made me want to run right out and buy the series. Visually it's a pretty movie but there's no substance.
One of the things that really stood out were the ridiculous names, like Clary Fray, that scream Mary Sue. Oh and Jace is totally 'Draco in leather pants'*
*Why Draco in Leather Pants? Oh well, the person who wrote this series started out in the HP fandom and is responsible for the Draco in Leather Pants meme:
http://fanlore.org/wiki/Fanon_Draco
http://fanlore.org/wiki/Draco_Sinister
Luckily, I watched the series first, and then this one. It tries too hard to fit a lot of action, emotions, and lore into 2 hours, and it doesn't manage to do so, so it's quite apparent why a series format is better for this type of fantasy (and for most of the stories in general, I start to believe).
There's NO chemistry between any of the characters. I am fine with Lily Collins as Clary, maybe even with Robert Sheehan as Simon and Lena Headey as Jocelyn, but everyone else feels like miscast and terrible dull and anti-charismatic - especially the actor playing Jace.
Unfortunately, this is just a bad and very forgettable movie. I definitely wouldn't be interested in watching the series if I would've watched this first.
Worse movie I have saw this year! The only good thing is Meyers :)
I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. I actually thought it was far more enjoyable than the books! And Meyers - of course - shines, even when his frame time is pretty short :)
this shouldn't have been a thing if they couldn't be 100% certain they'd make at least a second movie because wtf. we just abandon Alec halfway through the movie and don't even get to know if he survives?? and how does jace not care? the jace I know would move the earth for him. and the fact that this movie makes me, a certified jace hater, speak up in his defence should say enough
I definitely prefer the TV show adaptation over the movie.
I mean, this was kinda fun, but honestly just way too rushed. I can’t imagine people not being confused while watching this if they don’t know the story yet. Truly, I know the whole thing by heart and even I still suffered from whiplash.
It was also hard to feel a connection to the characters because of the terrible pacing, empty dialogue and awkward acting. Everything honestly just fell a bit flat.
This movie really needed to be a thought out part of a franchise. They threw in too much in a single piece so we don’t really get to know the characters, understand how the alternative reality worked or settle into the scope of the conflict. Great cast, who gave great performances. It just needed a more cohesive direction. One good thing about having seen it, though - I’m going to listen to the books. I think there is something there to discover. I give this film a 7 (okay) out of 10. [Fantasy]
I thought the world building was pretty cool for this movie some interesting concepts and rules are developed for the story
some decent action scenes
overall though has too many cliches of the young adult fiction genre the characters are mostly unrelatable or I just don't care about them
I mean I know I'm not the target audience of the books or this movie but still
6.5/10 - It has its moments but isn't that good IMO. I miss the TV show, which I liked much much more (but the beginning was also a bit rough). Clary, Simon, and Isabelle (and maybe Luke) where decent characters that I liked more than the other characters. The story has a lot of potential but I feel like it's too much to fit into a single movie and that the TV show had it much easier. I also think that this movie went with a too exotic art/clothing style. Anyway, I like the main theme song :)
Your average YA escapade which performed well enough at times then at others it fell back on some truly dodgy dialogue.
One thing outside the normal tropes though - the usual love triangle turned into a love rectangle then turned into surprise incest? Like wow. Actually did not see that coming.
The last section dragged and the whilst the runes were cool the magical clean up scene was a bit too Harry Potter for my tastes. All in all, I would have watched a sequel if they'd made it.
The scene early in the movie of Clary's mom in their apartment was insane. The cgi monsters were truly terrifying and some of the best I've seen. I think I also appreciate it more because it's well-lit and not a skulking creature dimly-lit where you see little details. Overall, I would recommend for genuine young adult (YA) audience targeted in books but not for anyone looking for cinematic substance.
If you aren't massively into paranormal - werewolfs, vampires, angels - then this movie is probably really boring for you.
SPOILERS OF THE BOOKS
I love the story line a lot.
So much that I bought the whole book series and couldn't stop.
I'm definitely glad that Jace and Clary aren't siblings!!
I read the first three books of this series and so I was curious to see how they would pull it all off. Of course, books rarely ever live up to the books, but this movie was beyond bad. It was bad enough as a movie, but when comparing it to the book it only gets worse. There was so much potential here for a good movie but it just doesn't live up to it at all.
Well, not bad and certainly worth watching. But it if you're expecting something as epic as Lord of the Rings or fantastic as the Harry Potter series you will be left disappointed for sure: City of Bones doesn't have enough depths, both regarding plot as well as characters, and cast the also not above average IMHO.
I'm not sure whether I am going to watch the sequel(s) and most certainly am never going to watch this first installment again...
Dont like it, too simple
I thought the whole Twilight franchise was awful but despite the dreadfulness of those movies, the plot was never unclear to even those with IQ deficiencies. I can't say the same about The Mortal Instruments.
Angels, demons, werewolves, vampires, zombies.... no, wait, zombie doesn't exist ;)
Just Awful, go read the book!
Same level as twilight, bad
Pretty awful. Bad YA-fanfic, essentially.
It's a great movie but they changed the whole important things from the book, pretty sure if I hadn't read the book I'd like it more.
i was surprised by the movie i though that i wont like it but i did!
The chemistry between Lilly and Jamie was amazing! For this worth watched the movie. Besides visually pretty, but no specific content in the middle. So pretty a shell.
I had low expectations, but still I was disappointed. Thank god for eye candy Collins...
A good review!
"Teen love triangle? Check. Werewolves and vampires? Check. This is film-making at its most cynical"
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/aug/22/the-mortal-instruments-city-of-bones-review
1 point is fore whore dress.
Also it is not even so bad THAT it would be good.
Even the incest part is not worth of a point.
Muy pero, muy buena, grandes efectos y excelentes actuaciones me encanto :D
The demons were the best part-great great animation. The acting and dialogue was PAINFUL! Terribly executed for such a cool storyline with lots of cool details and parts.
Well...this was a disapointment. Booring and mushy. Had high hopes that Zwart could make a mediocre book a somewhat watchable movie, but I guess not. And who decided on that god awful soundtrack?!?
Everything was enjoyable apart from the soundtrack. I would've loved to see more character development for Alec, Magnus and Valentine.
Hate that they focus so much on the mushy love story
Film Analysis - “The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones” is a supernatural adventure that is never “mundane.”
When Clary Fray’s house is turned upside down and her mum is nowhere to be seen she learns that she descends from Shadowhunters who protect the world from demons. She joins forces with them to discover who she really is and find her mother.
Starring Lily Collins, Jamie Campbell Bower, Robert Sheehan, Jemima West, Kevin Zegers, Jared Harris, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Lena Headey, Aidan Turner, and Godfrey Goa.
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones is a book to movie adaptation based on the worldwide best-selling fantasy book series by author Cassandra Clare. It is a film many fans have anticipated, and it’s finally here! I feel like I have had a baby because I have been waiting nine months to see the film! I went to the premiere and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this!
The film version of The Mortal Instruments is a well made supernatural fantasy thriller that captures the beauty of Clare’s extraordinary and unique Shadowhunter world. It boasts a brilliant cast, great action sequences, dark cinematography, and a strong witty script. It is actually not a simple film, as you can tell from this rather extensive and complex review where I have attempted to shed light at some of the films intricacies. So, as one of the film’s stars Jamie Campbell Bower would say in his English accent, grab yourself a cup of tea (or a cappuccino with an angelic rune design in it), relax, and have a read!
Clarissa “Clary” Fray (Lily Collins) is the empowered female protagonist at the center of the story. She is an artistically gifted teen living with her single mother Jocelyn (Lena Headey) in New York City. On her birthday, she finds herself a part of a dark and mysterious world unknown to her, or rather, hidden from her. If you thought New York was bustling metropolis before, just wait till you see this movie!
Read more at Breakaway Daily (http://breakawaydaily.com)
Magnus and Valentine were disappointing, and the role of Alec could have been written better, but apart from that it was a decent book conversion with very good actors.
That movie is SO boring. I like the books and was expecting something nice, but it was SO boring. I give it a 5 'cause some scenes had really good photography and because Luke and Magnus are watchable.
I absolutely adored this movie most of the time. There were somes scenes I hated, namely the very ending scene, but overall it was pretty damn good. I didn't like how they gave away a few key plot points from the later books, but I suppose it's understandable in regards to making things easier to understand for the crowd who haven't read it. Also, terrible soundtrack, but oh well. The good outweighed the bad.
Shout by DeletedBlockedParent2013-12-01T00:50:21Z
It was actually much better than I had expected.