the Mortal Instruments the City of Bones re-watched

I enjoyed this movie a lot more than I expected I would.  I am not saying it was one of the ten best movies I saw this year.  I didn’t like it quite that much. The movie is based on a novel by Cassandra Clare.

The movie is about a young woman Clary, who discovers that she has a secret heritage. Her mother disappears and Clary meets Jace (Jamie Campbell Bower). Jace explains that he is a shadow hunter. Shadow Hunters are descended from angels and fight demons. Her best friend Simon(Robert Sheehan) is also swept up into the adventure.

Like I said, I liked the movie. I thought Lily Collins was really likable in her role. The romantic triangle with Clary, Simon, and Jace was not overdone. Simon had a few nice comments but the movie doesn’t ever have too much comic relief. The action was well staged. Collins has nice chemistry with Campbell Bower. Jonathan Rhys Meyers is good as the villain.

The movie is plot heavy. There is a lot to set up. Maybe if there is a sequel, less things will be needed to set up. However the movie is still good.

There is a good review on DVD Verdict.

When did Vampires and Werewolves become enemies?  Was that in the Underworld series?  I am just wondering.

the Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones was enjoyable.  This is based on the first book of the young adult series by Cassandra Clare. I thought it was pretty accessible for me and I haven’t read any of the books. (I’ve heard that the books are pretty good.)  I was only confused a few times and not for long.   I didn’t feel the movie ever really lost momentum to explain the back story.

In this movie a young woman, Clary, finds out that she is not a normal person.  She is a half angel called a Shadowhunter and Shadowhunters hunt demons.  Normal humans cannot see the Shadowhunters.   Demons are looking for the Mortal Cup that they think Clary’s mom has or has hidden. Clary discovers Jace (a Shadowhunter), who explains a lot of what’s going on. The quest is then on to find Clary’s mom and the Mortal Cup.

(Why exactly are vampires and werewolves at odds in this series?  Do the demons not have their own bodies?  Why does fighting demons mean you have to dress  in black leather?)

I thought the love triangle was not overdone.  Or would it have been a love square or two love triangles?  (Two love triangles might be the better way to say it.)  The three leads were good.  I thought Lily Collins was good and she grew stronger as the movie went on.

Maybe the movie is not as good as the last three Harry Potter movies but I think it was comparable to the first one or two.  I think it compares favorably to the Percy Jackson movies.  This is not as good as the Hunger Games movie.  I haven’t seen any of the Twilight movies, so I cannot know who this movie compares to any film in that series.

The movie bombed. There were plans for a sequel but those plans might be canceled by the movie’s bad box office.  This might be a failed franchise.   That might be a shame.  Sometimes sequels get better.  (Not always, see Spider-man 3 or better yet don’t see it.)