Review of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (2013) by Richard C — 30 Jan 2016

Oh I'm not sure I have enough time to list all the things wrong with this adaptation. But let me begin by saying that it's not the worst movie you'll ever see. Based on Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instrument series which I have read the film centers on the plot line in the first book the least good one in my opinion, As a young woman Clary whom discovers her hidden birth right when her mother is contacted. It's all very complicated. Let's just say it involves witches, warlocks, vampires, werewolves, a mortal cup, demons and shadow hunters. The main problem here isthe insipid rushed direction of Harold Zwart who did so much better with The Karate Kid reboot. Theres no growth for any of the characters or storyline and the film feels jumbled and clunky. It has a very hard time finding any flow. The sad thing is that for the first half it's pretty entertaining before receding into some abc family nonsense. It also doesn't help that the costumes and makeup are laughably bad and the film's casting director should be shot. We have Lily Collins well enough in the lead role but Jamie Campbell Bower as the sexy, brooding, sarcastic, pigheaded Jace is a major miscast. Let's forget for a second that he looks like a crackhead lesbian his mannerisms are completely off and he doesn't have a lick of masculinity or sexual prowess that made him so alluring in the books. The roles of Isabelle is played decently but lacks the fierce sexy edge that she had in the books and Kevin Zegers as Alec really??? he's not unattaractive but he's in his 30's supposedly playing like a 15 yr. old. Magnus Bane, Simon and Luke fare a bit better but their characters aren't given much to do. Only Lena Headey as Clary's mother and Johnathan Rhys Meyers(except for those braids) raise slightly above the material. It's really a sad thing because although the book franchises standard of quality doesn't match up to the harry potter, twilight or hunger games series it still had quite a bit to work with. Instead it's a soul less, rushed cash in on the material that has it's moments but ultimately falters under a desperate attempt to create a new mega franchise that will never be.

2.5/5.