The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones Review

RYAN: This is the first in a potential new franchise, based on a series of very popular fantasy-adventure books by Cassandra Clare. Five of six in the series are already out; the sixth is yet to be published.

CAROLINE: I never read them.

RYAN: Nor have I, but I must admit I’m tempted to after this film. 

CAROLINE: That good, huh?

RYAN: It’s a great fantasy film and relatively well done.  The production value is less impressive at the beginning of the film but the effects are consistently cool throughout and the value picks up much steam.

CAROLINE: How do you mean?

RYAN: Well it may just be because the tone of the film begins in our regular world before the fantasy kicks in, but the start of the film felt a bit “after school special.”  It does become more sophisticated and slick as it goes on though.

RYAN: I can see why you might assume that if you’re unaware of this book series.  But it’s a very popular and fully realized concept.  There are supernatural characters and there’s some magic but it is definitely original.  Again I haven’t read any of the books yet, but judging just the film, it’s already off to a better start than Twilight.  This is way better than the first Twi-movie in every respect – better story, better acting, better hair and makeup, better effects…

CAROLINE: That may be blashphemy to some, Ry. How was Lily Collins?

RYAN: She is so beautiful.  I enjoyed her in Mirror Mirror and I liked her even more in this.  She just looks like a movie star, you know?

CAROLINE: Yeah, she and her Brooke Shields eyebrows.

RYAN: I was surprised a few times by this film.  I know fantasy pretty well and there are witches, warlocks, werewolves, vampires, demons, angels… But it’s very interesting where this goes.  A couple things will even gross you out and I’m not only referring to the effects of the nasty demons, which are indeed gross.

CAROLINE: This is PG-13.

RYAN: Yeah and it gets pretty dark at times but there’s not bad language or blood or nudity so it’s a good PG-13.

CAROLINE: What about Jamie Campbell Bower?

RYAN: I loved him in Sweeney Todd, singing “Johanna.” And he had zero lines but was seen in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows as Grindelwald.  This is the most I’ve ever seen him talk.  He’s good.  He needs a cookie, but he’s good.

CAROLINE: [laughs’ He is thin.  Hey what about Jonathan Rhys Meyers?  He’s in this too, right? 

RYAN: Yeah he’s the bad guy.  He’s great and I would have enjoyed even more of him.

CAROLINE: I like him too.

RYAN: There is a lot of set-up to do of the world in this story.  It’s about half human-half angel demon fighters called Shadowhunters and there is some mythology that wasn’t adapted as creatively as I’d have liked but the movie doesn’t take a hit for it.  I can’t imagine it’s easy to adapt all of that.

CAROLINE: I haven’t heard or seen that much buzz or anticipation for this movie.  How do you think it’ll do?

RYAN: I hope it does really well because I’d love to see more of this story and these characters.  I was totally into it.  It’s the best kind of fantasy that sweeps you right up into it.  But box office projections do not look good at this point.  Regardless, there is already an IMDb page for the sequel.

CAROLINE: That will be interesting to follow.

RYAN: There a wonderful build up.  It evolves like a snowball rolling down a hill, just getting bigger, more intense and twisty.  And I love that the movie doesn’t leave any loose ends or questions.  You get everything that is set up from the start.  See it and let’s hope for the next installment.

Thanks For Viewing The The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones Review