The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

Judith Rumelt aka Cassandra Clare is best known for The Mortal Instruments Series of books that has been apparently very well received out west over the past 5-7 years.  But what does Cassandra Clare go through when the book goes onto the silver screen and the movie makers come to her with a dime a dozen changes.  I guess that’s a problem that most authors come up with and hence the term “True to the book”.

The Mortal Instruments – City of Bones (TMICOB) is the first out of 6 installments of books and movies that are definitely making Ms. Clare a very rich woman.  The movie, however, doesn’t adhere to the term mentioned above.  There are a truck load of changes in the sequence of events.  However, I guess, the essence of a teenage fantasy has been kept in mind by Harald Zwart and his team.

TMICOB is the story of Clary Fray (Lily Collins) who is around 15 years old and stays with her widowed mother Jocelyn (Lena Headey).  She is living, what most people would call a normal life till it is turned upside down with a visit to the local club – Pan “demon” ium.  She witnesses a murder inside the club.  One that no one else can see.

What Clary is about to find out is that her mother and therefore she are part of a very exclusive group of people called Shadowhunters.  Their objective is to rid the world of “Demons”.  And yes, all the myths we hear about them are true – except zombies.  Ms. Clare, then lets her imagination go absolutely wild with characters and myths and stories being thrown at you at every stage.

What I liked about Mortal Instruments (and I am reading the book as I type this) is that even though it isn’t totally true to the book in terms of sequence of events, the essence is the same.  I am a fan of fantasy and the love the characters that have been created.  Whether it is Jace (Jamie Campbell Bower) who is nothing but eye candy for the women or Luke Garroway (Aidan Turner), the werewolf.

My favourite character is Isabelle (Jemima West) not just for looks but also for that silver whip she wraps around her wrist at all times.  This is yet another thing that the makers have got right.  The recreation of the world from the book was done very well.  A lot of attention to detailing, ensuring that the sequence of events are correct and make sense and of course sticking to the essence of the book.

There were gaffes through the movie for sure.  Like the time when Jace is playing the piano.  The scene is just too funny.  There are other instances also that kind of ensure that you aren’t watching the next best thing to Harry Potter.  The TMI series is meant for young adults / teenagers and not for those who are beyond 30 for certain.  Watch it if you have the capability to love fantasy for the limitless possibilities that it can get to the table. I liked it.  And so, I am going with a 7 on 10.

Watch the trailer on http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3545212441/?ref_=tt_ov_vi