Wednesday, 21 August 2013

Gerry Barnaby's Film Review: The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

Genre:  Action Adventure Drama, Warning this film dose contain some strong horror & violent scene's that may disturb younger viewers                
 
Cert: This was given a 12A I would say this is a 15 cert due to the horror/violence in the film.

Parents advised to read before viewing film as some scene may contain scenes unsuitable for younger viewers.
 
Sex & Nudity: one scene with a guy with his shirt off showing tattoos, one kissing scene
 
Violence & Gore: Some strong fight scene's with demon's, sword fighting, & people getting killed.

Profanity: its very mild in language terms, there the odd comments about numbers being put on a wall but it meant out of humour.
 
Alcohol/Drugs/Smoking: There is two club scene where people are drinking & partying, & on scene where a woman drinks a poison.
 
Frightening/Intense Scenes: There are scenes of demons that may disturb younger viewer because that are very creepy in nature & looks of a horror film.

Story: Set in contemporary New York City, a seemingly ordinary teenager, Clary Fray (Lily Collins), discovers she is the descendant of a line of Shadowhunters, a secret cadre of young half-angel warriors locked in an ancient battle to protect our world from demons. After the disappearance of her mother (Lena Headey), Clary must join forces with a group of Shadowhunters, who introduce her to a dangerous alternate New York called Downworld, filled with demons, warlocks, vampires, werewolves and other deadly creatures. Based on the worldwide best-selling book series.
 
Likes : Wow i've never read the books on this film but what I stunning visual film this was, right from the start it throw you into a world of mystery that open up to a whole new world of beauty & darkness as the story is revealed.
I will say tho this film might not be for everyone as it does come across as a gothic teen feel to the film which is a cross between i'am number four & the seeker: dark is rising, but with a much better storyline & concept. I love the storyline & concept of this film, mundane , born human with immense power half angel/half human shadow hunters guardian of the light against the dark, this is what fantasy film's are all about.
Lily Collins who plays Clary, wow she looking so beautiful in this film & a brilliantly done performance from her with her character as she really shows motion & believable character as she come to term with her destiny as a shadow hunter when she see things that go beyond reality.
Jamie Campbell Bower who plays Jace was brilliant in this film, really brought a fantastic performance as a shadow hunter, at first you find his character creepy because of who he is but as the film reveals itself you come to see his character in a different light.
Kevin Zegers plays Alec Lightwood apart of the shadow hunter group, your find his character seem to have an attitude but your see why in the film, but his character doesn't seem to like clary too much which is revealed in the film.
Jemima West plays the sister of alec, Isabelle Lightwood, her character is very warrior like as a shadow hunter & she is really good at fighting, she kind of share her bother concerns about clary being brought to there world because she think that jace isn't acting as a team which kinds of makes you feel that not really fair on clary.
Robert Sheehan character Simon Lewis is one of those hopeless romantic type of guys, it really show but he really bring a believable character of that out on screen which made his performance in this film brilliantly done.
Robert Maillet & Kevin Durand kind of play enforcers of Valentine Morgenstern, Blackwell (Robert maillet), Pangborn (Kevin Durand) These two are kind of cameos in a way because there not really much in the film but they come across as dumb muscle bound idiots who can fight.
Godfrey Gao plays an interesting part in this film Magnus Bane whos a High ranking Warlock of Brooklyn, that at least over eight hundred years old. His mother was a mundane who was tricked by a demon into believing that it was her husband, which was also a cameo role in a way in the film.
Lena Headey (cameo) play the mother of clary which from the start of the film your notice something weird is going on but as the film reveals itself you come to see why.
Aidan Turner character Luke Garroway, you find he's character fiercely loyal & very protective to clary your understand why as the film reveal itself which will surprise you to what he is, but the special effect were brilliant done for his character.
CCH Pounder plays a witch/fortune teller Madame Dorothea, (slight cameo) but apart of the story, but you kind of notice something about her character when you first see her there is something off about her.
Jared Harris play the former shadow hunter one of the best in the world Hodge Starkweather,  at the time City of Bones is set, is cursed to stay inside the New York Institute. If he steps outside of it, he will immediately be slain. Which is explained why in the film by the character himself, but he really play the role well.
Jonathan Rhys Meyers (main villain of the film cameo) Valentine Morgenstern, Now I found this character very vicious & nasty in nature who just wanted to control everything, somewhere down the line this character became corrupted with power & used the power to control the demons in order to gain control of the cup of life.Valentine Morgenstern is the main antagonist through the story arc of the first 3 books in The Mortal Instruments series, when his father was killed in a raid on a vampire nest, he became bitter and cruel and started to focus more on another aim that nearly all his Circle members followed ,He wanted to rid the world of Downworlders (vampires, werewolves, the fey and Lilith's Children). He saw them as an abomination and soulless - as bad as demons but he was became evil himself.Jonathan Rhys Meyers really play this role brilliantly as a cold ruthless man with a commanding tone to him like his a man not to be crossed.
Like I said before this film is visually stunning with special effect & concept, the special effect on the face change was brilliant don't to show a dark horror tone to the demons as well as the beauty of the garden at midnight. The action scenes were fair there are a few moments where it does get a little slow but it acceptable as you don't fall asleep or get board of watch it because it does throw you into special scenes where things get interesting. I also love the backstory of the angel warior azazel who gave his own blood to create the mundane to protect the world from demons. Like I said before a well this film won't be for everyone if you like the dark fantasy films this film you will probably like, but if not your going to find this film is bad or sucks because it won't be your type of film. But it worth watching & making it a part of the dvd collection.


Dislikes : There wasn't much in describing the demonic world other than that there are people that have been taken over by demons that was the only thing I kind of felt should of gone more in depth with since the concept of the film is about a war between the light & dark but if you can over see this then you find this film brilliantly done.

Overall : Demons, great storyline & brilliant concept, fantastic performances from all totally worth watching.
 
Rating: 5 out of 5 for story concept / 8.6 out of 10 for overall character development & horror theme

 
 

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