The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (2013)

The movie poster

Working at the public library in my hometown, I had often glanced the cover of this book, written by Cassandra Clare, with interest. We had multiple copies, but there never seemed to be enough, and I would be checking in and re-shelving The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones more times than I could count. As with most intriguing books I handled in the library, I had always planned to read it, but never got around to it. Now I work at the library on campus, and instead of seeing the book passed from one patron to another, I now see the movie, with no less intrigue on my part. And so a movie review assignment was a pretty legitimate reason to finally check it out. And I wasn't disappointed.

The book cover

Synopsis:

Teenager Clarey Fray is just a typical New York teenager, with an over-protective mom, until she sees a man murdered in a nightclub by a band of overtly attractive, oddly dressed teens. When she runs into one of them the next day, she learns he really isn't a teen at all, or even a human. Jace Wayland is a Shadowhunter; part of a supernatural race that hunt and fight demons. He tells Clarey that he suspects she's part Shadowhunter as well, for mundanes (their word for ordinary humans) can't see beings like him. Thus begins a treacherous adventure, beginning with the disappearance of Clarey's mom. Clarey's best friend, Simon, is caught up in all of this as well, and together they learn that Clarey does indeed have Shadowhunter powers (that her mom, a Shadowhunter herself, was trying to keep her from by the use of Warlock enchantments). They visit the gathering and training place for Shadowhunters, called the Institute, and it is revealed that Jocelyn, Clarey's mom, was taken by the henchmen of the evil ex-Shadowhunter, Valentine, who is her mom's former lover, and was thought to be dead. He took her in hopes of regaining the Mortal Cup, one of three Mortal Instruments that are sacred to the Shadowhunter world. Drinking from the Mortal Cup will make any human half-angel. Jocelyn took the Cup from Valentine when he began to misuse it, and he desperately wants it back. The story unfolds from there.

Review:

This film is replete with fantasy elements, as Clarey learns that some of her closest friends and neighbors, people she's known all her life, are actually demons and werewolves. She also comes across vampires and warlocks, along with the various charms and curses they use and are used to summon them. In addition, the weapons the band of Shadowhunters used are varied and fantastic in nature. Some examples are shown in the pictures below, but the most intriguing ones are the vampire gun, which, when set off, will plunge a design of small, sharp steaks through the vampires heart, and the runes. The runes are the main power of the Shadowhunters, and come in the form of tattoos placed all over their bodies that give them specific powers, depending on which character it is. 

Blade used to slay demons.

Customary belt as part of the Shadowhunter wardrobe.

Snake whip used to injure and wrangle demons.

One of the runes. 

The main rune; when Clarey recognizes this, it becomes apparent that she has Shadowhunter blood. 

Vampire gun mentioned above.

The movie was entertaining, mysterious, exciting, and at times funny. My only qualm is that the world, history, and legend of the Shadowhunters is much too massive and complicated to be adequately covered in a 2-hour movie.  In that regard, the movie seemed a bit rushed, trying to pack so many interesting details into fast-paced scenes. There were details and plot points I had to go over and look up after I had finished, and things I wanted to know more about and had questions on.

The one thing I know for sure, however, is that this movie definitely made my curiosity to read the book much greater.