I have read the first three books, they are actually fun.

The movie is not very good. Decent visuals, but the guy who plays Jace is really grating in every way possible, Lily Collins is still bland and the changes they made from the book are not in the film's favor (most of them).

I feel like Lily Collins is going for a late 90s Jennifer Love Hewitt vibe in this and not really succeeding.

What a boring poster.

Lily Collins is cute and pretty and all. But she is just not really a good actress.

Dr.Lecter or Libs?

Price.

Is right, bitch!

How long until the porn version of this, City of Boners?

Started off pretty solid but that potential goes down the drain as the movie went on. Even though I thought this wasn't good I'd see a sequel.

By the way, ending the movie with the main couple

Maybe it's because I'm a fan of the book series, but the many changes were just a bit too much for me. In particular, the climax was a lot different. Which is interesting, because just the other day I read one review saying as far as book adaptations go, this is one of the best. They either didn't read the book(s) or watch the movie.

I still found it enjoyable though. (B-)

Valentine not getting the Cup in the end totally changes the starting point for the sequel, doesn't it?

I mean, not like we are ever going to get past City of Ashes...

Yeah, I don't understand why Clary still has the Cup. And they completely changed Hodge's entire character at the end of the movie, too. And the way they portrayed Valentine is rather unfortunate. He may be erratic and evil on the inside, but on the outside he's much calmer and..professional?

There were a couple changes I did like however. I like that they showed the brief scene of Magnus healing Alec (off-page in the book). And I liked that the whole group went to Hotel Dumort instead of just Jace and Clary, though not introducing Raphel and the accord the vampires have with the Clave was disappointing. The vampires were mostly just seen as monsters in this movie, more or less.

The author was heavily involved with the production of the film, so it's interesting so many changes (some very important) were made. In general, I'm fine with changes and understand why some are needed in book adaptations (I'm not one of those franchise purists), but not so much if it alters the storyline so much.

Also, I think it is interesting that the novel leaves the reader believing that Clary and Jace are siblings, whereas the movie makes it clea that it is a trick (though Jace and Clary don't know, the viewer does).

I guess they decided to take it that direction so non-book viewers wouldn't feel uneasy by them still having feelings for one another despite knowing (thinking) they're brother and sister. There are a couple rather intimate moments between them while they think so in the books.

Another small exclusion I didn't like was not having the Greater Demon Abaddon possess Madame Dorothea. Obviously she's possessed by a demon, but it's clearly some regular demon. But this change is mostly my inner-fan being annoyed, and it doesn't alter the story any. There is a different Greater Demon in each book so far, which I always found interesting.

Also, not having Abaddon meant that Simon could not have his hero moment.

Or the defining aspect of a good adaptation has nothing to do with how little or much it changes.

Feels so much like a (CW) TV show instead of a movie, but I liked it a lot. Has real personality, spunk and heart. As stuffed full it is with plot devices, the characters always feel more important than the events going on around them.

Also am a big fan of the way the action/fight scenes are directed. Lots of energy, but clean and well paced. The action scenes are telling a story instead of just trying to numb the audience with visual effects. Great filmmaking. It terms of being full of life in its characters and action scenes, this movie is the opposite of The Hunger Games

I'm happy City of Ashes is somehow happening, lol

Which is really what it should have been, IMO. Would have had a better chance of making it.

nonsense

This was really confusing. Guess you have to have read the books to fully understand this one. I would be interested in seeing the series continue just to see Alec's (Kevin Zegers) storyline expanded.

Could they have chosen an uglier male lead though? He looks like a heroine addict .


5/10 ( C )

Guilty. I just find it cool that one of the main characters in this is gay.