Actors: Lily Collins, Jamie Campbell Bower, Robert Sheehan, Kevin Zegers, Lena Headey
Directors: Harald Zwart
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: December 3, 2013
Run Time: 130 minutes
Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars
I am a sucker for the sci-fi fantasy genre. I was drawn into the hype of “”The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones” series way before the film, which led me read the book first. I know it is trying to be the next “Twilight”…what isn’t but I quite enjoyed it. I was not thrilled about the cast though, which stars “Twilight Saga” co-star Jamie Campbell Bower (mistake or purpose?) and Lily Collins (“Mirror Mirror), not a huge fan of either. The film is exciting and entertaining…even though about 20 minutes too long. It is far from perfect but if you enjoyed the book, then I would recommend checking it out for sure.
Synopsis: Fantasy adventure based on the bestselling series of novels by Cassandra Clare. Clary Fray (Collins) is an ordinary teenage girl living in New York, but when her mother is attacked by a demon in her home Clary learns she is descended from a secret race of half-angel Shadowhunters who are fighting an ancient battle protecting the earth from evil forces. As Clary is then introduced to the world the Shadowhunters and other forces inhabit, she must grow to accept her new identity and work at saving her mother before it’s too late…
Sony is releasing the film as a two disc combo pack including Blu-ray + DVD + UltraViolet Digital Copy. The 1080p transfer is solid and works well with the CGI effects, which the film has quite a bit of. The action is a little tame but overall keeps your interest and looks sharp. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track works well with the action also and the film’s hipster soundtrack (again trying to take a page from “Twilight”).
The special features are not too shabby and worth checking out. “Bringing Them to Life” features the cast/crew discussing the characters. “Descendants of the Cup” is a featurette on the film’s stunts and visual effefcts to turn the cast into Shadowhunters. If you enjoyed the film you will enjoy the “Interactive Lineage Tracker”, which allows yous to learn more about all the characters. “Deadly Attraction” has Lily Collins & Jamie Campbell Bower chatting about their roles. “Entering The Shadow World” looks into the film’s creatures effects. “Into the Shadows: From Book to Screen” follows the book’s journey from page to screen. Lastly, there is a music video for “Almost is Never Enough” by Ariana Grande ft. Nathan Sykes and a few deleted scenes as well.