4 Stars
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of fantasy violence and action, and some suggestive content
From IMDB: When her mother disappears, Clary Fray learns that she descends from a line of warriors who protect our world from demons. She joins forces with others like her and heads into a dangerous alternate New York called Downworld.
Trailer:
So, I was more excited for this movie than I have been for a movie in a long time. I love this book series, so the second I found out they were making a movie out of the books, I got extremely excited. I was a little nervous once I saw the trailers, but I decided to keep an open mind. And honestly, the trailers were pretty good. It was just weird seeing it on the screen after picturing it in my head for so long.
Like most people, I wasn’t too thrilled with Jamie Campbell Bower being cast as Jace. I don’t think he’s ugly or anything, he’s just not my type. But can I just say, he was PERFECTLY cast. My only qualm was that I wish he had been just a little bit more humorous. Jace is so snarky and sarcastic, and while JCB had moments of that, they were scarcer than I was hoping for. Other than that, I thought he did a great job. I’m excited to see what he does with the character in the next movie.
Lily Collins. I was thrilled with her casting the second I found out about it. I don’t know why people complained about it. I thought she was the perfect Clary. No complaints from me.
The rest of the cast was great. Except Magnus. He’s certainly pretty enough, but I hope he works some on his acting before his character gets more involved in the story. He was the weakest part. I LOVE Aiden Turner, so I thought Luke was great, and I really just thought that everyone did a solid job. No Oscar-worthy performances, but did you really expect that from this movie?
I thought the effects were good and the demons and Downworlders were CREEPY, as they should be. All in all I was impressed with the quality of this movie, as many YA book to film adaptations don’t have very good effects/art direction.
THERE WERE SPOILERS IN THIS MOVIE. I was slightly incensed. I was like “what…what…WHAT?? WHYYYYYY WOULD YOU DO THAT?????” Literally. I was muttering under my breath in the theater. So, it didn’t ruin anything for those of us who have read the books, but unfortunately, you learn some very important information in this movie. That you shouldn’t learn until the third. Kind of ruins some of the tension and conflict for the second book. Or completely ruins it.
I did cringe during the Greenhouse scene; the movie had such great instrumental music, and then they burst in sappy pop song during the romantic scene. It just made it cheesy. KEEP THE BEAUTIFUL ORCHESTRAL MUSIC. It would have been so much better. At least JCB and Lily Collins had good chemistry. It would have just been a completely painful scene otherwise.
Aside from that tragedy, this was a fun, entertaining movie that, in my opinion, should easily satisfy the horde of fans dedicated to Cassandra Clare and her Shadowhunters.