The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

  • A (INDIA)
  • 2013


MOVIE IS derivative magical wonderful interesting entertaining
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24 %
13 % Rotten
$ 95 Million
See Where to Watch The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Positive Reviews 24
Negative reviews 76
Average Rating 1.9/5
derivative magical wonderful interesting entertaining

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  • Positive
  • Negative
2.0
(The movies spiritual bent is less polytheistic than simply secular; God is a no show, at least in this inaugural chapter.) Av Club
2.0
And where do the warlocks fit in).But director Harald Zwart (2010s The Karate Kid) mostly keeps the derivative, CGI packed City of Bones fizzy and fas .. EW
1.3
It tries to do the same things that Twilight does but it goes about it in even worse ways, with weird ideas about romance and almost sex. Rogerebert
2.0
But overall, the leads leave much to be desired, and their love story so epic in the books seems laughably cliche in this adaptation. Common Sense Media
2.0
Even by the genres lax standards of plausibility, not a whole lot coheres in this first adaptation of Cassandra Clares bestselling urban fantasy serie .. Variety
1.5
Nothing ever feels truly remarkable; instead, the filmmakers are simply going through the motions, grouping a collection of cliches in hopes that some .. We Got This Covered
2.0
Its a potent mix for young fans that gets off to an entertaining, action packed start with bursts of knowing humour. Time Out
1.0
An apt label for a wanna be franchise with plenty of sheen and nothing to say. Time Out
1.0
This is film making at its most cynical.But none of it actually makes much sense. The Guardian
2.5
But none of this fully amends the toll the movie ultimately takes on the viewer, who still has to contend with a great deal of shoddy filmmaking.
2.5
But there is plenty of room for improvement.The action flick is overly long, complicated and, even by teen romance standards, cringe worthy in its che ..
1.5
Harold Zwarts adaptation of Cassandra Clares novel is an interminable slog filled with thinly drawn characters, a ramshackle plot, a laughable love st .. Collider
2.0
But despite the overstuffed assortment of vampires, werewolves, warlocks and demons of all shapes and sizes, The Mortal Instruments seldom feels like .. The Hollywood Reporter
1.5
Not only have we seen this all before, but we were probably hoping to not see it again.
2.5
Then theres action, and warlocks and werewolves and a love triangle and a creepy Jonathan Rhys Meyers wearing leather pants all packed into just over .. IGN
1.5
The movie stars Lily Collins as Clary Fray, a young woman who comes across as something of the neoconservative delegate of recent young adult heroines ..
1.3
Bower is a feral, often compelling presence, and the script wisely takes itself seriously only 85 percent of the time. San Francisco Chronicle
2.8
The chemistry between Jace and Clary was present but barely in some moments. The Young Folks
2.0
Despite some good effects and design work, its a disappointing result for a moderately entertaining book.
1.0
Instruments needed to streamline its narrative and factor in relevant stakes. Cinema Blend
1.0
Allegedly revelatory lines like You are a Morgenstern! dont quite have the intended impact, especially for moviegoers old enough to remember TVs Rhoda .. Ny Daily News
1.5
Zwart even manages to make his pretty leads just as often look awkward, grimy or otherwise unattractive a rare feat in filmmaking. Screen Rant
1.3
This first episode of what threatens to be a franchise (a sequel is already announced) suggests Twilight, Harry Potter and The Da Vinci Code were run .. The Globe And Mail
3.0
The film is the first part of a formulaic fantasy series, strictly catering to younger audiences.
3.0
The film is the first part of a formulaic fantasy series, strictly catering to younger audiences.
1.5
An endless parade of derivative genre tropes, even tedious and convoluted when it dares to break the formula there may or may not be an incest subplot .. Village Voice
2.5
And if you love exposition and shapely if bland young actors in leather, skinny jeans, knee boots, Goth cocktail dresses and heavy eye makeup, this ma .. Rogers Movie Nation
2.5
Most fantasy stories adhere to certain tropes it creates a sense of comfortable familiarity. ReelViews
2.0
10 1 4 / 10 We currently live in a Harry Potter and Twilight free world, with both franchises closing up shop over the last few years, leaving Hollywo .. Blu Ray
1.3
The first, of course, is: Whats a Shadow Hunter again.This is a movie that begins cryptically with nothing to root us in whats happening to its young .. Mark Reviews Movies
2.0
But in addition to its overstuffed mythology, the movies climax is never ending, and so many plot strands are left open for the sequels it cannot stan ..
1.9
This is a film geared to audiences not quite ready for The Hunger Games, and Bones wont test kids nerves. Usa Today
2.5
But then the derivative, mashable elements start piling up to the point that you expect the metaphorical kitchen sink will come falling down through t .. Screen It
1.5
Theres no reckless fun here, nor even the kind of exaggerated self seriousness that made the Twilight movies entertaining viewing for fans and snicker .. The Wrap
2.0
Quickly descends into a painfully derivative, over populated, over long and increasingly confusing mess. View London
1.3
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones hopes to be the start of a new franchise for tweens and Twihards, but the twuth is this twash is anything but a .. New York Post
2.0
Dont you just love it when a new wannabe blockbuster arrogantly swaggers off the Young Adult bookshelf and into the movie marketplace, promising to ma .. Film Journal International ..
2.0
The Harry Potter series is another.But theres so much bouncing around in tone and story that this film never really finds its footing. Az Central
1.9
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones plays like a Scary Movie parody. Boston
1.9
It desperately gathers clichs like a teen fantasy Frankenstein that doesnt realize its secret identity: parody. Boston
2.0
There are even a handful of witty moments.If only Zwart could have handled the mushy stuff without words, City of Bones might have escaped being laugh .. Npr
3.8
By the messy, confused finale I felt like I was watching a Scientology PowerPoint presentation. Star Tribune
1.0
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones review by MaryAnn Johanson Way to give overwrought fan fiction a bad name.
1.5
Way to give overwrought fan fiction a bad name. No amount of fairy dust can make this bewitching.
3.8
City of Bones and its sequel (or sequels) will inevitably be compared to the Twilight franchise and will probably come out ahead, at least critically. Toronto Star
1.0
Like the Percy Jackson movies, this inadequate attempt to emulate the success of Harry Potter will appeal only to existing fans and the very undemandi .. Daily Mail
3.0
I imagine fans of Clares books will find this movie largely satisfactory, but its distinctly a rush job, an almost random collection of sexy supernatu .. Salon
2.0
But while Harald Zwarts movie, City of Bones, has all the required ingredients from demons, vampires and werewolves to love triangles it quite often f .. Flim List
2.0
Are you a mundane.A mundane is to The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, what a muggle is to Harry Potter. Boston Herald
2.0
The film is so inherently incompetent that it lacks the fun to one day become a camp comedy, the thrills to be an effective psychological thriller and .. The Film Stage
1.0
But the picture never manages to escape from the sheer jumble of its own competing mythologies. The Irish Times
2.0
Instead of absorbing all of the weirdness with wide eyed wonder, the narrative is clunky and awkward. Blogs Indie Wire
2.0
Its all presented in a jumble of mediocre action, cheesy emotion and underwhelming special effects, with a plot that goes on for too long and ends wit .. Las Vegas Weekly
2.0
The Nun may tie into The Conjuring in more ways than you expect: We filmed a few things Movie News The Nun stars the sister of The Conjurings lead act .. Total Film
0.5
Its so groan worthy awful that its actually insulting to its target teen demographic, who despite a higher threshold for mediocrity than most, definit .. Lyles Movie Files
2.0
The film drags on for 130 minutes, with the final half hour consisting of near nonstop bashing between demons, werewolves and magical kids in sleek bl .. Detroit News
3.3
In fact theres a lot of sharp wit within City of Bones, particularly from Jace which occasionally manages to be halfway interesting.
3.0
Chugs along as middling entertainment, never completely boring and never particularly interesting either. Hit Fix
3.0
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones may appeal to fans of the books who already know the complete story and simply want to see it brought to life on .. Film School Rejects
1.5
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones is dark and flashy, yet soulless and derivative. Film Ink
3.1
Reviewed by Jason Buchanan New York City teen Clary Fray (Lily Collins) learns that she is descended from a noble line of half angel demon slayers kno .. Movies Tv Guide
1.0
Its just shocking that Screen Gems doesnt put any effort into it.
2.0
An elaborate world where wand toting, leather clad teens slay vampires and demons whilst werewolves cower in derelict gas stations (!), Cine Vue
3.1
The pity of it all is that despite its many problems, there are some interesting ideas here, but they are mostly wasted. Three Movie Buffs
2.0
Watching this laziness, you may be starkly reminded of your own mortality. Digital Spy
3.0
The effort to appeal to almost everyone means The Mortal Instruments doesnt quite flow for either fans or newbies. Nz Herald
2.0
This film adaptation presumably seeks to capture every aspect of its source material, but this results in depicting plot machinations and character mo .. Flicks
3.1
Though the film has welcome, mild stabs at humor, I neither laughed with the latest big screen adaptation of a popular teen supernatural romance novel .. Red Eye Chicago
1.3
The film moves at the speed of a starfish race, or maybe it just seems that way because its so egregiously uninteresting. Dustin Put Man
2.5
Which frankly makes this material more suited to a TV series than a movie franchise. Contact Music
2.0
The Mortal Instruments is paranormal pabulum for a contemporary, short attention span crowd.Its never as clever as it thinks it is, as frightening as .. Film Racket
1.0
The action sequences never quite attain the level of thrilling, though Jonathan Rhys Meyers boldly vamps it up as the (very tightly) leather clad vill .. Killer Movie Reviews
1.9
It really doesnt help matters that the film features Jamie Campbell Bower, of Twilight fame, whose acting style has transitioned from brooding to real ..
2.0
Theres a rushed, too much going on at once action finale that leaves too many loose ends. The Film Pie
2.0
But that still leaves behind an awful lot of tired, familiar elements portrayed in tired, familiar ways. The Dissolve
2.0
As nonsensical as the large majority of The Mortal Instruments is, its still just entertaining enough to get you to the credits and leave you in a rel .. Shockya
0.6
Heres a familiar story so badly executed that not even the characters pay attention to whats going on in it. Daily Herald
3.5
If nothing else, it unsticks its head from its ass long enough to revel in entertaining visual effects, violent action sequences and a fast paced narr .. Crave Online
1.3
City of Bones is laughable in all the wrong places and clumsy as it overexplains its cluttered mythology at some moments but shortchanges the story li .. Mercury News
3.5
Its frustrating to be so sketchy about this movie.But its many delights not least the usual machine gun barrage of semi obscure pop culture references .. reason
3.1
Yet for all that familiarity, the story is told with style and some wit... Scifi Movie Page
3.0
As with most adaptations of beloved books, this film plays to the fans. Movie Mom
3.0
THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS: CITY OF BONES is a deft piece of fantasy filmmaking, exciting and engaging. Assignment X
1.0
However, she finds herself torn between fellow Shadowhunter Jace (Twilights Jamie Campbell Bower) and her sweet natured BF Simon (Robert Sheehan) as s .. Sky
2.5
KRISTIAN: The latest adaptation of a teen novel phenomenon to the big screen is The Mortal Instruments: City of Bonesit plays out like a middle ground .. Schmoes Know
1.3
Everything youre looking for, provided youre looking for nothing. Film.com
3.0
Throws everything at the wall to see what sticks Werewolves, vampires, warlocks, love triangles because what is a tween story without one of those, ga .. Eclipse Magazine
1.5
Its predictable too, and at times becoming so stereotypical, it feels almost like a parody of the genre, as we go from being a dark, gothic fantasy to .. Hey U Guys
2.0
... any more generic and this supernatural teen lit adaptation might as well have a plain unbleached paper label and a title in comic sans. MSN Movies
2.0
The 130 minute running time is 40 minutes too long but then theres enough repetitive plot exposition and who is really related to who nonsense to cure .. Birmingham Mail
3.0
The Nun may tie into The Conjuring in more ways than you expect: We filmed a few things Movie News The Nun stars the sister of The Conjurings lead act .. Sfx
1.0
Director Harald Zwart, tries to make things exciting with each magical reveal and it works most of the time thanks to great visual effects. The Popcorn Junkie
3.0
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones should please fans of the books. Others should consider one of the other films that make up this genre. Fres Nobee
2.0
Like many a young adult fantasy these days, this movie carries tons of exposition and pseudo mythology on its back. Oc Register
1.9
All published materials contained herein are owned by their respective authors and cannot be reprinted, either in their entirety or in selection, with .. Cinema Phile 2010 Blog Spo ..
1.5
For fans of the source material, this movie appears to be a satisfactory adaptation of Clares narrative. Digital Journal
1.5
Collins is luminously lovely in the lead role and does what she can to keep her head above the waves of convoluted, nonsensical exposition she and her .. Screen Space(Squarespace)
2.5
Along the way we get ample action scenes and magical mumbo jumbo about this inspired plot. Dna India
3.1
In the end it comes off as rather inoffensively been there, done that except for Jamie Campbell Bower, that is, who is strictly WTF. The Movie Report
1.9
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones is nothing spectacular and nothing abhorrent. Dc5
2.5
Theres so much bouncing around in tone and story that the film flounders with its cheesiness. Zee News India
1.5
If you can overlook the lack of originality, the film actually makes a good fist of making something fresh and appealing from its second hand ingredie .. Movie Talk
3.1
Everything chugs along briskly and reasonably entertainingly until running off the rails a bit with a wildly overcomplicated finale. Sun Times
1.0
To watch this film is to gain a new level of identification with HAL 9000: as MORTAL INSTRUMENTS unspools before your eyes, you can feel your mind goi ..
0.5
They spend less than five minutes in the City of Bones. Will make you feel bad about your ab routine. The Coast
2.5
As it turns out, this is a step above Stephenie Meyer...but theres still a ways to go if its going to get really good in any way other than by compari .. Topless Robot
2.5
Lily Collins is a talented, beautiful young actress, but even she couldnt save this. And sadly, there are more to come. Ladue News
1.0
Author Cassandra Clare assumes that you have never seen a film or read a book in your entire life. She steals plot details from Star Wars, Harry Potte .. The Crat
3.0
Its a film that even this jaded anti fan of this kind of dreck found himself rooting for in time, swayed by strong performances, a decent story, and a .. ScreenAnarchy
1.9
Uninspired, cluttered, generic and boorish, The Mortal Instrument: City Of Bones features strained action sequences, repetitive plotting, unimaginativ .. SF Crowsnest
0.0
a bunch of half angelic beings tasked with fighting demons and watching over the mundanes, which I swear is actually what they call humans, I guess be .. National Post
1.3
Fortunately for Twi Hards, this IS the next TWILIGHT. Unfortunately for everyone else, this IS the next TWILIGHT. Film Geek Central
2.5
Ultimately, the final impact of its drama defines the difference between a bona fide tragedy and, like, a total bummer which is what The Mortal Instru .. Spin Off Comic Book Resour ..
2.5
A passable late summer stand in for its core audience until the new fall CW television season begins. Slj



See Where to Watch The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones