The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones is the movie adaptation of the novel, City of Bones by Cassandra Clare, released on August 21, 2013. It stars Lily Collins as the main character, Clary Fray, and Jamie Campbell Bower as Jace Wayland.
Synopsis
Clary Fray (Lily Collins) is an ordinary Brooklyn teenager until the night she meets the mysteriously tattooed Jace (Jamie Campbell Bower), who turns out to be a half-angel warrior known as a Shadowhunter. When Clary finds out her mother Jocelyn (Lena Headey) has been abducted, she desperately hopes Jace will be able to help. After a whirling golden portal transports her across time and space in a heartbeat, Clary realizes she too has the powers of the Shadowhunters. But can she harness them in time to save her mother?
Clary, Jace and their fellow Shadowhunters endure one breathtaking battle after another against vampires, warlocks and demons—only to discover Jocelyn hid a terrible secret from the fiercest warrior of all: Valentine (Jonathan Rhys Meyers). Cast out from the world of Shadowhunters, Valentine abducted Jocelyn believing she had a powerful tool known as the Mortal Cup. Using her newfound gifts, Clary finds the Cup, only to be brutally betrayed and forced to relinquish it.
Still reeling from this setback and racing to save Jocelyn before it’s too late, Clary finds herself caught in a battle between forces she barely understands. Based on the best-selling series by Cassandra Clare, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones is a magnificent urban fantasy rich in detail and suspense, about a girl's journey to the darkest corners of the underworld to save those she loves.
Plot
Isabelle, Alec and Jace at Pandemonium
One night at a club called Pandemonium with her best friend Simon Lewis, 15-year-old Clarissa "Clary" Fray witnesses an apparent murder of a boy by a strange group of teenagers whom no one else can see, a girl and two young boys wearing strange black clothing. She watches as the three take note of her and take off as the direct killer of the boy, Jace Wayland, stares at her before leaving.
The next day, Clary wakes up to see she has drawn a strange symbol all over her room and takes off to a local coffee shop to talk about what is going on with Simon, fearing she may be losing her mind. Here, she sees Jace again. Wanting answers, she goes out back with him to demand to know why she can see him whereas no one else can. She shows him the symbol she is drawing, which leads him to declares he is right; she is not a mundane, which Jace explains is an ordinary human. Confused, Clary demands to know what she is, if not human. Their conversation is cut short when she receives a distressed phone call from her mother telling her not to come home, but to tell Luke that Valentine has found her.
Jace helps Clary after the demon attack.
Frantic and disobediently, she races home to find her mother, Jocelyn Fray, missing; her apartment trashed and occupied by a monstrous creature known as a Ravener. After trying to destroy it with no prevail, Jace rescues her and kills the demon with a seraph blade. Here, Jace explains to her about the world of demons.
Clary picks the Ace of Cups
Clary then runs down stairs wanting to talk to Madame Dorothea. She lets them in and tells Clary that her mother is a Shadowhunter, something she has inherited, and then spreads out a pile of tarot cards. When she is magnetically drawn to the Ace of Cups, Jace notes that it looks exactly like the Mortal Cup. After speaking with Madame Dorothea, Clary hears someone lurking around in her and her mother's trashed apartment so she rushes up there, followed by Jace, desperate to find out where her mother is. She sees the intruder's back and begins attacking him and she realizes it is only Simon. Simon and Clary talk about what had happened to her mother while Jace looks around the apartment, finding a half burnt photo of the man Jocelyn led Clary believe was her father, Jocelyn's phone showing quite a few calls to Clary and Simon that weren't picked up, and a bottle which Jace assumes that Jocelyn drank before she was taken. The three of them then decide to search at Luke's place.
Jace and Clary watch Luke
They arrive there and Jace and Clary tell Simon to wait outside. Jace and Clary go into Luke's shop and find Luke being interrogated and tortured by two shadowhunters working for Valentine; Pangborn and Blackwell. Clary desperately asks Jace to help Luke to get out from being tortured. While Jace thinks for a strategy to get out, Clary continues to listen the interrogation between Luke and the two shadowhunters. At a point, Luke says he truly never liked Clary and Jocelyn which was a lie to protect them but Clary takes it seriously and becomes upset. She is also shocked to hear his words that she accidentally knocks over objects, revealing Jace's presence as well as her own. Jace did manage to figure a strategy using a chain and a small fight breaks out between all of the shadowhunters. During the fight Jace tells Clary to run which she does to meet Simon outside.
Clary finds Simon outside speaking to what he assumed was a police officer when it was actually a demon. She rushes forward to get Simon away from the demon but then the demon grabs her arm. Jace eventually comes out after clearing up the fight with the shadowhunters and Luke and kills the demon holding Clary and the other demons disguised as the police who were waiting in a car. Clary is shocked about what had happened during the day and upset that Jocelyn is gone. The three leave together and head for The Institute, an old Gothic cathedral that normal "mundanes" can't see because it is concealed by magic called 'glamour'.
The Institute
When they arrive and step inside, Clary immediately drops to the ground and is supported by Simon and Jace. They find out that she has a demon bite and must be treated quickly. A stele is used to heal her before she blacks out and is taken into the infirmary within the Institute. After recuperating, Clary meets Jace's tutor, Hodge Starkweather, and his adoptive siblings Isabelle and Alec Lightwood. They are Shadowhunters, half angel, half human, beings of immense power, who hunt demons unbeknownst to and—except for Clary—unseen by the mundane world.
Jace and Clary in the City of Bones
While Clary meets Hodge, Jace goes to send a message to the Silent City and the Silent Brothers, asking for Clary's mind to be searched for her memories. After speaking with Hodge, Clary and Jace leave to go to the Silent City (or the City of Bones) and meet Brother Jeremiah at the entrance. The Silent Brothers attempt to search Clary's mind for her memories but are blocked because they discover a block in her mind. They were able to unlock a few memories that are shown as flashbacks of Clary drawing the angelic rune and were also shown a name: Magnus Bane. The Silent Brothers attempt to break through the block in Clary's mind but fail, leaving Clary and Jace no choice but to find Magnus Bane.
Magnus at his party
Tracing this name to a party, Clary, Jace, Alec and Isabelle, along with Simon, discover that Magnus is the High Warlock of Brooklyn, and he placed the block on Clary at the request of her mother, an ex-Shadowhunter. Every year, since the time she caught the two-year-old Clary teasing a pixie trapped in a hedge, Jocelyn had been sending Clary to Magnus to have her memories and Sight (ability to see what mundanes cannot) blocked; hoping to keep her safely in the dark about her true self so she could live a normal life. Jocelyn knew when to come to Magnus because whenever Clary drew the angelic rune, it was a sign of her memories coming back. Magnus refuses to bring Clary's memories back, claiming it would be too difficult and dangerous, and they may slowly return anyway, now that she knows the truth and the spell has begun to fade. During the party, Simon ignores Isabelle's warnings and consumes a drink, which was spiked, and is kidnapped by vampires.
Simon is rescued and a vampire fight takes place
They attempt to rescue Simon from the vampire coven who reside in the abandoned Hotel Dumort. Before they go though, they enter a church to collect weapons, which can be taken from any church under its altar. They arrive at Hotel Dumort and rescue Simon but are cornered by vampires. In a fight for their lives, they are saved by werewolves, one of which Clary stabs. They escape and manage to rescue Simon and bring him back to the Institute. He then stays in a hospital bed for a while, whilst his wounds heal.
Kiss in the Greenhouse
At the Institute, Clary and Alec confront each other in the hallway. Alec demands she return to her own world, fearing she is putting Jace in danger; Clary is more concerned that Alec is in love with Jace and why he won't reveal his feelings. Alec pins Clary against a wall and threatens her to keep his sexual orientation and affections secret, then, stunned at his own violent reaction, departs.
Clary and Jace interrupted by Simon
That night, the eve of Clary's 16th birthday, she and Jace go for a midnight walk in the Institute's Garden and end up sharing a passionate and heated kiss. They then go back to Clary's room, not realising that Simon is in there looking for Clary. Whilst standing outside the door, Simon walks out on them kissing and Clary hurts Jace's feelings when trying to declare to Simon that is was just a kiss and nothing more. Jace walk aways angrily, hurt. On returning to her room, they begin arguing ending in Simon declaring that he has been in love with Clary for 10 years, and only flirted with Isabelle in hopes of making Clary jealous.
Later, Clary draws in her sketchbook to calm herself about the night's events, and upon placing a cup onto her sketch book discovers that she has put it into the paper. Knowing that her mother painted Madame Dorothea's tarot cards realises where the Mortal Cup is. When the teens go to retrieve it, they are tricked and attacked by a demon that is possesing Madame Dorothea. On trying to fight it, Alec is gravely injured. Eventually, Simon saves them all, and they successfully bring the Mortal Cup to the Institute, where Magnus Bane manages to keep Alec from dying.
Clary arriving at Luke's
When Clary gives the Mortal Cup to Hodge, he reveals he's actually working for a man named Valentine Morgenstern, who was thought to be dead. Then Valentine enters through the portal and tries to make Clary drink his blood from the Cup. She slams it back into the card and Valentine gets really mad. She then disappears into the portal. Hodge tells Valentine that he need to make Jace and Clary believe they are brother and sister, aware of the two's growing love for each other, to break them.
Clary uses a rune to freeze the demons
Clary ends up outside Luke's shop where he reveals himself as the werewolf Clary stabbed at the Hotel Dumort. Luke also tells Clary that what he said before was a lie to keep her and Jocelyn safe, that his true loyalty does lie with both of them. Luke and his werewolf pack raid the Institute whilst Valentine summons thousand of demons into the Institute. Isabelle and Clary accompanied by Luke and his pack, travel down into the lower parts of the Institute where they are surrounded by dozens of demons, Clary then draws a rune on her hand and stops time on the demons, they manage to escape.
Isabelle fights off the demons
Simon and Isabelle run off to close the portal through which the demons entered the Institute through. While they had a difficult time managing the portal on their own, Hodge arrived and helped them close the portal, killing Blackwell in the process.
Clary finds Jace and Valentine, who tells them that he is actually Jace's biological father and her biological father, making them siblings. Clary and Jace, who have realized they are in love, are shocked and horrified by this revelation, having the desired affect that Valentine wanted. Valentine forces Clary again to take the Cup out of the card but she refuses, causing Valentinte to hurt her out of anger. Jace, angered by Valentine's cruelty, takes part in a one-on-one fight against Valentine, using swords that were locked in cabinets as weapons. During the fight, they knock the card with the Cup in it to Clary's side, who thinks of a way to save Jace when she notices he is losing. Clary threatens to drop the Cup into the portal just before Valentine is about to kill Jace with the sword of the Angel Raziel. Valentine, who wants the Cup badly, reaches into the portal for it but he can't touch it as he doesn't know where it is. Clary tells him that her true father would know where her deepest thoughts lie. She then gives him a replica of the Cup and kicks him into the portal. Both Jace and Clary believe he is gone for a moment before he reaches out to grab her from her back. Jace gives Clary his stele, who freezes the portal and Valentine's arms get stuck. He manages break free and disappears, causing the portal shatters. It then begins to snow in the room and Jace and Clary share a look, taking in everything that has happened and that their realized affection for each other is forbidden.
Clary and Jace ride off on a motorbike
Clary finds her mother in a coma caused by a potion, and takes her to a mundane hospital. Clary goes back to her apartment and uses her new power of creating runes to start tidying up the place when Jace walks in. He tells her she cannot come back to the Institute, but she says nothing in reply to this statement, saying instead how hard it is be to be around him. Before he departs, he tells her that she is the bravest mundane he has ever met. His remark reminds her that she isn't a mundane, but a Shadowhunter leading her to catch up with him, accepting his offer to start properly training. The two get on his motorcycle and share an awkward moment when Clary has to put her arms around his waist, causing Jace to stare at her hands for a moment. They ponder over whether or not they may be siblings, although believing that Valentine likely lied, before they drive off.
Cast
Godfrey Gao, Robert Sheehan, Lily Collins, Jamie Campbell Bower and Kevin Zegers at a Comic Con Photoshoot
Lily Collins and Jamie Campbell Bower
- Lily Collins as Clary Fray
- Jamie Campbell Bower as Jace Wayland
- Jemima West as Isabelle Lightwood
- Kevin Zegers as Alec Lightwood
- Robert Sheehan as Simon Lewis
- Godfrey Gao as Magnus Bane
- Aidan Turner asLuke Garroway
- Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Valentine Morgenstern
- Lena Headey as Jocelyn Fray
- Robert Maillet as Samuel Blackwell
- Jared Harris as Hodge Starkweather
- Kevin Durand as Emil Pangborn
- CCH Pounder as Madame Dorothea
- Stephen R. Hart as Brother Jeremiah
- Chris Ratz as Eric Hillchurch
- Elyas M'Barek as The Vampire Lieutenant
- Chad Connell as Blue-Haired Demon "Lambert"
- Hope Fleury as Young Clary
- Harry Van Gorkum as Alaric
- Jonathan Seinen as Raziel
- Lucy Delaat as Goth Bar Girl
- Alex Branton as Valentine's Loyalist/Shadowhunter
- Melantha Blackthorne as Dumort Vampire
- Bonnie Siu as Blue Mohawk Girl
Production
On August 22, 2009, Cassandra Clare announced at a book signing in New York City that The Mortal Instruments would be adapted into a trilogy of films. On June 10, 2010, Screen Gems announced that they were going into production on a film adaptation of City of Bones, with a script written by Jessica Postigo. On October 4, 2010, Scott Stewart was confirmed as director for The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones via press release from Screen Gems.
On December 10, 2010, Screen Gems confirmed that Lily Collins has been cast as Clary Fray. On March 17, 2011, Lily Collins revealed in an interview with the New York Times that the movie will be filmed in Los Angeles. On May 31, 2011, Screen Gems confirmed that Jamie Campbell Bower has been cast as Jace Herondale.
On March 16, 2012, Constantin Film and Unique Features announced that Harald Zwart (Karate Kid) will direct the film. On April 3, 2012, ScreenRant revealed that Sony Pictures set the release date of for August 23, 2013.
In 2012, several casting news were announced, mostly by Cassandra Clare on her Tumblr page.
Quotes
- Clary Fray: Why can I see you when no one else can?
- Jace Wayland: You're not a mundane.
- Clary: Excuse me? What's a mundane?
- Jace: Someone from the human world.
- Clary: Well, if I'm not a human, then what am I?
- Clary Fray: I don't know why I'm talking to you. You're a killer, a cold-blooded killer.
- Jace Wayland: As opposed to a peace-loving killer?
- Clary: I know what I saw.
- Clary Fray: Is this the part where you start tearing off pieces of your shirt to bind my wounds?
- Jace Wayland: If you wanted me to take my clothes off, you should've just asked.
- Jace Wayland: Welcome to the City of Bones. This is where the Silent Brothers draw their power... from the bones and ashes of Shadowhunters.
- Clary Fray: All of them are buried here?
- Jace: Yes. *points at a headstone* One day, that's going to be me.
- Magnus Bane: Well, well, look here. I don't remember inviting any children of the Nephilim.
- Jace Wayland: Magnus Bane. We need to talk.
- Magnus: You know I don't like you guys, but I'll let you stay... but only because of the hot one.
- Jace: Thanks.
- Isabelle Lightwood: Thank you.
- Magnus: What? I meant him. *points at Alec* The one with the blue eyes. And because of Clary.
- Alec Lightwood: What is it about her?
- Jace Wayland: She's brave.
- Alec: We're Shadowhunters. We're all brave.
- Jace: She wasn't raised like us.. She's different.
- Alec: She's going to get us all killed.
- Jace Wayland: See, Bach discovered this and put it into a system... using a mathematical progression of tonal combinations. It allows us to expose demons.
- Clary Fray: So Bach was a Shadowhunter?
- Jace: Yes.
- Clary: So Bach is to demons what garlic is to vampires?
- Simon Lewis: You invited him to bed?
- Jace Wayland: I know, it's ridiculous, isn't it? We would never have all fit.
- Clary Fray: Look, I know you don't like him, but—
- Simon Lewis: Actually, I hate the guy.
- Clary: Why?
- Simon: I thought you were better than that.
- Clary: And what's that supposed to mean?
- Simon Lewis: I'm the one who's always been there for you, not him! I'm in love with you! And it's clear that you don't feel the same way.
- Jace Wayland: We agreed to do this together. We're a team.
- Isabelle Lightwood: Ever since Clary got here, we haven't been a team.
Gallery
- Main article: The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones/Gallery
Trailers
- For more videos, visit the gallery.
Posters
- For more images, visit the gallery.
Home media
The DVD and Blu-ray of the movie, released on December 3, 2013, include several special features such as six deleted and extended scenes, the music video for "Almost is Never Enough" by Ariana Grande featuring Nathan Sykes, and two featurettes, with four additional ones exclusive to Blu-ray.
The deleted scenes are:
- Stunningly Attractive - Jace, Clary, and Simon riding the subway train
- Simon Asks About Demons - Isabelle answering Simon's questions in the Institute gallery
- Magnus' Party - a different version of the group's entrance into Magnus' party, which includes Simon showing interest in the stele and Cassandra Clare's cameo.
- You Came Back For Me - Simon telling Clary in the infirmary that the potion made him feel like a rat.
- Jace Confronts Valentine - an extended version of Jace and Valentine's confrontation at the Institute.
- Luke Tells Valentine the Truth - an extended version of Luke telling Clary their past, which includes a flashback of a pregnant Jocelyn with Valentine and the young Jonathan Morgenstern, and another of Valentine sending Luke into the forest to be attacked by werewolves, then of Jocelyn arriving to see the weakened Luke.
The featurettes:
- Bringing Them to Life - the filmmakers and cast discuss the characters of film.
- Descendants of the Cup - takes a look at the stunts and the cast's transformation into Shadowhunters.
- Interactive Lineage Tracker (exclusive to Blu-ray) - allows users to learn more about the characters in the world of The Mortal Instruments.
- Deadly Attraction (exclusive to Blu-ray) - Lily and Jamie discuss their roles.
- Entering The Shadow World (exclusive to Blu-ray) - looks at the creation of the shadow world's extraordinary creatures.
- Into the Shadows: From Book to Screen - takes a look at the book's journey from page to screen.
- The Blu-ray Combo Pack from Target includes a bonus disc with an exclusive round-table session with the cast and an all-access interview with the author Cassandra Clare.
See also
- City of Bones
- Shadowhunter's Guide
- City of Bones: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion
- The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (soundtrack)
- The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (game)
- Book to Movie Differences
- Reviews and Discussion on the wiki
External links
- The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones at IMDb
- Theatrical Website
- The Shadow World Guide
- Sony Website
- Madame Dorothea's Tarot Reading
- Online Jewelry Store
References
- ↑ Amy Kaufman (August 22, 2013). "'Mortal Instruments' disappoints". Los Angeles Times.
- ↑ "The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved March 13, 2014.