Book to Movie Monday #2: The Mortal Instruments Saga

Book to Movie Monday #2                          

Title: The Mortal Instruments

Author: Cassandra Clare

Publication Date: March 27th 2007

Review from Goodreads:

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder― much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing―not even a smear of blood―to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know... 

Book to Movie Monday is where I write about books that are being, have been or I would like to see adapted. 

The Mortal Instruments Saga doesn't seem to find peace. Apparently a bad movie wasn't enough, they had to make a TV show too. I'm not saying this to just be mean, come on, let's be honest: the show is not that good either.

I love this saga so much; after so many books, I feel like the characters have become my friends. Wow, that sounds much more depressing than I thought. What I'm trying to say is that, as a fan, I feel so sad none of them worked out, at least for me.

The Movie                                                                                

I remember the day I heard City of Bones was going to become a movie, well not really, but I can imagine it being along the lines "omg omg omg". Don't judge. 

I was really happy and I trusted that Cassandra would make sure everything was just like the fans wanted it. The cast looked great. And then... the movie happened.

My biggest issue I guess, was that it ended up looking like a low-budget movie with way too many cheesy scenes. They were also trying to fit too much information in a single movie. Oh, and Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Valentine was a little over the top. The rest of the cast was great, though.

As I've said in my Red Carpet Book Tag, I love Lily Collins. I also loved Jamie: he was the perfect and sarcastic Jace. They had great chemistry. I mean, they started dating in real life so...

I think what made this movie better for me, was to see how well the cast got along, which is something that I don't see in the show. They're still very good friends and Lily and Jamie even went to Kevin's wedding!

I have to admit that after watching the first two episodes of Shadowhunters, I realized the movie wasn't so bad after all.

The TV Show                                                                           

I have to hand it them, they certainly know how to make badass-looking edits.

I was really happy to hear that there was going to be a TV show, and I was the first to defend the first sneak peeks by claiming the actors just had to get used to being around each other. Unfortunately, after finishing season 1, I can officially say I..I was wrong. Man, that was so hard to admit. I hate being wrong.

Big issue: most of the cast sucks. It's not like I didn't give them a chance. I stuck with them for a whole season. I don't know if the actors should take all the blame, though. Yes, Dom is stiff, and yes, the rest of the cast overacts, BUT, the script is not really helping them either. The only characters that I actually like on the show are Simon and Alec, and maybe Magnus. Alberto does a great job as the nerdy, sweet and caring Simon; and Matt plays the stiff and stick-to-the-rules Alec perfectly. 

Most people are overlooking the fact that the acting and script and directing suck because the show is full of pretty faces. But, come on, is beauty all that matters today? 

It's not all bad! I like the comedy in it. And some of the actors are swoon-worthy (am I a complete hypocrite for saying that? Yep, absolutely). 

This man's just breathtaking 💓

With that being said, I want to admit that I'm still going to watch season 2 and I'm not ashamed about it. 

Overall                                                                                     

I couldn't agree more, Alec. 

I still hope the show get's better, cause I'm not ready to give up on the story, and on Matt's face. Plus, if it did, I would be proving myself wrong again. Would that mean that I was right in the first place? We'll see.

See ya! ✌

Do you agree that the world just doesn't want TMI fans to be happy? Do you also think that Matthew Daddario is perfection with legs? Let me know in the comments.