Fan Hopes For 'The Mortal Instruments: City Of Bones' Shattered By Critics

Fans of supernatural fantasy are likely to be disappointed by The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones if critics' reviews are anything to go by. The film is released in the UK and US today (Wednesday 21st August).

Kevin Zerger and Lily Collins at the L.A. premiere of The Mortal Instruments, held at the ArcLight Cinema.

The Mortal Instruments is based on the best-selling series of teen fiction books by Cassandra Clare. According to IMDb, the fantasy movie follows teen Clary Fray (Lily Collins) who discovers she is descended from a race of warriors destined to protect the world from supernatural and evil entities. The film is set in an alternative New York called 'Downworld'. Clary is helped by other warriors, played by Jamie Campbell Bower (The Twilight Saga); Kevin Zegers (Gossip Girl); Jemima West (The Borgias); and Robert Sheehan (Misfits). 

Watch The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones Movie Trailer:

The film has been compared to a number of successful franchises including The Twilight Saga and Harry Potter. Unfortunately, Matt Patches of Time Out New York stated "there's a Dumbledore, there's a Voldemort, there's a magical MacGuffin that our heroes must track down, but it's a soulless attempt to re-create the Potter magic." In a similar fashion, Kyle Smith of the New York Post wrote The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, "hopes to be the start of a new franchise for tweens and Twihards". However, he believes it is "twash". 

Jamie Campbell Bower at the L.A. premiere of The Mortal Instruments.

As most critics -and the majority of sensible viewers- considered Twilight to be fairly unpleasant watching, it seems likely that teenage girls worldwide will be sucked into the obsessive fandom accompanies such film franchises. However, we will have to see how the film fares in the UK and US weekend box office following its release today. 

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones is due to be released in US and UK cinemas today, the 21st August 2013. 

Michael Sheehan at the L.A. premiere of The Mortal Instruments.