The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones – review

This is the first adaptation of Cassandra Clare's best-selling fantasy novels and a sequel is already on the way, as studio execs rush to fill that Twilight-shaped hole. Lily Collins is Clary, your average schoolgirl turned demon-hunter, caught between geeky childhood chum Simon and broody blonde warrior Jace. Teen love triangle? Check. Werewolves and vampires? Check. This is film-making at its most cynical. But none of it actually makes much sense. Just what are the Shadowhunters? How does The Portal work? And who the hell is the High Warlock of Brooklyn? After 130 minutes of clunky exposition, symbology overload and derivative material, you may still have no clue.