MovieChat Forums > The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (2013) Discussion > You Get What You Get

You Get What You Get

posted 11 years ago by Eric266
4 replies | jump to latest

I've had an issue with movies for a long time now dumbing down to a specific target audience. This movie is one of the reasons I don't actually go to the theater to watch movies anymore. I just wait until they come out on cable. Between this movie, Twilight, and Beautiful Creatures, there seems to be a growing genre of supernatural teen fantasy. Lets face it, the target audience for these films (10-15 y/o girls) probably enjoyed it immensely. I should have read the reviews first because I am NOT the target audience (late 40s). However, with a cast of Johnathan Rhys Myers, Lena Headley, and CCH Pounder,I kind of expected something more than Twilight-lite. The subplot involving the possible incest seems just woefully out of place in a teen movie like this. How did someone in charge not say to just cut that out? It wasn't even really integral to the plot so why bother with it at all? I mean Lena Headley has some experience with this in Game of Thrones so she should have told the producers how this would play out. But still...ick.

[–] Chris451 11 years ago

It wasn't even really integral to the plot

Actually, yes it is intregal to the plot, but was soft-pedaled in the movie in order to dumb it down to a specific target audience. Interesting that you take issue with the dumbing down of movies, but if there is some aspect of a popular book that you find inappropriate you would just "cut that out." How is that not "dumbing down?"

[–] isundling 11 years ago

The movie was based on 6 Young Adult books...we don't find out that Clary and Jace are not related until the end of the third book...and yes, it does carry the plot of all the books...I loved the books, and I am far from being a Young Adult...the rest of the books are so interesting, sad we can't get to see them all..as far as being for a certain audience...there were a lot of fans older than 18 that made the Twilight Saga a billion dollar franchise...

[–] Eric266 11 years ago

Chris, the incest plot might have been integral to the BOOKS, but in the movie it had almost nothing to do with the storyline other than creating a "creep" factor. I don't feel removing that storyline would constitute "dummbing down" the movie. It just didn't have a place in the film and could have been removed without harming the plot. Its like in the Lovely Bones. The young girl is raped and murdered. I did not read the book, but I understand there is a description of the act. It seemed gross to show that on film so they left it out and left it up to the viewer's imagination. It just didn't have a place on screen. I did not necessarily dislike Mortal Instruments, I just felt it was weak as storytelling goes, stole much of its plot from other movies, and catered to a younger audience rather than giving it a broader appeal.

[–] mochroi2012 11 years ago

The thing is, at first appearance it doesn't seem to be "vital"in the movie plot (as it is in the books), but you need to remember the intent was to make multiple sequels, so that plot point is very relevant to the entire plot of book (future movies) 2 & 3. It doesn't stand alone in movie 1, it "sets the stage"for future where it's VERY relevant.

So if they just "cut that part out" the entire driving force behind much of the main characters motives for their actions would be missing... would make whole concept of movie sequels very difficult/impossible. (Unless they used whole other story which would so alter things that wouldn't even be the "spirit"of the books & it wouldn't be TMI/ same characters anymore.)

I know sequel is up in air NOW, but I'm speaking to intent when writing/filming first movie.