Movie Review of Austenland

Me in my Regency outfit

As promised, here is my review for the movie "Austenland" which is found on my other blog:

http://juliemartinwallace.blogspot.com/2013/08/movie-review-for-austenland.html

"This is a must see movie; you will laugh until you snort; you will get verklempt at times; Aaaahhh at the tender love scenes; and like any good Jane Austen story you will get your happy ending."

Movie Review time: Books to the big screen

I saw two of my favorite books turned into movies this week.

 

First, City of Bones, I attended the midnight showing. This series has been a favorite book of mine for 3 years now. I reread the books to have a fresh memory of what happens in time for the movie release. I almost think it is best to forget all about the books before seeing its movie. You know very well they are going to have to change things to make it fit into 2 hours.  Here are the seven things that I’m glad made it into the movie:

***Spoilers***

1. Clary is a heroine and not a damsel in distress. She is fearless and precisely how she acted in the book. (She was a little less redheaded than I imagined but it worked.)
2. Jace’s instant attraction to Clary and need to be with her even though he is a wounded soul.
3. Alec’s obsession with Jace must have gotten edited out because you didn’t see it much but when Clary accused Alec of being in love with Jace and he throws her against the wall was right on.
4. The Silent Brothers with their lips sewn shut and gouged out eyes were creepily perfect.
5. Simon with his Made in Brooklyn t-shirt was by far my favorite character in the movie. He stole the show with his broken-heart and big brown eyes.
6. Valentine is the perfect bad guy you almost feel bad for but in the end he is truly evil with a lot of fight scenes.
7. I was worried about how they would tastefully approach the end of book one. Like a lot of readers I was afraid people would be turned off by the revelation that our love triangle became incest with Clary and Jace being siblings. The movie addresses the issue and didn't make it at all creepy.

Well done, it was a great show. I’m planning to take my husband to see it. It has plenty of action and even if you haven’t read the books you will enjoy and understand the story line. 

NEXT STAY TUNED FOR MY MOVIE REVIEW OF "AUSTENLAND"...

CITY OF BONES MOVIE RELEASE AUGUST 21ST

I first read City of Bones, City of Ashes, and City of Glass around October  2010. 

Here is my book review:
http://juliemartinwallace.blogspot.com/2010/10/here-is-new-series-that-i-excited-about.html

I've started rereading the series for the movie release which will be out Wednesday Aug 21st. I hope they decide to make the whole series into movies. Time will tell. So excited to see City of Bones!  http://www.themortalinstrumentsmovie.com

Set in contemporary New York City, a seemingly ordinary teenager, Clary Fray (Lily Collins), discovers she is the descendant of a line of Shadowhunters, a secret cadre of young half-angel warriors locked in an ancient battle to protect our world from demons. After the disappearance of her mother (Lena Headey), Clary must join forces with a group of Shadowhunters, who introduce her to a dangerous alternate New York called Downworld, filled with demons, warlocks, vampires, werewolves and other deadly creatures. Based on the worldwide best-selling book series.

Cast members: 
Lily Collins, Jamie Campbell Bower, Robert Sheehan, Kevin Zegers, Lena Headey, Kevin Durand, Aidan Turner, Jemima West, Godfrey Gao with CCH Pounder, with Jared Harris 
and I'm really excited about Jonathan Rhys Meyers playing the bad guy. 

SHADOWHUNTER FANS: The only way we can guarantee Hollywood will make all THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS series into movies is if we all go out and watch CITY OF BONES.