Writer: Mitchell Wong

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Watch this if you liked: "The Sorcerer’s Apprentice", "Dylan Dog: Dead Of Night" and "Supernatural"

From the creator of "The Pink Panther 2" and "The Karate Kid", Dutch director Harald Zwart brings to life "The Mortal Instruments: The City Of Bones", which is the first of the six books written by Cassandra Clare, which is as unlike his previous works as can be as Zwart ventures into the world of the supernatural.

There are no limits to the supernatural in this film except zombies. The plot is nothing short of cliche, the eternal battle between the good guys and the bad guys. The main attraction of this film is that it is not draggy, with action being introduced into the film after 15 minutes or so. Further, the chemistry between Lily Collins and Jamie Campbell Bower is strong; it is obvious that there are sparks between them from the way they look at each other.

You will be left wondering about many things as you are watching the film what with the numerous amounts of suspense and twists in the storyline. These things will keep you glued to your seats, anticipating what's going to happen next. The special effects are definitely what makes the movie such an attention-grabber.

However, viewers are not advised to read the books before watching the film as it will create unnecessary expectations. Even without having read the books, this reviewer already feels that the movie lacks the proper closure for particular events.

All in all, it is a movie worth watching, especially for the guys as Lily Collins is fantastic. If you're a fan of Jonathan Rhys Meyers, he did a commendable job playing the villain. Then again, what make this a solid 3-star film are the effects and the mind-boggling twists.

Cinema Online, 22 August 2013