Hey Film Adaptations! Why Alter Brilliance?!?!?!

So over the weekend I finally (I've been waiting on this film for the past two years, mind you!) saw The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones movie with my dear friend Ames! As typical movie goers we were pleased and pretty much impressed with the outcome. However, as avid readers and huge fans of the book series we expected a bit more. Hollywood loves to shake things up a bit though, right? Right. Nevertheless, I truly do applaud the cast, Cassandra Clare, the production team, writers and yada yada yada...BUT I have a bit of a bone to pick with Hollywood in general. My question isssss

Why alter brilliance? There were some BIG differences between the book and movie. I'm just saying!

Now, the cast/characters were virtually true to the books, but I would have preferred Mr. Bower to pull off a better sarcastic (although Jace claims it is for the imaginatively bankrupt folks), troubled, and hauntingly beautiful Jace. The other characters were virtually spot on--Simon and Alec were performed quite well--but I hope to see more of Isabelle's complex personality in the next movie. And Magnus Bane...well, let's just say I'd love to see more of that guy in the next film. Bom chicka wah wah, anyone? As well, what the heck happened to Max!? The youngest Lightwood! He should have made an entrance towards the end. As well as the Lightwood mom. And Raphael Santiago! Got to love Hollywood, right?

Another aspect of the film that had my gears-a-grindin' were the altercations regarding major and minor plot details. I just don't get it--why mess with perfection? I don't know about any other reader but I can distinctly recall Valentine (that awesome, awesome villain--yeah I tend to root for the wrong side, what of it?!) to have white hair and NOT BRAIDS! Where the freak did the braids come from? Why were his eyes leaking crocodile tears? Good Lord, keep the villain just the way he is. Hardcore, wicked, manipulative, and dark as hell.

Also, Clary was supposed to kill the demon with a sensor. Okay, so I admit that explaining this creative device would have been a bit challenging for non-readers, but c'mon! I did not care for Jace swooping in and saving Clary like she's some damsel in distress. I was looking forward to her throwing that in Alec's face later on but...it never happened.

Additionally, I wanted Luke to fight Valentine and exchange a few choice words....like it happened in the book. I wanted Simon to turn into a rat....like it happened in the book. And I didn't want the demons breaking into the institute and the showdown going down there....totally not like it happened in the book.

And don't even let me get started on Church the cat. That little sly devilish thing of a cat didn't even make the big screen! Shameful! But not that shameful because I harbor a deep hate for cats--childhood scars, don't ask.

All in all, it was an excellent film but as a reader of the books, I know exactly what was missing and what was added and let me tell yah...this girl right here was not too joyful in that aspect. But hey, I get it...to an extent anyway. I just hope the next film stays a bit more true to Ms. Clare's written work.

My Absence is NOT Justified...However I will Attempt to Make it so!

Yeah, yeah, yeah I suck...I know. Forgive me!

My lovely readers (assuming I still have some), it has been an embarrassingly lengthy time since I posted anything on this here little humble blog of mine. One of my best friends had to give me a swift kick in the butt and with just a few encouraging words I was motivated to create a post! And Voila! Thanks, Dana!

But really, it’s perfectly okay if you want to refer to me as Judas or Brutus for a bit because I know that I have absolutely no legitimate excuse to justify my betrayal to you very beautiful lot! Jesus wasn’t down for Judas betraying Him and I’m sure Caesar didn’t take it too well from Brutus either. I’m just saying…I get it!  

But, here’s what happened. My priorities shifted and I needed to take a step back and figure out where my life was headed. I reexamined my spiritual and natural life, career and educational plans, visions for my future, and ultimately what actions I need to perform now in order to achieve what I desire to achieve. It may sound cliché but my hopes and dreams, five year plan, and daily routine has changed drastically. Me right now is totally not the Me from six months ago. You understand me? I guess I’m growing up. It’s all a part of life. And I hear that around my age, mid 20s, perspectives start to change. And I needed that air, yah know? I needed it without the many distractions cyber city brings. And that’s pretty much it in a nutshell.

So yes…I had a bit of a “find me journey.”  I never thought I would embark on what I once considered such a trivial thing but hey…you learn a lot about yourself when you just take time to contemplate, breathe, and settle down. Now I didn’t do any hardcore contemplation on man’s existential dilemma, take a meditation class or some mess like that (not knocking it, just saying). I asked God to reveal to me my purpose and His plans for my life so I can do what He made me to do instead of wanting to do what I want to do. Also, I just needed to truly rediscover my likes and dislikes, beliefs and values, what I deserve/my worth in this world, strengthen my relationship with Christ, and be set free from circumstances holding me back spiritually, physically, and naturally. Okay, I'm done yapping.

So there you have it. I did some soul searching and I recommend you do the same. You know how you complete a detox or spend some time eating clean? Your soul and spirit demands the same attention. Spend some time in the library/bookstore. Take a vacation. Bask in scenery you’ve never experienced before. Cut some unnecessary people or activities out of your life. Start a journal/diary. Depict your life years from now and write about how you’re going to get there. Pray and open up to God about your concerns, wants, and needs. Take up new hobbies. Do something wild and crazy-something folks wouldn’t expect of you!

Now that we’re done playing ketchup, ;-), I’m going to jot down some more blog topics and I’ll meet you back here later on this week! Sound good? Good! See yah!

**Oh yeah! Check out the film adaptation preview to The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones. CAN'T WAIT! One of my all time FAVORITE books! Up there with Harry Potter, I tell yah!**