The Mortal Instruments
Samantha Neyland
Where and with whom did you see the movie? At Ward Consolidated Theaters with my best friend, Jamaal Willis.
Overall, what did you think? Overall, I think the movie was great. It was the perfect combination of sci-fi, action, romance and even comedy. There were a few predictable scenes, but every time I thought I knew it all, the writer threw in a surprise. The movie was extremely well-written, because it had my eyes glued the whole time!
Without giving away the ending, what was one of your favorite scenes? I really liked the main character’s first action scene because it was still the beginning of the movie, and while she did have the normal reaction of first running away, she showed a good measure of intelligence in an attempt to save herself. Showing early on that she at least had some protective/defensive instincts made the rest of the movie more believable.
On a scale of one to four stars, what would you rate this film? ★★★
What did you think of the cinematography? I could tell the director wanted everything to be as natural as it could be. All of the special effects were done with a sense of reality – for a second, the movie had me believing the impossible was possible. Even the sound effects were perfect. Nothing was too loud, too quiet or too distracting.
Was the message/theme clear? I wouldn’t really say this movie had a clear message, but good versus evil was definitely an obvious theme throughout the movie.
Did it remind you of any other works of film?Twilight probably just because there were vampires and were-wolves, but Harry Potter is such an amazing series, and I thought The Mortal Instruments had the potential to compare if they introduced more characters.
To whom would you recommend this movie? I would recommend this movie to anyone who likes sci-fi and/or action movies.
Did any of the actors stand out? I’ve always liked Lily Collins as an actress, and she continues to impress me with each movie she makes. Her performance in this movie was especially good because her character was far different than the type of character she usually plays.
Did you identify with any of the characters? I don’t think I relate to any of the characters in this movie, but considering the storyline, I would consider that to be a good thing.
Did the soundtrack contribute significantly to the film? I remember the songs amplified the emotions of each scene, but the only song I remember specifically was Heart by Heart by Demi Lovato. It played at the perfect moment, and when I got home I just couldn’t help but Google the movie’s soundtrack until I figured out the song’s title.
Would you buy this movie when it comes out on DVD? This is a movie that I know every time I watched it I would learn or see something new that would make the movie even better, so yes, there is a high chance that I will buy this movie when it comes out on DVD.
What’s your favorite movie snack? It may not be considered a snack, but I cannot watch a movie without a strawberry ICEE. Popcorn is always a bonus, but an ICEE is a necessity.
On a different note, what’s new with you? My reign as Miss Hawaii Teen USA is ending, so right now I am trying to do as much as I can before I have to pass on the crown. But as a new college student, it is definitely hard to balance the two. However, if anyone is interested in watching as the 2014 Miss Hawaii Teen USA is crowned, please visit misshawaiiusa.com for event information. You are all welcome to attend Oct. 13!
