Movie Monday #16: 2007 vs. Present

We are less than a year away from the theatrical release of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones and the hype for the adaptation of the internationally best selling series by Cassandra Clare will only continue to grow as the release draws nearer.

I’ve banded together with other Mortal Instruments fansites (TMI Institute, Mundie Moms,TMI Examiner and TMI News en Espanol) for a weekly feature called Movie Monday.

Each Monday leading up to the August 23, 2013, release of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, we will take a look at a scene, moment, detail, etc. and give our opinions on how we think it will be interpreted in the big screen adaptation.

Week 16: 2007 vs. Present

Alyssa, TMI Source: We know that the events of THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS begin in August 2007 and with the movie adaptation in production one has to wonder if this aspect of the books will be reflected in the big screen adaptation. There’s really no way to know for sure how the studio will approach this. This could have been something that came up with the studio or the screenwriters or even Cassandra Clare, but there’s a big possibility that they will make it as if these characters are living these events in the present.

But we also know that the world has evolved and changed a lot in that six year difference, be it technology wise or pop culture wise and those things are reflected in the books. Of course a movie is no where near an exact replica of the book; it’s an interpretation and we’ll have to wait and see how the studio chooses to handle it. Honestly I think that the past vs. present wasn’t really an issue with the studio and they’ll film it like it’s happening in the present.

Amber, TMI Institute: When reading City of Bones the first time, which was back in 2008 if I remember correctly, I was not really aware that the Shadowhunters were living in 2007. When I thought about this post, I decided to put my theory to the test, so I asked my 11-year-old daughter who just read CoB if she knew what year the book was set. She also presumed it was present day. I think the pop culture references in the book are still very recognizable to today’s movie goers, and that the book is written in a style where time is not a major factor. I don’t think putting the movie in the year 2012 or 2013 will make a big deal in the story line. I believe they will make the movie time frame present day.

Katie, Mundie Moms: Great question. When I read this book back in 2006 I didn’t think they were just apart of 2007. I felt Cassie wrote them to be apart of present day, whatever year that may currently be. The pop culture feel allows COB to blend into 2012/2013 as much as it fit in to 2007. By giving City of Bones a present day feel Cassie created a book that will blend into any modern day time period and still connect with readers and what’s going on in society. Movie wise, I think there’s still plenty of pop culture references that are mentioned in the book that should they also be mentioned in the movie the majority of the movie goers will pick up on them. I wouldn’t be surprised if they tweak a few of the references, but I don’t think they need to alter anything big in the movie to reminder movie goers they’re watching a movie set in modern day. Now if the book was set in 60’s or 70’s or even the 80’s I could see them doing some alterations, but being that there’s only a five year difference from when the book was out to the movie being made I don’t think they need to make any changes. 

Natalie, TMI Examiner: 2007 vs. the present? What a GREAT topic! It’s hard to guess how the studio will handle this. It really depends on Sony’s approach to the franchise. There is a benefit to being in the present but then the story does take place in 2007 and how they handle this issue will impact the franchise if Clare’s upcoming series ‘The Dark Artifices’ becomes a film. New York is also a very different place in 2007. Not only would a 2007 storyline change what technology is seen in the film but then the studio has to make the decision to show footage of the World Trade Center as a year marker or not. I think that how they approach the issue of 2007 vs. the present will tell us a lot about their hopes to really film the other series in Clare’s ‘Shadowhunter Chronicles.’

Looking forward to seeing how this issue plays out in ‘City of Bones.’

Tita, TMI News en Español: I really hope that they’ll keep it on 2007 for a simple reason: what if the movie is the mega success they expect it to be? What will happen with the dark artifices if they also want to made them into a movie? They are based in 2012… O_O

Well, that looks far away right now, but i t can bring problems in the future…

I think it would be super cool to start the movie at Pandemonium and hear popular music from that years… Or their mobiles…. Or the cars in the street… By the angel, can’t wait to know if they base the movie on 2007 or another year! 

What are your thoughts? Do you think we’ll see the movie from 2007 or the present? How much or how little will it affect the story? Join in on the discussion!

Check back next Monday for the next edition of Movie Monday.