Movie Monday #5: Clary’s Dream Sequences
We are just over 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 new 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 5: CLARY’S DREAM SEQUENCES
Alyssa, TMI Source: In the book, Cassandra Clare makes each of Clary’s dreams count. There is meaning in every word, every description. Unfortunately I don’t think all of Clary’s dreams will make it into the film adaptation. One that would work on screen as it does in the book is when Clary is unconscious in the infirmary for three days. I believe that those dreams–those flashes of images–would serve as the perfect transition between scenes. There wouldn’t be much of an impact if we see Clary blackout and then wake up. There should be evidence of those three days she spent locked inside of her mind and dreams and those images–from chapter 5 (pg. 57)–would do that justice.
Amber, TMI Institute: Although dream sequences can be done successfully in movies, I really don’t think it will be necessary to put Clary’s dreams in the movie. I would think if they want to do some foreshadowing, they can show flashes of scenes as Magnus or the Silent Brothers pick through her memories. That, to me, would be a great way to show the secrets locked away in Clary’s mind without confusing those watching the movie who haven’t read the book.
Natalie, TMI Examiner: After Clary’s encounter with the Ravenor is is unconscious at the Institute for three days. The dreams she has during that time are very symbolic of the series as a whole. I’d love to see some flashes of them but I doubt we will see everything. To some would help illustrate the time she was out but then again that can easily be done with dialogue or my less preferred option of “three days later” on screen text. I really hope to see a flash of images of “Jace with white feathered wings sprouting from his back…Simon with crosses burned into the palms of his hands. Angels, falling and burning. Falling out of the sky.”- ‘City of Bones’ page 57. I think that sadly Isabelle, Jocelyn and Luke’s images could be cut without damaging story content. I do love the dream images of Jace, Simon and the angels. I think that would be a great touch to keep in and look forward to how I. Marlene King and Harald Zwart will view this in the book to film adaptation.
Tita, TMI News en Espanol: I really do think that there will be Clary’s dreams in the movie, it’s something Hollywood really loves. They use to help us know much better the character, their fears, desires, or in this case, how special Clary is. Clary is such an special character, and we really need to get there to understand her a little bit deeper. So yes, maybe not all of them, but there’s going to be Clary’s dream in the movie for sure.
What are your thoughts? Should Clary’s dreams make it into the film? Do you think they will? Join in on the discussion!
Check back next Monday for the next edition of Movie Monday.
TMI Source 
For people who aren’t already a fan of the books, it would be a great way to get them involved and intrigued by the story – because I know how many people out there can be cynical – they are here in Britain anyway. (And before people say I’m British Bashing, I’m British myself – it’s time we all accept our society is full of people unwilling to conform to a trend just for the sake of not conforming – and especially since they’re saying these films are going to do a ‘Twilight’, we know there will be a multitude of people already turning their noses up at these films without even knowing anything about the storyline.)
I personally love dream sequences in ANY movie. I find them fascinating and eye opening. It can be an intregal part of telling you about the character and what their subconcious is hiding from the cameras – or in this case, prophetic of what’s to come. I agree with Natalie and Alyssa – those three days in the infirmary are pinnacle to the reader and therefore should be to the viewer as well. If they took out that dream sequence I think it would be a dumb move – surely the writers would realise the impact they could make with such a scene.
Totally agree with both you and what Natalie and Alyssa said. Those three days in the Infirmary are really important and I’d love for those dreams to make it into the movie. Especially because those dreams are directly connected to the story of Angel Ithuriel and it foreshadows that he was the one “communicating” them to Clary.
i’d love to seem them incoporated in the movie and would defnitley get people intrigued like Claire suggested. like Natalie and Alyssa, said, those three days are important. i think seeing flashes of images would be a great way to put them in. if people get confused, i can it explain to my friends. i’d love to see angel wings falling from jace’s back
Yeah, people might be confused by the dreams in the movie if they haven’t read the book. But people reading the book were confused also, at least by the meaning of the dream. It shouldn’t be that hard to make it clear that she is dreaming, and then they will know as much as we did reading the book for the first time. They have to include at least a little of the dreams, because the dreams become very important to the story in CoG. Ithuriel sent her the dreams for a reason, and no one can say that Ithuriel isn’t important. They forbode what is to come, with Jace having angel blood, angels falling (CoFA), and Simon becomming a vampire, plus more. If they want the movies to have the same effect as the books, they have to include at least part of the dream.
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.
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.