Entertainment : In Depth: \'City of Bones,\' and another marriage proposal, at the Palace

“The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones,” rated PG-13, runs 130 minutes. Catch it at the Palace Friday, September 27 through Thursday, October 3 at 7 pm every night but Tuesday, and Monday, September 30 at 2 pm. The Palace will be closed on Tuesday, October 1 for a thorough fall cleaning.

Let me start by saying that I was pleasantly surprised when I got the call from Marcy asking me to take over the keyboard while she recuperated from the rigors of being a first time grandparent. While very rewarding, I’m sure, it’s almost as tiring as raising the first set of kids at times. I am happy that I can take the responsibility of a weekly column off her plate for a little while.

That being said, she left me no easy task, assigning me a review of this week’s offering at the Palace, “The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones.”

“The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones” is based on a novel by Cassandra Clare. I watched an interview in which Cassandra Clare said the idea for the entire book series came from when a friend of hers wanted her to get a tattoo. “As I sat in a tattoo parlor in Lower Manhattan, looking at this incredible idea book, pondering what tattoo I should get, I started to think about the origin of tattoos. In some cultures, they were used to ward off evil spirits, even to cast spells, and to protect the people who wore them, and my mind started creating the characters for this book.”

(Editorial note: OMG! Insert eyeroll here.)

“City of Bones” has all the makings of a teenage blockbuster. Werewolves, Vampires, Demons, Shadowhunters, Faeries, and Muggles, oops, I meant to say Mundanes. Mundanes are those boring human types that wander the earth, living normal lives, waiting to be destroyed and/or saved by all those other beings I mentioned. There’s even an off screen on/off romance between the two lead characters, and an on screen love triangle between the three main characters. (Hmm… ever seen that before?)

Here’s the bottom line: “The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones” is a cross between “Harry Potter” and “Twilight.” It’s an Action Adventure movie that’s probably more action than your kids under 10 ought to see. It’s rated PG-13 for violence, (the main character sees three people brutally murdered at a nightclub) and scary, suspenseful situations. If you’re covered in ink, and a regular at the annual Comic Con convention, you’re gonna love this one.

And, if you choose to come to the movie with your kids, you should seek a qualified mental health professional if your kid is able to explain it to you.

Keep in mind, this is only MY opinion, and it is worth exactly what you paid for it.

Marcy, I should have taken your advice and started with a review of “The Butler.”

MARCY CAN’T STEP AWAY

Sorry, folks (and Art), I (Marcy) had to insert a couple of quick paragraphs to report on something awesome that happened last Sunday. A marriage proposal! And acceptance! At the Palace! Please see the following

link which interrupted previews and shocked the audience, one young lady in particular. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oIu2j4cdTk (or see the proposal as it appeared on the screen, below)

No, this is not the first marriage proposal to happen at the theatre. Just over 13 years ago my favorite Vinton electrician popped the question to his beautiful elementary school teacher girlfriend, on the street in front of the Palace. His “Will You Marry Me?” was posted on the marquee, and she said, “Yes!”

Andrew and Carol celebrated recently with their children at the Monday matinee showing of “Despicable Me 2.” Sigh. Sarah and Judd, you have so much joy in store.

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