Chris Columbus, director of the first two Harry Potter flicks, has gone Greek, trading wizards and witches for the gods and goddesses of Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, based on the popular series of adventure novels by Rick Riordan.
Aside from his Jonas-worthy looks, troubled teen Percy Jackson (Logan Lerman, turning in a solid audition for the Peter Parker gig) seemingly has little else going for him: At school, he's shunned by his peers and stymied by dyslexia; at home, he's tormented by a sullen, beer-swilling step-dad. The only solace from his dreary existence is found at the bottom of a swimming pool, where he sits motionless for several minutes at a time, staring blankly ahead.
What at first seems like textbook para-suicidal behavior is later revealed to be the happy byproduct of a rather stellar gene pool. Percy's long-lost babydaddy, we discover, is none other than Poseidon, the mighty Greek god of the sea (played, funnily enough, by Kevin McKidd of HBO's Rome) who descended from the heavens years ago and knocked up Percy's mom (the gods, it seems, harbor major mortal fetishes) only to abruptly flee seven months after his birth. Among the traits he inherited from his deadbeat dad is the ability to survive underwater without oxygen for interminable amounts of time. So you see, Percy isn't an ordinary high school loser after all; he's a freaking demigod, yo.
It's essentially the Harry Potter fantasy — the sudden discovery that one possesses talents far beyond those of typical mortals, allowing one to permanently escape a life of endless tedium and mediocrity — straight from the director, Columbus, who helped kickstart the blockbuster franchise.
But ye gods — few movies in recent memory stumble out of the gate as badly as The Lightning Thief. Clearly intended to serve as the first installment of a franchise, the film is nigh unwatchable for its first 30-odd minutes, as Columbus labors awkwardly to establish the many intricacies and rules of the universe in which Lerman's unlikely hero resides. Considering his resume, you'd think Columbus might have learned a thing or two about laying out a backstory without resorting to the kind of forced exposition and clunky foreshadowing found in this film.
When the bulk of the expository gruntwork is finished, The Lightning Thief does eventually hit a kind of narrative stride as Percy and his pals criss-cross the country, facing various Hellenic horrors, but it never engages on any level beyond the superficial. As in the Potter films, I suspect the real emotional territory will be mined in the follow-ups — if there are any.
Hollywood.com rated this film 2 stars.
Network Reviews
Fun Movie 
Posted by: Giants Rock | 7/24/2010 9:34:12 AM
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
Good, fun movie.
Read the book 
Posted by: AIOTLD | 6/4/2010 12:28:17 PM
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
The book was better. While reading it, I could see the movie playing in my head. It's an ok movie. Not one I would ever want to visit again. It gave me no hope of any sequels after this if the same team does them.
It was just ok 
Posted by: KEEBKAHN | 5/6/2010 10:24:48 AM
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
I would probably give this 2.5 stars, but that is not an option. It was a good enough movie I guess, but I expected more from it.
A 10 year old would probably really enjoy the movie, but I don't think there is enough to it to make it more than palatable for an adult. It is a kids movie afterall, but movies like Shrek, Narnia and Ice Age kinda raised the bar for kids movies and this one is below that bar.
Its OK 
Posted by: SIMPLYNICK | 5/5/2010 7:44:05 PM
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
Definately not like the book at all.
The Lightning Thief 
Posted by: TXAGGIEGIRL87 | 4/30/2010 12:43:18 PM
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.
What a great movie! Not true to the book, but still a well put together flick. Beats all those ridiculous reality shows, like Biggest Loser!
A movie for the whole family to see. 
Posted by: RamFamily | 4/23/2010 9:24:34 PM
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
Took my son to see this and he sat through the whole movie and loved it. The fact that he's only 5yrs old and for him to sit through a 2hr movie goes to show you how entertaining the movie was.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians 
Posted by: zinoro | 4/17/2010 3:55:17 PM
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
It was a fun kids movie. It is nothing compared to Harry Potter, but it does hold its own. I loved the Medusa and the special effects. It held my interest and is worth seeing.
love the movie 
Posted by: SAMMYSTR57 | 4/8/2010 9:11:39 PM
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
nice story, good action. a good movie
Was just ok 
Posted by: MHVMK | 4/3/2010 12:46:33 PM
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
Starts slow, gets a tad bit better, I only stayed awake because i love mythology and always want to see how greek gods are portrayed, look forward to clash of the Titans!
Great one to take the kids to! 
Posted by: HignlanderNCO | 3/27/2010 9:29:24 PM
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
Now grant it, this is not Avatar and no movie is as good as the book, but this is still a good movie and a great family movie to go see.
I enjoyed it very much and so did the kids that were around me in the movie theater and a couple of them have read the book.
Great cast, some good FX's, good story and it somewhat keeps to Greek theology.
Use your own judgment, but kids from 8-10 on up to big kids like me will enjoy this. If you would take them to Harry Potter, then it would ok to take them to this.
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