Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
March 21st 2010 12:28
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, based on the novel by Rick Riorden, adapted for the screen by Craig Titley and directed by Chris Columbus, is an unapologetic adventure. Perfect movie viewing for a rainy - or in my case unseasonable warm - weekend.
Percy Jackson tells the story of troubled teenage boy, who suffers from A.D.D and dyslexia.The only place Percy feels at home is underwater, and the film opens with Percy sitting on the bottom of a pool, lost in a world of his own.
Percy's home life is troubled. His loving mother played by Oscar Nominee Catherine Keener, is married to a smelly slob who treats her and Percy like dirt. Unable to excel at school because of his learning difficulties, it's on a school excursion that Percy's substitute english teacher turns into a Fury and attacks him. It is also here, under the careful watch of school friend Grover - played with comedic precision by Brandon T Jackson - and Mr Brunner the crippled teacher, that Percy discovers he is a Demi God, the child of a God from Olympus and a human mother. Percy's rarity is that he is the son of Poseidon.
Zeus' Lightning bolt has been stolen and suspicion automatically falls on Percy. Posiedon and his brother argue and Zeus delivers the ultimatum that Percy must return the Lightning Bolt before the Summer Solistace of the Gods of Olympus will go to war.
Percy, on the run from Furies & Minators heads to Camp Half Blood where he discovers his A.D.D is actually the power of the Gods running through his veins. He also discovers Mr Brunner is actually a Centaur and his friend Grover is Percy's Junior Protector and a satyr. Percy meets many other demigods, one in particular being Annabel, the daughter of Athena.
Hades kidnaps Percy's mother and the three teenagers leave Camp Half Blood to find a way in and out Hades Kingdom to rescue Percy's mother. With Gods and Goddesses believing Percy had Zeus' Lightning bolt there is danger all around, and the three hero's of our story go in search of Persophones Pearls, which will allow them to return from the Underworld.
Percy Jackson is played by Logan Lerman. His Percy is complex and confused, but he carries the film well. Too be honest I wasn't at all fussed about seeing this movie until I saw a promo for it when I went to see Avatar. The visual affects in the promotion convinced me it was a film for FX fans and that the acting was going to be at best ordinary.
I was totally wrong on that score. Logan, Brandon and Alexandra Daddario - who plays Annabel - are three very talented young actors, and I am sure we will see alot more of them in the years to come. The three hero's form a believable bond on screen and the chemistry they exhibit is convincing.
They also hold their own against an established cast of much more seasoned performers. While relegated mostly to cameo's in the movie, the supporting cast of Pierce Bronsnan, Sean Bean, Catherine Keener, Rosario Dawson and Steve Coogan make the most of their roles in this film.
One cameo I thought was great was Uman Thurman as the snake haired Medusa. While she is on screen for no more than ten minutes - if that - her portrayal of the bitter, lonely Medusa is riveting and I found her quiet funny. I thought it was a bit of shame she was only briefly in the film.
All in all I totally enjoyed the movie and the visual effects. It's definitely a film that belongs in the DVD collection for those winter afternoons soon to hit Australia's shores.
For me, I rate it as 4 out 5.
Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief Promotional Poster
Percy Jackson tells the story of troubled teenage boy, who suffers from A.D.D and dyslexia.The only place Percy feels at home is underwater, and the film opens with Percy sitting on the bottom of a pool, lost in a world of his own.
Percy's home life is troubled. His loving mother played by Oscar Nominee Catherine Keener, is married to a smelly slob who treats her and Percy like dirt. Unable to excel at school because of his learning difficulties, it's on a school excursion that Percy's substitute english teacher turns into a Fury and attacks him. It is also here, under the careful watch of school friend Grover - played with comedic precision by Brandon T Jackson - and Mr Brunner the crippled teacher, that Percy discovers he is a Demi God, the child of a God from Olympus and a human mother. Percy's rarity is that he is the son of Poseidon.
Zeus' Lightning bolt has been stolen and suspicion automatically falls on Percy. Posiedon and his brother argue and Zeus delivers the ultimatum that Percy must return the Lightning Bolt before the Summer Solistace of the Gods of Olympus will go to war.
Percy, on the run from Furies & Minators heads to Camp Half Blood where he discovers his A.D.D is actually the power of the Gods running through his veins. He also discovers Mr Brunner is actually a Centaur and his friend Grover is Percy's Junior Protector and a satyr. Percy meets many other demigods, one in particular being Annabel, the daughter of Athena.
Hades kidnaps Percy's mother and the three teenagers leave Camp Half Blood to find a way in and out Hades Kingdom to rescue Percy's mother. With Gods and Goddesses believing Percy had Zeus' Lightning bolt there is danger all around, and the three hero's of our story go in search of Persophones Pearls, which will allow them to return from the Underworld.
Percy Jackson is played by Logan Lerman. His Percy is complex and confused, but he carries the film well. Too be honest I wasn't at all fussed about seeing this movie until I saw a promo for it when I went to see Avatar. The visual affects in the promotion convinced me it was a film for FX fans and that the acting was going to be at best ordinary.
I was totally wrong on that score. Logan, Brandon and Alexandra Daddario - who plays Annabel - are three very talented young actors, and I am sure we will see alot more of them in the years to come. The three hero's form a believable bond on screen and the chemistry they exhibit is convincing.
They also hold their own against an established cast of much more seasoned performers. While relegated mostly to cameo's in the movie, the supporting cast of Pierce Bronsnan, Sean Bean, Catherine Keener, Rosario Dawson and Steve Coogan make the most of their roles in this film.
One cameo I thought was great was Uman Thurman as the snake haired Medusa. While she is on screen for no more than ten minutes - if that - her portrayal of the bitter, lonely Medusa is riveting and I found her quiet funny. I thought it was a bit of shame she was only briefly in the film.
All in all I totally enjoyed the movie and the visual effects. It's definitely a film that belongs in the DVD collection for those winter afternoons soon to hit Australia's shores.
For me, I rate it as 4 out 5.
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