Percy Jackson & The Olympians: Lightning Thief (2010)
Movie Review by The Gravedigger
06.09.10
For some reason Zeus (Sean Bean of THE HITCHER), king of the Greek Gods, believes that Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon, has stolen his lightning bolt, the most powerful weapon in existence. He calls a meeting with Poseidon (Kevin McKidd of ROME) , who walks out of the ocean outside Coney Island, thirty-feet tall. He shrinks down to human size and then meets his brother atop the Empire State Building, which is where the hidden entrance to Olympus is. He tells Poseidon that if Percy doesn't return the bolt within fourteen days there will be a war between them, a war which will kill off most of mankind.
Then we got to Percy, who is in high school. During a field trip to the museum he's attacked by a substitute teacher, who is really a winged, gargoyle-like Fury. His wheelchair bound professor (Pierce Brosnan) and best friend, Grover, come to his rescue and tell him that he has to leave the city. He, Grover and his mother drive out to the country and are attacked by a huge minotaur, which seems to kill his mother. It's also revealed that Grover his also his guardian--and a half-goat Satyr. Percy enters the realm of "the camp", which is a training ground/refuge for all of the demi-gods and magical creatures. In fact, his crippled professor turns out to be Chiron, a centaur.
Chiron wants Percy to go to Olympus and explain to Zeus that it's all a mistake and that he didn't steal the lightning. But before he can do this Hades makes an appearance and tells him that his mother is really alive--and being kept in Hell. If Percy gives him the lightning he'll let his mother go. So Percy, Grover and new friend Annabeth, who is the daughter of Athena, go on a quest. Before they can go to Hades they must first secure a way to get out of there, which is in the form of these strange pearls. While recovering them they encounter a gorgon, a hydra and the lotus eaters.
I found this movie much more entertaining than any of the HARRY POTTER movies and it's in the spirit of those old Ray Harryhausen mythical movies, like JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS and the SINBAD movies. It stays true to the source material and has some interesting bits, such as with the pissed off Persephone (Rosario Dawson) and the winged tennis shoes. Think of it as a lite version of CLASH OF THE TITANS and you get the idea. Recommended.
For some reason Zeus (Sean Bean of THE HITCHER), king of the Greek Gods, believes that Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon, has stolen his lightning bolt, the most powerful weapon in existence. He calls a meeting with Poseidon (Kevin McKidd of ROME) , who walks out of the ocean outside Coney Island, thirty-feet tall. He shrinks down to human size and then meets his brother atop the Empire State Building, which is where the hidden entrance to Olympus is. He tells Poseidon that if Percy doesn't return the bolt within fourteen days there will be a war between them, a war which will kill off most of mankind.
