Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief (2010)

For the sake of all movie lovers, let me just get this straight to your face first: DO NOT COMPARE THIS WITH HARRY POTTER!!!!

From the moment the trailer was released, we knew it that it is directed Chris Columbus by the same director who made Harry Potter, and Home Alone, well if you're no fan of Harry Potter. There are hopes and expectation, well.., as expected! But then again, please do not compare.

Percy Jackson isn't really as bad as reviewed by the majority of the book-fans and Harry-Potter-fans. It was actually very entertaining. Who give it a damn if the storyline doesn't follow exactly as what was written in the book? Not all books get to the big screen without minimal amendment. Harry Potter was said to have lots of scenes cut off when it went to the big screen. Perhaps, the only one great movie adapted from novels is The Lord of The Rings trilogy. But even that, they part it into 3 installments and J.R.R. Tolkien's favourite character lifted out. Sadly said though, that no other novel adaptation beats LOTR yet. Percy Jackson is of no exception. But then, the are no reason to compare. LOTR is serious, intense, and thrilled. Percy Jackson is light, fun, and enjoyable. Totally different thing. Comparing with Harry Potter? Not quite the same either. Stick to the books and stop watching adaptation from books if you can't bear with the amendments.

To me, Chris Columbus actually did a good job concealing the biggest mistake of the movie - the casting. Sean Bean isn't promising as the powerful Zeus, Pierce Brosnan failed miserably as Chiron, Rosario Dawson disgust me as Persephone and Steven Coogan as Hades is a no-no. But Columbus got us all deceived with his little trick - to bring us all on a fun amusement ride. Once we got on and fasten our seatbelts, we forgot every other thing.

1. Uma Thurman as Medusa and her snake-head.
2. Fighting Hydra at the museum.
3. Got under the spell of the lotus flower in the casino.

The almost 2 hrs movie doesn't feels at all like 2 hrs as we were entertained with the heroes and heroin's adventure. It's like we're under the spell too, just like the heroes and heroin. At least, they got me.

Purely entertaining I shall say.

But then again, the movie has its flaws. First, as I already mentioned, the poor casting. Besides the listed, Logan Lerman too. Well, he's good looking indeed. The typical pretty boy look you'll be attracted too though you may not be head over heels (think Robert Pattison from Twilight - I still don't get it though). Good looking enough to make us wanna watch him, but acting wise? One moment he were mourning about his mother's death, then he looks completely... well, you know... err not sad at all. I dunno bout you, but I don't feel his pain of losing his mother. There's no need to mention Alexandra Daddario as Annabeth but I like Brandon T. Jackson as Grover though, who contributed most to comedy.

Some of the parts of the story are illogical and make no sense at all , though. First, what's the purpose of the half-blood camp? The demigods were all trained but for what purpose? And why Percy wasn't put into the camp together with the other demigods like Annabeth who'd been there since young? Call me stupid, I don't care but I'm confused. The most unforgivable part is no other than the return from Hell. The three of them knew exactly that there were only 3 pearls and they were on the quest to bring Percy's mother back, making them 4 persons altogether. But when they were to transport themselves back, they seemed totally clueless about the situation. Daughter of Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom, you call yourself Annabeth?

To sum up everything, i shall say that it's an entertaining watch for the weekend. Flawed like many other movies, it still entertain you for that 2 hours though I bet you won't remember a thing you watch nor will you reminisce the excitement of watching this movie when you the next quarter of the year, regardless of how thrilled you were when you watched it.

"Some things can't be stored long and are best to be eaten fresh"


Rating: 6/10