So did you see the movie about the ordinary boy who suddenly learns he is extraordinarily magically gifted, goes off to train in a remote magical location, makes friends with an overenthusiastic boy and a very book smart girl, then they save the world together? Yeah so did I. Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief was it, unfortunately. This is essentially (as you may have already guessed) a Harry Potter clone that has bathed in testosterone. A lot of it; like a vat. Replace "genetic magic" with Greek mythology, and you've essentially got it. While I do appreciate Greek mythology, there is a limit to the amount that can, reasonably, be crammed into a two hour period. Case in point: the whole Vegas fiasco (you'll see). This is how fans of magical fantasy must feel about the Harry Potter series. On the plus side, director Chris Columbus obviously has this genre locked down (whatever that genre is). The effects are well done and the story moves along at a brisk pace. My major complaint with the story is the whole Lightning Thief thing. It's barely addressed until the movie is an hour and a half in.
The main characters are relative newcomers and, for the most part, hold their ends up well. The supporting cameos are something else entirely. I guess Columbus pitched the film to the ensemble as the next coming of (*sigh*) Potter, and actors came running; Uma Thurman, Pierce Brosnan, Sean Bean, Steve Coogan, Rosario Dawson, Catherine Keener, Joe Pantoliano. I could go on, but my point is made.
This movie is not awful, I actually enjoyed it in quite a few places (Steve Coogan and Rosario Dawson are funny as hell), but it's a retread. Been done before, and been done better. One question I had that never got addressed though; why the hell is the entrance to Olympus located in New York City?!? Was I absent from class the day that particular connection was taught? One last thing: please, NO SEQUELS! Let this dog lie. 6.25/10
Tomorrow's movie: Princess Amidala and Tommy Chong's daughter in the award winning Black Swan. I cannot wait for this one! See you then, and GO WATCH A MOVIE!!
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