Movie: "Percy Jackson and the Olympians"

[sabrinamari]

Tonight we all went to see the movie adaptation of "The Lightening Thief". Both Trent and I have read the first four books and are eagerly looking forward to Book 5. Michael is working on Book 1.

Spoilers and details! Skip if you plan to see the film.

The special effects were excellent. The Gods, of course, weren't particularly well depicted, but Medusa and the Minotaur were fun. I can't say I thought much of the writing, and the movie dumbed down the plot a great deal, but I *still* had fun. Life is easier when one is easily amused.

Still, The Lotus Hotel and Casino was kind of cool. It featured a movie sequence that was clearly stolen from one of my favorite YouTube videos. Hades was fun once the team made it into the Underworld---which was utterly, totally, and completely wrong. Of course, the film's Hades had nothing in common with the deity I know and love. This film's Hades reminded me a bit of Ozzie Osborne.

But Camp Half Blood was excellent. I think I liked it best of all. It featured lots of delightful sword fights and an obstacle course. Annabeth, in particular, was very handy with a weapon. Sadly, though, if I were magically transported into that universe, I'd be one of Aphrodite's kids, doomed to spend all of my time dressing up and trying out new hair styles. There'd be no excitingly heroic adventures at all.

The movie probably rates a C to C-, but if, like me, you'll watch anything featuring the Olympians, focus on the special effects and silly details, and don't expect too much.

Comments

[onyxtwilight.livejournal.com]

So, for maximum enjoyment, I should see the movie, and THEN read the book? :-)

[catpaw67.livejournal.com]

That is almost always a good tactic to take. I'm going to see it tonight. I already read the books, so I'm screwed from that standpoint, but my memory is poor enough that I'll probably like it anyway.

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

The plot is changed up and key rules are changed, so it's fairly different.

I liked it, though, even though it wasn't great. Give me god-like abilities, a woman who kicks ass and one or two supernatural or otherwise amazing characters and I'm pretty happy.

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

Yes, darling.

[spiffnolee.livejournal.com]

I agree with your review. Will and I had read the books, and Louise hadn't. We liked the movie better than she did, but we're also pretty open to entertaining foolishness.

Re: treatment of the gods. I was worried about Poseidon's gait, with his head down, but the actors did better than I feared. I'd still rather see stocky, bearded men who look like Greeks, though. And I missed a lot of the gods who had speaking parts in the book. Where was Mr. D?

Pierce Brosnan had the accent of many colors. And it's hard to figure out what to do with your hands when your hips are your shoulders and they're computer generated.

Annabeth was great. She looked like a wise teenager with amazing eyes. But all of the kids were too old by a decade. If they film the series using these actors, they'll have kids Percy's age by the time they wrap.

PJ&tO is not such a sacred text that I object to flimmaking liberties. The effects were very good, the Lotus was great, and we enjoyed the movie overall.

[akrissy.livejournal.com]

good to read a few reviews here. I'm likely to go with Chris (another adult who has read most of the books) this afternoon.

[flamespirit.livejournal.com]

The movie was lighthearted fun, except for Medusa. She seriously freaked me the heck out. I was surprised by how different it was from the book, though.

We're doing the same thing you are Sabrina - reading the books with Noah. I'm done all 5, Noah is on book 2 and Brian is still finding out whose son Percy is. They're a really easy read for me. It's fun doing something together.