Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

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Radio R From favorite books to horrible live-action movie. Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 06/29/25 Full Review Jack G Absolutely abysmal butchers one of my favorite books of all time with horrible acting and had no idea how to adapt the book. Disrespectful Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 06/16/25 Full Review No M in my opinion this movie undervalued becuase The only argument is that the characters are not the same age as in the book, but the movies are very good. thanks for read Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/27/25 Full Review Spencer P The plot feels rushed and some of the visual effects slip, but this YA adventure at least has a unique set up and has silly fun with Greek mythology. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 04/19/25 Full Review Shaun R I learned a little bit about Greek Mythology watching this with my daughter. CGI overkill but overall, not too bad. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 04/15/25 Full Review Ash P After reading the book, which I've got the full collection since I saw the series last year, I decided to give this movie a second watch. I first saw this on TV back around 2010 or 2011. Knowing how that time had been, it's more or less capitalizing on the success of movies like the Harry Potter series. Since seeing the series, I'd often found the series better due to how it's paced according to the book. This one is honestly half of what I'd call lost in translation. I don't mind movies based on books not always being 1:1, but only if they're done right. This movie is a mixed bag. Just a heads up, this review will have some spoilers. You've been warned. There are some positives that I have here. Like the Lotus Hotel, as it brings into symbolism involving the lotus flowers. Giving into temptation and addiction after consuming the lotus flowers. To lose track on time or quest and Percy and the group had been through after consumption. I did love the aesthetic of both the Underworld that Hades rules as well as Olympus itself. Even with transportation on how to get there. Sure, as part of the effects makes them silly, it's nice that the gods themselves appear larger than the humans alone. Humans are technically ants to the gods. I love the final fight between Percy and Luke despite making Luke become a generic villain comparing between this and the book. Some of the other fights are in the middle, but at the least, they do work as demigods in Camp Half-Blood were taught to fight. And lastly, I do like Grover's character. Not only as a protector for sticking beside Percy, but also as he hides satyr legs with crutches are clever. Now, for this being a mixed bag, there are a few things that I'm mixed on. The effects are one of them. Some of them, like Medusa having to stone or her head being used to stone anything, are clever, including against the hydra. The use of the elements like the water that was used to heal and wielded by Percy Jackson, fire with souls, the master bolt itself, and the Underworld itself being the other side of Hollywood itself. Clever on Hollywood, if you ask me. The mythical creatures are quite a hit-or-miss by design. I liked the Minotaur and Medusa. Not so much on the hellhounds and the hydra, though. Not terrible. Just a good attempt to bring them to life. The next mixed bags I would have to give are the characters. Now, the actors do play well with their given roles, yet the script isn't really the best. Some of the dialogue being used here is more on the miss than a hit, if you ask me. Percy, played by Logan Lerman, does as good as Percy when it comes to having ADHD and dyslexia as Percy himself has. He had some good moments, especially when using water to his advantage since he is the son of Poseidon. Grover, as clever as they portrayed him, and played good by Brandon T. Jackson. Unfortunately, the script is a little all over. Alexandra Daddario, as Annabeth did okay, especially when putting up a fight a couple of times. Yet not too much as the film goes on. Everyone else with their performance did fine. It's just not the best script as the pacing of the film felt rushed at some point like this movie is a point A to point B type of quest. I even have to say a couple of these characters do feel one-noted. But I digress. Now my most criticism goes from no Oracle, which is important to give Percy his quest. No Ares, who is vital to the book, and thankful that the TV series did justice for him. Kronos was only mentioned once or twice as him visiting Percy in his dreams, along with Areas and Luke being vital to the build-up as the series goes. Coming from someone who has seen the series before reading the book and now seeing this film again after finishing it, I had put a degree on the pros and cons for a valid reason. Hence, this is where I stand on my civil minded criticism. Again, this film is a mixed bag. Not the worst, but not the best either. If I were to choose, I'd watch the TV series again, despite having some flaws of its own yet an improvement compared to the movie. Or just read the book again. I'm gonna give this one five and a half Percy and the gang being in a trance after consuming lotus flowers out of ten. 5.5/10. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 04/28/25 Full Review Read all reviews

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

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