A very enjoyable movie. Lots of star power: Sean Bean as Zeus, Catherine Keener as Percy’s mom, Steve Coogan as Hades, Pierce Brosnan as the centaur Chiron, Uma Thurman as Medusa, and Joe Pantolioni as Percy’s drunken slob of a stepfather.
I haven’t read the books, so I don’t know how it compares. I was initially confounded at the mythology being presented to me – I’m told it’s supposed to echo Percy Jackson’s confusion, but I felt a little more confused than normal and found it harder to get my bearings in the mythology of the story. It could be that I just ask too many damn questions about the mythology up front…
Not sure how I feel about the emphasis of the three brother gods of Greece being focused on – sure it kind of matches the patriarchal society that the mythology was founded on, but Artemis, Hera and Athena were just as big on the playing field as Zeus, Hades and Poseidon were.
I like how the gods are just as petty as the mortals, they just have unfounded power to wield and the world to screw over if they’re not happy.
I was very excited with the different Greek myths that were drawn upon (obviously in the original novel) for the story. Things like the lotus blossoms and Persephone made me giggle with glee.
Jackson’s best friend Grover (tee hee) has some of the best lines. The CGI used on his hybrid-ness was very well done and very impressive. As was his little dance number in the Lotus Casino.
Summary: It’s the 21st century, but the gods of Mount Olympus and assorted monsters have walked out of the pages of high school student Percy Jackson’s Greek mythology texts and into his life. And they’re not happy: Zeus’ lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect. Even more troubling is the sudden disappearance of Percy’s mother. As Percy finds himself caught between angry and battling gods, he and his friends embark on a cross—country adventure to catch the true lightning thief, save Percy’s mom, and unravel a mystery more powerful than the gods themselves.
