Synopsis: After finding out he is the son of Poseidon, a young boy sets off on an adventure to find Zeus’ stolen lighting bolt.
Release Date: February 12, 2010 MPAA Rating: PG-13
Genre(s): Adventure, Fantasy
Film Review
Production
The Gods are angry. As they should be considering their names are attached to this lackluster, pathetic example of an adventure story. Zeus has every right to strike down upon the Studios behind the production of this film with his lightning bolt, turning them into a pile of rubble and ash. Yes, that may sound far more harsh than need be but if you plan on spending two hours watching this movie you will feel the exact same way afterwards. If you have read the novel you just may walk out midway through it to save yourself the agony of seeing how it has been raped of any semblance of the narrative, or any of the wonder that came with it. Percy Jackson (Logan Lerman) comes across as a punk kid who is full of sarcasm and a lack of respect for authority, not to mention a decent size ego when he discovers he is the son of Poseidon; all the more making him a hero the viewer wants absolutely nothing to do with. His friends along the way, Grover and Annabeth, are no better. Grover is overtly made into the most stereotypical Black character you can put in a film. Everything he says, his word choices, overdeveloped sex drive, the way he walks, even what he dreams about during a somewhat dreamy sequence in the script, is disgustingly typecasting him. If this were a horror film he would have been the first to die. What they do to Grover to try and make him seem cool and hip is an abomination to the representation of race, any race, on film. As for Annabeth, she is a fleeting presence. As the daughter of Athena her wisdom and skill is never showcased to portray a strong young woman. She can fight but the film is more concerned with showing how she looks at Percy, and he at her, than making Annabeth into a role model for young girls. Where the actual story is concerned you find even less to go with. They are searching for Zeus’ lightning bolt, as it has been stolen. The quest they set out on should be filled with peril, moral decisions, and a coming of age foundation. There may be a few scenes of peril but otherwise they may as well have just walked through Central Park after midnight. The film gives us nothing to go with as the mystery/adventure angle is completely ignored and any sort of danger we perceive that Percy and his friends should encounter is watered down. There is nothing mythical about this film and it shall remain a forgettable portrayal of the Greek myths in modern times.
Special Effects
Medusa with a head of snakes, and on the gorgeous head of Uma Thurman, looks mighty creepy. When she turns people into stone, they really do look like they are turning slowly into stone. When a multiple headed monster is tearing after and breathing fire at Percy you are focusing hard as its movements are smooth, deliberate, and essentially well created. Not every effect is spot on. The Minotaur is a sad excuse for a CGI rendered creature. The film does give enough great effects to make you forget the less fortunate parts that were overlooked or rushed.
Production Design
Where is the imagination? This film is dealing with the children of the Great Greek Gods but it may as well be about a group of kids play fighting in the woods and living in pop-up tents. When they are out on the adventure, well, nothing improves much. It is modern day America. Only the Underworld and Olympus are given any sort of original design but even this attempt is a disappointment. The Underworld is a pit of writhing souls – no Elysium Fields seen here – and Mount Olympus looks great from afar but do not expect to do any exploring. You are only given a mere glimpse of what could exist, and then are thrust straight into the Gods meeting room. By the looks of it it has not changed since the dawn on man and it lacks any sort of reflection on personality for its Gods individually. All regard for creating a new world to get lost in with Greek Gods, monsters, demi-Gods and the like is horribly thrown aside. What may have been a place of magic and wonderment is merely what you find in your backyard or on a painting in a museum (but that is more than likely more exciting).
Cast and Crew
- Director(s): Chris ColumbusMark RadcliffeKaren Rosenfelt
- Producer(s): Craig Titley
- Screenwriter(s): Logan Lerman (Percy Jackson)Uma Thurman (Medusa)Rosario Dawson (Persephone)
- Story: Pierce Brosnan (Chiron)
- Cast: Sean Bean (Zeus)Kevin McKidd (Poseidon)Catherine Keener (Sally Jackson) Peter HonessStephen GoldblattHoward Cummings
- Editor(s): Renee April
- Cinematographer: Christophe Beck
- Production Designer(s):
- Costume Designer:
- Casting Director(s):
- Music Score:
- Music Performed By:
- Country Of Origin: USACanada