PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS: THE LIGHTNING THIEF
US, 2010, 119 minutes, Colour.
Logan Leman, Brandon T. Jackson, Alexandra Daddario, Jake Abel, Sean Bean, Pierce Brosnan, Steve Coogan, Rosario Dawson, Catherine Keener, Kevin Mc Kidd, Joe Pantoliano, Uma Thurman.
Directed by Chris Columbus.
A Clash of the Titans Jr.
Or, perhaps, a Night at the Antiquities Museum and Theme Parks.
Based on a novel (2005 plus four sequels) very popular in the US by writer and historian, Rick Riordan, who told his original story to his son as a bedtime story, this is an enjoyable fantasy for younger audiences. The presupposition that the Gods of Olympus are still around and, in fact, still active in controlling the world, is more than fanciful but, having accepted it, we go with this story of demi-gods, the children of gods and humans – quite a lot of American demi-gods, in fact, but no indication whether the Olympians indulged in visits to any other countries let alone Greece!
Logan Lerman is Percy Jackson who discovers that his father is Poseidon who had come to earth and met Sally, Percy's mother, but then disappeared at his brother, Zeus's orders. Capricious and jealous these deities.
At this juncture, the unknowing Percy is chief suspect for having stolen Zeus's lightning bolt and Zeus (Sean Bean) confronts Poseidon (Kevin McKidd) and lays down a deadline for the bolt to be restored. Well, what happens when the wrath of the gods pursues you, for example in the form of a literature teacher who is in reality a Fury? You get help from Chiron (Pierce Brosnan) who moonlights on earth as a wheelchair bound museum guide (which conceals his horsy parts as he is a centaur) but is in charge of training at Camp Half Blood, the camp for the demi-gods.
If that all seems too far-fetched, then forget Percy Jackson. If not, definitely persevere because there will be a confrontation with Medusa (Uma Thurman plus snake hair), with a huge CGI Hydra and a visit to Hades (Steve Coogan the character, under Los Angeles the location) and a mission to find three pearls that will help Percy to recover his mother (Catherine Keener). His companions on the road are a satyr , Grover, (Brandon Jackson) and the valiant daughter of Athena, Annabeth (Alexandra Daddario). Percy's age has been upped from 12 to 17, so there is attraction between Percy and , of course – and provides a romantic ending which does not end in a clinch or a kiss but in sword fight practice!
This is an outing for younger audiences who have imagination and a sense of adventure. It is directed with zest by Chris Columbus who directed Home Alone, Mrs Doubtfire and the first two Harry Potter films.
1.The popularity of the book? The adaptation for the screen? The audience: children, adults?
2.Fantasy, imagination, a film not for realists?
3.The Greek gods still looking after Earth, control, the weather…? The old personal jealousies amongst the deities? The deities coming to Earth, having children? The camp for the demigods, their training? The disguises of the deities as they came to Earth, contemporary clothes and manners? (And only in the US?)
4.The ordinary world, home, school, museums? The transformations of characters into gods, furies, satyrs, centaurs? The garden, Nashville and the Parthenon, Las Vegas casinos, Los Angeles? The sets, the underworld, the stunts, images, the musical score?
5.Zeus and Poseidon meeting, Poseidon emerging from the sea, transforming into an ordinary person, their talk, the situation, the stealing of the lightning bolt, Zeus and his deadline, Zeus and his laws against Poseidon knowing his son?
6.Percy and his mother, their relationship, the presence of Gabe, his looking after them? His slovenly behaviour, demanding beers…? Percy at school, his friendship with Grover? The English class, his absentmindedness, Othello? The teacher, sinister? The trip to the museum, meeting Mr Brunner? In the wheelchair? His explanations of the gods, of the demigods? The schoolteacher turning into an avenging fury? Grover as a satyr? The dangers, the revelation of the story, Mr Brunner and his explanation, Sally urging her son to go to the camp? Percy and Grover driving to the camp, Sally not able to enter?
7.The camp, Chairon and his running of the camp? The range of demigods, Percy settling in, Grover being seen as a satyr, Mr Brunner as a centaur? Annabeth, the daughter of Athena, warrior? Luke and his support of Percy? The mock battle, the strategies and tactics, Percy and his strength, water healing him? Winning the flag? The strict rules of the camp?
8.Grover, Percy and Annabeth deciding to go, on their mission? Percy’s motivation, to recover his mother?
9.In Medusa’s garden, the visuals for Medusa, the snakes in her hair? Annabeth and the woman, the woman succumbing to the temptation, turning to stone? Grover and Percy averting their eyes, Annabeth refusing to be tempted? The snakes, the fight with Medusa, her being decapitated? Later used to freeze the Hydra into stone? For Gabe and his opening the fridge door at the end?
10.The driving to Nashville, Grover sleeping, the dangerous driving? The Parthenon, the statue of Athena? The jewel? The museum closing, getting the ladder, Percy climbing? The cleaners, the arrows, their recovering, hostile – and transforming into the Hydra? The special effects for the multi-headed creature, attacking the trio, cutting off her head, heads multiplying, turning the Hydra to stone?
11.The trip to Las Vegas, the Lotus casino and the overtones of the lotus in Greek mythology? The staff offering the flowers, the three coming under the spell, gambling, winning? Percy and his trying to get a grip on reality? The staff and their alertness? The three becoming awake, escaping from the casino, the pursuit?
12.The mysterious map, indicating Los Angeles, going to the Hollywood sign, the cave, the entrance to Hades? The hounds? Persephone and her character, with Hades? Hades – and Steve Coogan comedy, the Mick Jagger style? Percy helping Persephone?
13.The pearls, standing on the pearls and going to New York, while Grover stayed? The attraction of Persephone? New York, the Empire State Building, the storm situation, the deadline approaching, the entry to Olympus? The council meeting? The entry?
14.The revelation of Luke as the villain, stealing the thunderbolt, his desire for power, the battle with Percy, the water vanquishing him?
15.Poseidon, Zeus, the restoration of the thunderbolt, the possibility for peace, Zeus allowing Poseidon to speak to Percy, Percy and his resentment? Reunited with his mother?
16.A film for adventure and imagination?
