‘Percy Jackson & the Olympians:The Lightning Thief’ Conjures Up a Big Bolt of Bland

Printer-friendly versionE-mail page to friendPDF version

CHICAGO – Oh, those nutty kids today. At one moment they’re regular high schoolers, doing all those post millennium teen rituals, then suddenly they’re demigods in “Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.”

Rating: 2.5/5.0

Logan Lerman is Percy Jackson, a put-upon teenager who has trouble keeping up in class because of dyslexia and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Besides these difficulties, he has problems at home with his odious stepfather and is constantly defending his sacrificing mother (Catherine Keener).

This sorrowful situation changes rapidly when Percy attends a museum lecture given by his teacher Mr. Brunner (Pierce Brosnan). It seems like the Greek mythology being presented resonates clearly with Percy, especially since he’s able to read ancient Greek etchings. This is followed with one of his other teachers changing into a flying bat creature, and his handicapped best friend Grover (Brandon T. Jackson) suddenly gluing himself to Percy’s side as his “protector,” emerging as a half man, half goat satyr.

Percy, even before he is indoctrinated in his new surroundings, also finds out that he is accused of stealing the lighting bolt rod of the head god Zeus. In quick succession, Percy must train as a demigod warrior, figure out his new allies (Grover, Annabeth and Luke), figure out how to clear his name as the lightning thief and solve many clues to enter hell to rescue his mother.

Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “ Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief”

The Magical Land of Las Vegas: Brandon T. Jackson as Grover, Alexandra Daddario as Annabeth and Logan Lerman as Percy in ‘Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief’ Photo credit: © 2010 Fox 2000 Pictures

Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “ Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief”