If you loved Harry Potter, be sure not to miss Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.

Book Girl and I went to the midnight showing last night, crazy people that we are. The medium sized theater was about 2/3 full.

But you can bet that the second movie, for there will surely be one, will pack in more than one theater in each complex.

First, I just really couldn't get into the book(s). I read them. But couldn't have told you what they were about. Then, I listened to parts of the audio books as Book Girl wended her way through all of them.

Ah, but the movie is a different sort. Immediately understandable. Highly entertaining. Great CGI. My only caveat is that the fight training scenes looked amateurish, which may have been the whole point.

The background
The author wrote these books to help his own son understand the gods. His son is both ADHD and dyslectic. So is Percy Jackson.

The story
Percy finds himself in the middle of a coming war between Zeus and Poseidon unless he can return Zeus' lightening bolt, which he has been accused of stealing.

Not only did he not steal it, but he has no idea that he is a demi-god -- the son of Poseidon and his human mother.

Three friends
Once again, we have three friends, similar to Harry Potter. Percy, Annabeth, and Grover play are older. Together they survive and conquer.

Special effects
The CGI will have you on the edge of your seat more than once.

The characters
Assorted gods, demi-gods, centaurs, satyrs, and humans, etc.

The actors
Pierce Brosnan plays a prominent part. I won't give it away.

Brandon T. Jackson is Grover, Percy Jackson's bodyguard. He adds a lot of humor to the story. In a way, he reminds me of the taxi driver in Total Recall.

Alexandra Daddario (Annabeth) plays a much more likable character than Kate in White Collar, USA Network’s television series that we love. She is the daughter of Athena and is also a demi-god.

Logan Lerman is perfect as Percy Jackson. I don't know him from any other work.

Jake Abel is Luke and will feature in other films. He is the son of Hermes, and is also a demi-god.

Rosario Dawson plays Persephone. She is key to Percy's survival.

And don't forget Ulma Thuman as Medusa -- she makes the part. And there is some comedy in it too.

My take
Definitely 4 out of 4 star.

I think I'd like to read the books now that I've seen the movie.

Some of the special effects might be too scary for young children on the big screen. OTOH, no one has seen creatures like these, so we don't expect them in a dark alley -- though I was watching the lights coming home at 2 am.

It's definitely interesting to think that not so very long ago these gods and goddesses were believed and feared. I was wondering who thought of them in the first place, how did they evolve into a religion at the time.

I've been to Greece and seen what is left of the temples and thought of what they might have been like when brand new and people believed.

Have you seen it?
What do you think?

Karin
www.savvythinker.com

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