PERCY JACKSON & THE OLYMPIANS:
THE LIGHTENING THIEF. Film adaptation. (Directed by Chris Columbus. Starring
Logan Lerhman. Based on the novels by Rick Riorden)
GENRE: Action / Adventure
HONORS: None
REVIEW: The film adaptation of
Rick Riorden’s best-selling series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, moves at an efficient pace while maintaining the essence
of what makes the books so appealing – Percy’s struggle to manage himself in
the wider world. Lehrman plays Percy, demigod and son of Poseiden, with modern
flair, mixing enough defiance into Percy’s geekiness to make him an appealing
underdog with plenty of fight. Grover, his satyr "protector", grounds
Percy’s quest in contextual gravity while providing comic relief, while
Annabeth, the battle-ready daughter of Athena is a nice foil for Percy, who is
literally dropped into his new reality when a Fury accosts him. Upon learning
of his true heritage, Percy rises to the challenge and proves himself to be a
natural hero with what seems to be, at times, convenient ease.
OPINION: The emotional core of Percy
Jackson and the Lightening Thief rang
hollow at times and it lacks the world-building creativity of other series
adaptations, but it is still a satisfying ride that will no doubt appeal to
fans of the books.
IDEAS: A strong addition to any
unit on Greek mythology or hero quests. Show the film and talk about parallels
between Percy’s quest and the mythological quests it draws from (Odysseus and
the lotus-eaters, Perseus and Medusa, Orpheus in Hades, etc.). There is also an
inherent appeal for kids with dyslexia and ADHD as Percy struggles with these
conditions before discovering that he is a hero.
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