Percy Jackson & the Olympians : the lightning thief

Having read the book first and been thoroughly enthralled, and being a fan of Kevin McKidd (Poseidon) and Sean Bean (Zeus), I was looking forward to this movie. However, I spent most of the film yelling at the screen. The effects are excellent. The performances are equally wonderful. However, the script writers, producers, and/or meddling studio execs absolutely butchered the story and many of its details. I am not hopeful that the further adventures of Percy Jackson will be filmed, and I'm not even sure how they would reconcile the differences in the story arc if they attempted to make a series of it.

I therefore only recommended this for the completist, or possibly the movie fan wanting to see the performances of the particular actors involved, which are actually quite nice.

Almost as good as book. Movie was okay

I need to stop reading books before seeing the movies. It never works out well, and this is no exception. They didn't even mention a few major characters (Dionysus, Thalia, Clarisse, Ares, etc.) and the characters they DID have weren't right (Percy is supposed to be 12, not able to drive; Annabeth should be blond; Posideon should be a beachbum, not a warrior; etc.). The story was different, too. In fact, I don't think they got any part of the movie exactly right.
That being said, it was a pretty good movie. The acting wasn't bad, and the special effects were great. In short, I'd rate it better if it hadn't been "ruined" by the book! ;)

most of the reviews are wrong. thats the best movie in the world

I don't see how there could be a sequel. There wasn't even a mention of kronos. Percy Jackson without Kronos is like a Harry Potter movie without Voldemort.....

it's wonderful! A whole movie about greek & roman gods only debate can be had paints otherside right of the 700 club I'm honestly fine such entertainment! It's issues, but largely fine I'd wonder at closing scene gods zeus larger than life behind rope oppose demi-gods magical stuff other side small or human size is that really going hold up or is it old now, but free of edge in such things you least can say such fare has tradition...

This movie is not exactly like the book, although it tries and - to some extent - succeeds in presenting the emotional impact of the Percy Jackson series. While I disagree with some choices - for instance, - they should NEVER have had Percy use the flying tennis shoes (that is against the cannon in the books that Percy, as Poseidon's son, does not do well on airplanes as the sky in Zeus' domain), other choices such as substituting Nashville's Parthenon for the St. Louis Arch, actually enhance the story.

It will be interesting what they do in the just recently green lighted sequel, since they have potentially killed off Luke (hey - he could have survived the watery trident to the throat - maybe Kronos will pick him up at sea in his cruise ship).

Logan Lerman is a good choice for Percy. While older than Percy in the original volumes, he has a boyish face that still lends some innocence and sweetness to the character. Loved the ancillary casting with Sean Bean as Zeus.

Sit back and enjoy it as a movie and as long as you don't expect it to be the same as the book - you might actually enjoy it!

This is a great movie.

This is not the best of the movies I've seen.

This is of the vain of book movies that isn't that good in its own right and not even faithfull enough to the book to get that demographic to like it.

I was excited to see this movie, but it really wasn't that good. I've never read any of the books, but I've heard that they're better. When it first came out, lots of people said that it was like Harry Potter, but I don't think so. I did like certain parts of the movie though, like when they were in the Lotus Casino, but overall I wouldn't suggest it.

It was ok. Not that good.

they didn't include a lot of characters like Mr. D and Clarrise. The book was much better

it's not as good as the book

okay, so as a movie on its own, its okay. but compared to the book, it is horrible! it has absolutely nothing in common with the book except for the characters names, that's it!

I've watched this movie and in my opinion i think that its awesome...
but a lot of people said its NoThInG compared to the book,
so i guess the book is better but i still really like this movie so
go watch it if you haven't :) I want to read the books because
people said they were really good :D


~Noora

It's good for a movie, but a let down if you've read the books. They totally butchered the story: important characters missing (mr. d, clarisse, **kronos*).

It's not good compared to the books

They did no justice to the books

just awsome