Chris Columbus (Director)
Craig Titley (Screenplay), Rick Riordan (Novel)

CAST

Review

I saw this movie first, years ago, but rewatching it now after having read Riordan’s The Lightning Thief I understand the disappointment and anger some book readers had for this film. The movie attempts to capture the magic and adventure of the original work but unfortunately falls short in several aspects.

Aging up the main characters was a sensible decision but the way they took the story and did whatever the F they wanted with it, was criminal. It’s as if they read the cliff notes, or a summary of it, writing the script based on that. Story-wise, the script is a mix of cliché and the source material. There is little to no ambiguity in the film, losing the mysterious touch that made the book’s narrative intriguing. They’ve failed to capture the essence of the novel’s gripping moments.

One of the film’s notable missteps is the characters themselves. The amalgamation of Annabeth and Clarisse. Annabeth taking on aspects of Clarisse’s personality in the story was weird, I guess they were attempting to introduce a light enemies-to-lovers dynamic. Unfortunately, this decision dilutes the distinct qualities of each character, hindering the development of their individual personalities. Percy a bit of a Gary Stew, missing an opportunity to delve into his vulnerabilities. Hades’ portrayal has a similar problem he’s portrayed as an envious and jealous demonic figure, departing from the novel’s depiction of him as a god with a distinct personality. They’ve cut so many active characters from this story that it negatively affected part of the original idea. One example is the pearls, the idea of the pearls is there, and their function is the same but their meaning when it comes to Percy and Poseidon’s relationship is lost.

Despite the film’s flaws, there are redeeming qualities. The action scenes are well-executed for the time, and the design of the fury or even Grover’s legs is commendable. However, the overall acting and storytelling are a bit disjointed, plus this adaptation only scratched the surface of Riordan’s intricate world.

Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief may appeal to those unfamiliar with the source material, but die-hard fans are likely to be disappointed by the deviations from the beloved novel. The film’s failure to capture the essence of Riordan’s storytelling, coupled with questionable creative choices, makes it a missed opportunity to bring a fantastic literary world to life on the silver screen.

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