Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief released in early 2010 to the delight of fans who read the book (simply titled "The Lightning Thief") that launched an epic five-part arc. Seeing the subject matter (magic, mythology) and the director's name (Chris Columbus), it would be easy to assume that Percy Jackson & the Olympians is a riff on what Columbus did for the Harry Potter films. There is no doubt that the two films share some common visual effects, and even a few similar characters, comparing Uma Thurman's Medusa to the Basilisk from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. This is where the similarity ends though, because Percy Jackson & the Olympians is an unrepentant action-film, with enough family drama to keep things interesting. The idea of not fitting in is a common one in films about kids this age. The neat twist comes when Percy Jackson discovers he's actually the son of a god, instead of a quirky kid whose dad ran out on him. The gods and demi-gods that populate this film are cast with impeccable taste. Rosario Dawson as Persephone, stuck in Hades alongside a sneering and righteous Steve Coogan (as Hades, god of the underworld) is a classic sequence, and Uma turns in a short but memorable performance as a Medusa. The kids that form Percy's backup are good in their roles, but Logan Lerman is a show-stealer as the titular hero.
Percy Jackson & the Olympians wraps quite a bit of mythology around all the battles and epic set pieces, making it the most exciting tour of the ancient world since Sinbad teamed up with Ray Harryhausen. Kids that have already scoured the books may find that this renews their interest in exploring the legends of Ancient Greece. Riordan's teaching background came through in a big way with the book, and Chris Columbus manages to retain the learning while also making Percy Jackson & the Olympians feel like a summer blockbuster. Like any adaptation, it can't capture the nuance of the book, but it will go a long way toward establishing a new magical hero that young boys and girls will look forward to seeing more of, on the big screen.
