Review: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

The Greeks myths are in Hong Kong starting today.

While some of the Neonpunch team were at iPhanatics last night, some of us were at the premiere of director Chris Columbus’ latest magical movie, which sees the world of Greek mythology rebooted for a new millennium in Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.

The movie is based on a tween novel series written by Rick Riordan and is in a similar vein as the Harry Potter books. The Lightning Thief is based on the first book in the series and introduces the world of our protagonist Percy and his friends.

The movie stars Logan Lerman as our modern day hero Percy Jackson who one day finds out that he is a demi god and his dead beat dad is Poseidon (Kevin McKidd). Percy finds his ordinary life quickly turned upside down because he has been accused by Zeus’ (Sean Bean) of stealing his “Master Lightning Bolt” and threatens to go to war with Poseidon if our young hero doesn’t return it.

To complicate matters Hades (Steve Coogan) has kidnapped Percy’s mother and wants Zeus’ Lightning Bolt in exchange for her. With the help of Annabeth Chase (Alexandra Daddario) daughter of Athena and a Satyr (Brandon T. Jackson) the trio must fight Gorgans and Hydras to get to the underworld to save Percy’s mother from the evil clutches of Hades and find the stolen lightning bolt to prevent all out war between the Greek gods.

The movie is a fun ride that intelligently weaves Greek mythology into a new modern day tale. There’s hardly ever a dull moment in the movie and there is occasional a good laugh as well, like when Percy uses the reflective back of his iPod to battle Medusa played by Uma Thurman . This movie may be based on a tween novel but Chris Columbus has delivered a movie adaptation that will appeal to both young and old.

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief is definitely worth the price of admission and a popcorn and soda. It’s out now in theatres across Hong Kong.