In the newest installment of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians films, released on the 7th of August, Logan Lerman returns to portray popular hero, Percy Jackson. Also in return are Percy’s friends, Annabeth Chase (Alexandra Daddario) and Grover Underwood (Brandon T. Jackson).
This time around, the trio embarks on an unauthorized quest to retrieve the Golden Fleece and save Thalia’s tree, which protects CampHalf-Blood from monstrous invasions. This journey takes them to the dangerously mysterious Sea of Monsters, known as the Bermuda Triangle to the mortals.
The magic worked with this movie’s visual effects was what had the audience at the edge of their seats. Nobody truly believed that Percy and company would fail to fulfill their mission, but the exquisite acting could make many believe that Grover actually was terrified of becoming a one-eyed Cyclops’ dinner and Percy really was petrified by the thought of not saving the world for a second time. Not to mention how Jake Abel successfully made everybody despise Luke Castellan (a demigod who ‘joined the dark side’, so to speak) for being one heck of a backstabber.
Of course, people weren’t on the edge of their seats throughout the whole movie. When things started to get really serious, there was always something or someone to lighten the mood considerably. Like when Grover was captured by an evil and nearly-blind Cyclops, he decided it’d be a swell idea to throw on a dress, stick a single googley-eye in the middle of his forehead, raise his voice a few octaves, and pretend to be a female Cyclops. As idiotic as the idea may seem, it saved Grover’s life!
Readers of Rick Riordan’s best-selling books were clearly more satisfied with this book’s film adaption that with the last. Alexandra Daddario definitely took into consideration the fact that fans had been unhappy with her previously brown hair, which she dyed blonde to match Annabeth’s description in the novels.
Though many fans were content with this movie, many were not. A negative that is continuously brought to light is the drastic changes in the book’s original plot line. In The Lightning Thief, Luke Castellan was exposed as the villain, but a reader wouldn’t figure this out until they arrived at book two, maybe even three. This particular change has thrown off other important plot details for future movies.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters is an amazing sequel to The Lightning Thief. This rated-PG movie is great for the family, although it’s probably not the best of choices for older family members as the quick and easy ending might be a bore. Also, hardcore Percy Jackson lovers would more likely than not, be bothered by the countless differences in the plot, events, and characters. Nevertheless, the movie is enjoyable, funny, action-packed, and well worth an hour and fifty minutes of most anyone’s time.
