of the gods.
I love this series, you guys. I love it so, so much. I started reading the books a little while before the fourth book was released and I have loved it ever since. People can say whatever they'd like but this series is creative and fun and refreshing. I already wish we had more books and a sequel for the films. However, therein lies the problem.
This series, often compared to Harry Potter (which, honestly, I hate because there's enough love for both), doesn't have the fanbase that Harry Potter does. This film isn't a guaranteed success and, quite honestly, could end up flopping which I am absolutely terrified of because it deserves all the love and praise Harry Potter earns. And I want more of it - I am sincerely hoping good word spreads because some critics are also being harsh towards.
All that being said is exactly why this first film had to be made as a stand-alone film that could potentially be expanded. It was why so much was changed/left out. If it ends up flopping (D:), they don't have to worry about leaving a cliffhanger. If it ends up being a success, they can start doing the exposition that belonged in this film in the second film since the company will know that people like it. So, while I would have preferred it to follow the book more, I understand why the changes had to be made and why they had to leave certain aspects out. I am just hoping it all start earning more and more good attention and make a profit and warrant a sequel because I absolutely loved this film.
So. Things they changed/left out:
• Luke was the lightning thief instead of Ares. I am somewhat bothered by this, if only because it meant no Ares (other than on Olympus where we still couldn't figure who was who) and because, while they explained Luke's reasoning for it, it felt somewhat awkward since we only saw him in the beginning and then at the end. I think it would have been better had we gotten more of an attachment to Luke first. However, if a sequel is made and they bring up Luke and Kronos, this would make more sense for moviegoers. It would be the introduction to Luke going over to the dark side. So I wasn't so bothered. Missed his scar, though, and loved when he talked about his father with contempt. I hope there's a sequel and we get his and Hermes' whole storyline. Also, his "end" in this film was pretty anti-climactic but if there's a sequel and we get him with Kronos, they ended it in a way where his survival could easily be explained.
• No Kronos, Thalia, etc. Again, this is understandable. If it's a success, they can bring up the overriding plot of Kronos being awakened and wanting to take over and introduce Thalia later. But they couldn't do that and then have it flop so no more films are made because it would so much unsaid. I am hoping so, so much it succeeds because I want the whole plot and definitely want to meet Thalia because that girl is fierce.
• The trio had to find the pearls instead of Poseidon giving them to Percy. I didn't really like this much. I loved it when Poseidon gave them to Percy. It made sense how they did it in the film but it seemed like one of those unnecessary changes. And Grover staying in the Underworld? It didn't make much of a difference but I wish they had kept it how it was in the book.
• St. Louis vs. Nashville. They went to Nashville instead of St. Louis. Perhaps the whole arc thing was too massive for this film? Again, another unnecessary change and I would preferred St. Louis because that was an awesome sequence of the trio but I didn't completely hate what happened in Nashville. It seemed a bit anti-climactic next to St. Louis but it was all right.
There were several other changes but none that I can think of as big and prominent as these. So, yeah, I always prefer that films follow their respective books word for word and, especially with this film, it makes sense why they can't. What I loved about this film is that while it didn't follow the book exactly, it was still held so much of the spirit and excitement that Rick Riordan first gave us. The magic was there, the mythology was there, and I absolutely loved it.
The comparisons between this series and Harry Potter cannot be helped and while I'm usually not a fan of comparing, I can't help it myself. Percy Jackson is fun. It makes you laugh and gets you excited and it's just pure fun. Harry Potter was a political drama half the time and while it worked beautifully and I loved it, Percy Jackson was definitely refreshing and I just adore it. Not to mention Percy > Harry, hardcore. Seriously. Percy is such a better protagonist than Harry. I LOVE MY LITTLE DEMIGOD BOY WONDER. I usually don't like main characters so much but Percy is too adorable and amazing not to love. I always root for him and he's such a great hero and someone relatable and amazing.
So everything being said, I really enjoyed this film and I don't doubt that if it becomes a success, they'll start incorporating the bigger, overriding plot. For now, I thought it was such a great film as a stand-alone and I would not mind seeing it again.
THE CAST. OH MY GOD MOST PERFECT CAST EVER. Logan Lerman absolutely is Percy. Alexandra Daddario obviously had elements of Clarisse in her Annabeth but I thought she was great too. Hopefully they'll introduce Clarisse in a possible sequel because she was missing as well as Selena and Beckendorf and the Stoll brothers. Brandon T. Jackson, while a different Grover than in the books, was awesome. Some of his one-liners were pretty cheesy but they worked. He's such a great comedian and I love the affection he has for this series as well. I loved seeing his Grover strive hard to become a senior protector and get his horns.
JAKE ABEL AS LUKE. SO PERFECT. AND SO HOT. I do wish we had gotten more of him and obviously we will in "future films" but he was just so incredible that I want more and more.
I actually really liked Pierce Brosnan as Chiron though there was a tragic lack of Mr. D. Catherine Keener as Sally was wonderful and I liked the image of Melina Kanakaredes as Athena but obviously we didn't see her enough to get a full opinion. Uma Thurman was pretty good but nothing extraordinary and Sean Bean, while not someone I had pictured as Zeus, was excellent as well. OH SEAN BEAN.
Kevin McKidd. MY FAVOURITE POSEIDON EVER. I LOVED HIM SO HARD. HE WAS AWESOME. I don't even know what else to say because he was just epic. I loved the opening scene with him and just him in general.
OKAY GUYS. STEVE COOGAN AND ROSARIO DAWSON AS HADES AND PERSEPHONE. SO EPIC. I really shouldn't be shipping them, not with how dysfunctional they are and Hades' feelings for Maria but man their scenes were too amazing not to ship. Especially that kiss. Yes. It was hot. I was kind of afraid at first that Steve Coogan's Hades would be a bit too corny for my tastes but it really worked for him. I actually loved it.
THE LOCATIONS. Guys. The Underword. It was epic. I love, love, loved how they did the Underworld. It was everything I had imagined and more. So amazing with the ferryman and absolutely everything. Not exactly how I had pictured Hellhounds and I hope if we meet Mrs. O'Leery she'll look as she's supposed to in the original art.
I can't exactly say the same for Camp Half-Blood. I liked how it was done and I definitely want to go live there and it seemed magical but it didn't quite reach the marks. I wanted my u-shaped camp and personalized cabins and we didn't really get any of that. No amphitheatre and the Big House, well, I don't even know what it was or if I actually saw it. Maybe they'll change it up in hopeful future films.
I was also pretty bummed over the "no contact with children" rule rather than "the Big Three cannot have children post-WWII". I wanted to see Percy in the Hermes cabin and then discover he was Poseidon's son (instead of having everyone know) and get his own cabin. Alas, it was probably too much time to spend on though.
BUT CAPTURE THE FLAG. ALWAYS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS AT CAMP HALF-BLOOD SO COOL.
I loved the Lotus Casino. Probably one of my favourite scenes. It was funny in all the right ways and perfect for a film adaptation and I really, really enjoyed that bit.
Overall? As an adaptation, weak but the fact that it still completely held what the series is really about totally made up. As a strict film, great. I had fun and was excited and grinning like an idiot and I just loved it. I recommend it to all - fans of the book and otherwise. WE NEED THIS SEQUEL! And it's just such a great, fun film. Guh, I cannot contain my love for this series. ♥
Recommend this movie to other people?: YES. LOVE THIS SERIES.
Buy the DVD: Most definitely!
Grade: As a film, A-. As a strict Percy Jackson fan and adaptation, B.
Trailer: Here
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Otherwise, guys, OLYMPICS. ♥ I cannot express my love for the Olympics. I am so glad they're here and expect me to gush over them for the next couple of weeks. These are a couple weeks every two years that I am just so insanely excited and exhilarated. I just adore the Olympics and love them and what they bring out over the entire planet, in ever nation.
TWO MORE MEDALS UNTIL HE'S THE MOST DECORATED US WINTER OLYMPIAN. MAKE US PROUD, APOLO. ♥
AND A VERY, VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO lovingthecubs! I hope your day is wonderful and everything you hope for and want! ♥
Catch you later, calculators.