Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

3

iamcathalJan 19, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The movie...dear god what happened.

Chris Columbus turned the simple, short, and introductory plotline into a movie that is rejected by both the fandom and Rick Riordan himself. Scenes were altered and changes made that made the movie stray so far from the books, even by typical book-to-movie adaptation standards. It seemed to be a **** ****

Pros: There are good visual effects in the movie, that do leave you with a "wow" moment every once in a while.
The casino scene, which despite possibly being overtly sexual, was the best part of the entire movie. It was a shame that Disney+ removed it for their version.

Cons:
The movie strayed away from most of the books, and this was an issue that started in this movie and made the future movies even worse. From the small things like using an iPhone to get close to Medusa because of it's shiny back (which was a good move, but demigods aren't supposed to have phones. Plus, the book did not have a phone), to major things like Annabeth's hair being brown instead of blonde.

Overall, the film has redeeming qualities (unlike its successor), and for people who haven't read the books, it was decent. I recommend reading the books first, and only watching his if you want the picture of PJO in your head shattered into a million tiny fragments, because that what it did for the PJO fandom. 3/10… Expand

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3

HeroicAge616Nov 1, 2021

The Lightning Thief throws out its subtle and humorous source material for a lackluster action script.

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2

Chief98Feb 18, 2012

I was observing a 7th grade English class this quarter and they were reading The Lightening Thief and I decided to read it with them. I loved the book and read the entire series quickly. However, I am glad that they are not planning onI was observing a 7th grade English class this quarter and they were reading The Lightening Thief and I decided to read it with them. I loved the book and read the entire series quickly. However, I am glad that they are not planning on watching the move as a class because it is an abomination. Changing the storyline that far and entirely removing important characters makes this a serious disappointment.… Expand

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2

BlatantInnuendoJan 6, 2013

This seems like a missed opportunity. I absolutely love the books and have read every one of them multiple times. The movie seemed to take the book, ignore some important points, and basically made the movie unappealing at best The mainThis seems like a missed opportunity. I absolutely love the books and have read every one of them multiple times. The movie seemed to take the book, ignore some important points, and basically made the movie unappealing at best The main characters are wooden, and what they did to the story line is unforgivable. This could have been the perfect movie but the directors managed to turn it into something that no one wants to remember.… Expand

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2

RemJun 2, 2014

This film just oozes suck, there has been no other than film that blatantly makes Twilight look half decent. All the performances were half assed, and the logic in the movie is dumb. And that's unforgivable.

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2

cag11Nov 24, 2013

I know movies adapted from books aren't usually going to meet expectations for some, but this was just ridiculous. It skipped out on so many things that made the book good. The acting wasn't all that great, which I have endured over theI know movies adapted from books aren't usually going to meet expectations for some, but this was just ridiculous. It skipped out on so many things that made the book good. The acting wasn't all that great, which I have endured over the course of years. It had no character development, and overall, a terrible movie.… Expand

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2

UnderagedReviewDec 22, 2014

I have read all the books in the percy jackson series. This is an awful halfdone piece of **** This movie is not worth it. It doesnt follow the book at the right places. Their business plan must have been: 1. buy license 2. read fanart 3.I have read all the books in the percy jackson series. This is an awful halfdone piece of **** This movie is not worth it. It doesnt follow the book at the right places. Their business plan must have been: 1. buy license 2. read fanart 3. telll everyone they read the book 4. grab cash 5. bad sequal… Expand

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2

reviewfrom19842Jan 6, 2017

Chris Columbus has been going downhill and has been making some pretty bad movies lately. Percy Jackson is poorly written with mediocre acting. Sadly I think the book is not much better.

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2

winick718Jul 21, 2018

Forced to watch first PercyJackson movie last night. Never seen a film in which everyone, director to star to extras, seemed to be on total and complete autopilot. Maybe it was source material, but did Chris Columbus and Potter team reallyForced to watch first PercyJackson movie last night. Never seen a film in which everyone, director to star to extras, seemed to be on total and complete autopilot. Maybe it was source material, but did Chris Columbus and Potter team really think lightning would strike twice?… Expand

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2

Cassiopeia13PJOOct 8, 2017

I am one of the biggest Percy Jackson fans to exist, but these movies changed basically everything that made the books amazing. (I do love Logan Lerman though, so don't hate me completely.)

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1

JamesKFeb 12, 2010

worst movie ever! Changed everything from the book except for the basic premise and characters and added a crapload of unfunny sexual innuendos! Don't even bother with this movie.

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1

StevenW.Feb 13, 2010

Such promise. I suppose that's the biggest disappointment. Oh btw...thank you for putting in your script that someone in the White House is half man-half god. I wonder who you could possibly mean?? How embarrassing that you'd even Such promise. I suppose that's the biggest disappointment. Oh btw...thank you for putting in your script that someone in the White House is half man-half god. I wonder who you could possibly mean?? How embarrassing that you'd even write a line like that. Anyway, it's obviously geared towards kids. Yet they have quite a few sexual scenarios with the ever so horny goat dude and they really play on a drug scene that really makes being high look fantastic. Overall this movie was way boring and void of anything worthwhile. Well obviously some people like this movie as it's got quite a high user review. This user wouldn't go back to see it even if you payed me.… Expand

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1

DougMMar 16, 2010

I think what's so annoying to me is all the elements were available to make this an enjoyable experience at the minimum; and the director deliberately spurned it all to spend more time adding CGI... I have a headache now after that.

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1

SoylentHolgerAug 3, 2013

Nice CGI effects. Begins promising but misses all potential of being a good movie faster than someone can say Poseidon. Absolutely foreseeable plot. Did I already mention the CGI? Yes? That is all to say about it. If nothing else is on tv orNice CGI effects. Begins promising but misses all potential of being a good movie faster than someone can say Poseidon. Absolutely foreseeable plot. Did I already mention the CGI? Yes? That is all to say about it. If nothing else is on tv or no other movie available, okay, see it, but otherwise a waste of time.… Expand

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1

BartoApr 20, 2014

This movie is just terrible. Even if you don't consider the book, this is a dumb hero story that insults the viewer's intelligence. Event the famous actors performances are poor - but this is just because the plot and the dialogs areThis movie is just terrible. Even if you don't consider the book, this is a dumb hero story that insults the viewer's intelligence. Event the famous actors performances are poor - but this is just because the plot and the dialogs are incredibly poor.
Now if you take the book into account, things get much worse. Not only they have changed the plot, they took pieces of action parts and glued them together (not before also changing them). The personality of the characters are completely different from the book.
So basically, they took the name of the series, the names of the characters and some of the book background (Greek Gods exist and still have children with humans) and then made something that has absolutely nothing to do with it. The result is embarrassing.… Expand

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1

johannationAug 7, 2013

I read all the books, and this movie is somewhat of a disgrace to the book. If you are going to make a movie from a story that came from a book, at least make it like the book. The only thing that was right was the Locust Hotel, and thatI read all the books, and this movie is somewhat of a disgrace to the book. If you are going to make a movie from a story that came from a book, at least make it like the book. The only thing that was right was the Locust Hotel, and that scene wasn't that great. Terrible acting. It could be a fan made film, with some extra CGI.… Expand

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1

junkdog8Jan 21, 2014

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. being a great lover of the books i can honestly say that watching this movie made me wish that i never started it. from the very first scene to the very last nothing but the extreme simplification of the story was there. there understanding of the story in the book seemed to be the lightning bolt was stolen you have to get it back. that was pretty much the only thing that they took from the book. the one thing that i just can't get over is the complete removal of ares from the story... i mean that is both integral to that story and to the entire rest of the series. it is beyond my understanding why the people who write these books don't understand what is necessary to keep the story intact. not to mention the whole unnecessary side quest to get the pearls. the fact is there was no legitimate reason for the careless disregard for a perfectly excellent story. overall i would advise that you not watch this atrocious piece of trash… Expand

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1

TheSilentOneMar 12, 2014

what is this **** i am a huge fan of the books, and me and my brother used to fantasize about a movie that would be really awesome and it ruined my life. when i watched this movie, i was the most pumped i have ever been in my entire life. andwhat is this **** i am a huge fan of the books, and me and my brother used to fantasize about a movie that would be really awesome and it ruined my life. when i watched this movie, i was the most pumped i have ever been in my entire life. and then: What have i just witnessed, the death of my life? Probably. It's like you are a Percy Jackson pirate, and you find two chests, one is the movie, one is the book. You open the book chest and they're are diamonds and rubies, heaps of gold. Then you open the movie chest hoping to be even richer? and you find the chest full of **** and with a single piece of rough amber worth twenty dollars. I felt like the director didnt even read the book and here is why:
1. Where is Clarisse?
2. Where is Ares?
3. (not racist) why is Grover black?
4. They were given the pearls
5. They dont even go through the Underworld, they just ride Charon's ferry to Hades' fortress.
6. Annabeth is blond
7. All the characters are about twelve in the book, in the movie they are about sixteen.
8. The Lotus Hotel did not show make them high, it made them not want to leave.
9. Camp Half Blood is not in a forest, it is in a valley. The cabins are in a U shape and there isn't people fighting with swords all the time. It isn't a military camp, its a place fir Half-Bloods to live safely.
10. Percy stays at the river in capture the flag, he goes nowhere. Luke gets the flag and brings it across the lake.

I only want to list ten because this movie frustrated me a lot. i will never watch this again and i do not recommend it to you. Now the reason i rate this as one is because it would be a pretty good movie all on its own, that is not to say that i like it at all.… Expand

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1

diogomendesMay 31, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. How f*cking stupid. If I hadn't been obligated and forced to see this POS in my classroom, I might have turned it off the second Percy started fighting a Gargoyle-like creature and his longtime friend all the sudden gained donkey legs. -__-

Makes no sense and I don't care. 1/10… Expand

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1

KaleBishopApr 25, 2014

My friend told me that I shouldn't compare this to a book because they are both different but if only it were differently titled I would've believed the story was different.
Before I watched the movie all I know is that Percy Jackson is theMy friend told me that I shouldn't compare this to a book because they are both different but if only it were differently titled I would've believed the story was different.
Before I watched the movie all I know is that Percy Jackson is the son of Poseidon. That's pretty much it. I didn't read the book yet... but once I did I found out that this book is completely different from the movie. I felt that whoever directed this movie was clearly stealing, pardon my french, the name of the book and changing the story almost entirely. But even before I read the book this movie wasn't really that thrilling to begin with. It's all flashy animations and the characters aren't even at their full performance. The plot really deserves a big box of corn because how it was executed was terrible.
Overall, movie does not deserve the name of Rick Riordan's book because of it's terrible execution of acting, scripting and independence from the book.… Expand

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1

coldmix3Jun 2, 2014

Right from the start of the movie it strays from the book. It follows the book very loosely. The book is way better. There was so much potential for a great movie and this film fell short. I wouldn't waste your time if you are the type ofRight from the start of the movie it strays from the book. It follows the book very loosely. The book is way better. There was so much potential for a great movie and this film fell short. I wouldn't waste your time if you are the type of person who likes the movies to stay true to the books.… Expand

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0

DolfL.Feb 13, 2010

This guy stole my lightning it was like not cool man. Great film!

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0

ActualFanFeb 13, 2010

Lets be honest here. They can't condense a large book into 2-3 hours. They can make it good, but they didn't. This movie diverted from the plot, cut major characters, and was reliant on kids to be amused by firey explosions. All I Lets be honest here. They can't condense a large book into 2-3 hours. They can make it good, but they didn't. This movie diverted from the plot, cut major characters, and was reliant on kids to be amused by firey explosions. All I want to say about this movie is: DON'T WATCH.… Expand

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0

KarenMar 19, 2010

It's almost one of the worst movies I have ever seen. I was extremely tempted to walk out of the theater after only 15 minutes, might be even less. Not only did it not follow the book at all, it was topped off with bad script and bad It's almost one of the worst movies I have ever seen. I was extremely tempted to walk out of the theater after only 15 minutes, might be even less. Not only did it not follow the book at all, it was topped off with bad script and bad acting. There was not emotion in any of the places where there should have been--when Percy's mom died, it seems like he was unaffected and could care less. I can't believe that Chris Columus can even imagine making a sequel with such bad actors and bad script--the movie didn't even introduce the oracle, the prophecy, nothing. Basically, it did not lay down any of the necessary foundation needed for a sequel. Actually, I didn't even know there may be a sequel planned just by watching the movie, I saw his comment online. Books turned movies usually are not very good, but I have not seen one this bad. If I have to sit through another one...I can't even compare any torture worse than that. It completely ruined what could have been a potentially good movie.… Expand

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0

LeandreB.Feb 14, 2010

There is absolutely nothing smart about this movie. Cheesy humour and one-liners, half assed special effects and on average bad acting.

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huffnat890Oct 1, 2010

This movie has absolutely no redeeming qualities qhatsoever to keep it from being the generic piece of **** it is. **** my life. This movie doesn't deserve to exist.

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shel97girlFeb 7, 2011

The movie was a complete disaster!!! All Percy Jackson book fans loook away dont bother seeing it because its a waste of time, money, and a complete waste of rick Riordan's awsome writting skills. (which is the best thing since Harry Potter,The movie was a complete disaster!!! All Percy Jackson book fans loook away dont bother seeing it because its a waste of time, money, and a complete waste of rick Riordan's awsome writting skills. (which is the best thing since Harry Potter, Avatar, and CBS news!!!!!!) The movie went to fast, it didn't complete ideas it left out 3-4 main charecters, It completely switched around peoples personalities, changed almost the whole story plot, and to top it all off Chris Columbus should of chose the author to direct, pick the cast, and write the screen play by himself, and it still would of been better!!!!!! a thumbs down movie for Colubus… Expand

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coolgames101Jun 12, 2011

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. **** THIS MOVIE! **** THIS MOVIE! **** THIS MOVIE! **** THIS MOVIE! this movie is **** i mean **** i remember that back in 2010 when this movie came out i had read all the books all over again and invited a whole bunch of friends over to see it close to opening night. i was going to see sean bean, Pierce Brosnan and Uma Thurman portray my favorite characters in the book. and at the time i loved all three of those actors and actresses. then the movie started. it was all down hill from there.
first off, Percy in the books was tan, but he isn't in the movie. Strike one. Percy in the book is twelve. in the movie he is a senior in high school. strike two. Grover didn't need **** to suport him, he just had a limp because he had his hooves concealed in mother ****ing god damned foam feet. there are a million other strikes against this movie, but... if i were to go into alot of detail and see my favorite book being destroyed so badly. i would explode. but then again i probably should for the sake of the reader. in the movie, Hades was the bad guy. BULL **** in the book they made Kronos the bad guy, and that made it possible for the evil Demigods to come together and attack camp half blood. another thing is that it was Ares that put the lightning bolt in Percy's back pack. not Luke giving Percy a shield with the lightning bolt inside! Especially since Percy didn't get a ****ing shield until the second book! And Luke didn't plan out every last detail, it was Kronos that influenced him! And WHEN THE HELL DID THEY HAVE TO SEARCH FOR THE ****IN PEARLS OF APHRODITE?!?!?!?!??!?!?!??!?! i was a huge fan of the books. i really anticipated the movie, but with all the flaws, (And yes, i haven't even said all the things wrong, *cough*Hades wasn't emo*cough* and before my head explodes, lets leave it all at that.… Expand

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10987654321Mar 19, 2014

It was so bad, I went to the premier, barfed, and cried at the same time. Why Chris Columbus? You have killed us all with your horrible movie. It has so many differences from the book. It needs to follow the book you nerd. It sucked.

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PJAXMOVIESUCKMar 19, 2014

Do you know who never went to school? Whoever directed this movie. It sucks. Balls. They have no idea that a movie is supposed to at least follow the plot line more than 5% of the time. Who would have such a large brain tumor, be soDo you know who never went to school? Whoever directed this movie. It sucks. Balls. They have no idea that a movie is supposed to at least follow the plot line more than 5% of the time. Who would have such a large brain tumor, be so ridiculously, utterly retarded, have absolutely no intellect, and zero common sense? I feel sorry for them because they must be treated with condescension and pity by their "friends" which they earned by the money they illegitimately earned from unsuspecting fans of a book who wanted to see the movie. Seriously, NO ONE who has read the book would even remotely consider it above a -10/10. The only reason that I gave it a zero was that there was no lower option.… Expand

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haileyoliveiraMay 13, 2017

Terrible movie. Definite waste of adaptation rights and Logan Lerman. The books all top this easily. This movie is only worse than its sequel. Hope Uncle Rick takes back the rights and Percy gets a good adaptation, maybe with the CW.

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fartquadOct 10, 2020

this movie sucks so much and its english sucks and i hate it and it sucks like annable is ugly but she is suppised to be hot and then she likes percy jackson and then percy goes to half blood camp and then he is roman not greek myth and thenthis movie sucks so much and its english sucks and i hate it and it sucks like annable is ugly but she is suppised to be hot and then she likes percy jackson and then percy goes to half blood camp and then he is roman not greek myth and then he gets birthed by poseidon and then posideon kills percys chance of enjoying life by leaving him also i like percy in the first book but in movie he doesn't play with colour block rubiks and cube and poopy and this is on disney and he poops rip percy jackson he died in the movie and then he went to fight lucus from lucus and marcus on youtube and then he win and then gives bolt to the big dude jesus and annable is horny and grover is attracted to percys mom and he is fat and then he has horns and he farts and i fart the end… Expand

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BriningmydogApr 28, 2022

People are saying the story of the books didn't stick with the movies, but the books can almost a decade before the movies. I loved the books, and this was personally the most disappointing experience ever. The movie completely ignored RickPeople are saying the story of the books didn't stick with the movies, but the books can almost a decade before the movies. I loved the books, and this was personally the most disappointing experience ever. The movie completely ignored Rick Riordan's masterpiece. Chris Columbus tried to make this like how he did to Harry Potter, but it doesn't work.
I love Harry Potter, I'm just saying that its not like Harry Potter. Anyways, the movie kinda sucks.… Expand

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Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

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