Percy Jackson & the Lightning Thief (2010)
"Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" (original title)

A teenager discovers he's the descendant of a Greek god and sets out on an adventure to settle an on-going battle between the gods.

Director:

Chris Columbus

Writers:

Craig Titley (screenplay), Rick Riordan (novel)

Stars:

Logan Lerman, Brandon T. Jackson, Steve Coogan

8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Logan Lerman	...	Percy Jackson
Brandon T. Jackson	...	Grover
Alexandra Daddario	...	Annabeth
Jake Abel	...	Luke
Sean Bean	...	Zeus
Pierce Brosnan	...	Mr. Brunner / Chiron
Steve Coogan	...	Hades
Rosario Dawson	...	Persephone
Melina Kanakaredes	...	Athena
Catherine Keener	...	Sally Jackson
Kevin McKidd	...	Poseidon
Joe Pantoliano	...	Gabe Ugliano
Uma Thurman	...	Medusa
Julian Richings	...	Ferryman
Bonita Friedericy	...	Hysterical Woman

Storyline

When his lightning bolt is stolen, Zeus accuses Poseidon's son Percy Jackson and gives Poseidon's son fourteen days to return it, otherwise he will initiate a war amongst the gods. Meanwhile the teenager, Percy, who is dyslexic and has ADHD is visiting The Museum of Metropolitan of Art and is attacked by a Fury disguised in his teacher. His crippled best friend Grover reveals that Percy is a demigod and that he is his protector and his teacher Mr Brunner gives him a pen telling him that it is a powerful weapon. They go to Percy's house and together with his mother Sally they drive to the Camp Half-Blood. However Sally is attacked by a Minotaur and vanishes before Percy can help her. In the camp, Percy befriends the gorgeous Annabeth; when they are attacked by Hades who wants the lighting bolt for himself, Percy discovers that his mother is in the Underworld with Hades. Percy decides to travel on a dangerous quest to retrieve the lightning bolt and save his mother. Grover and Annabeth ...

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Plot Keywords:

lightning | lightning bolt | teenager | poseidon | hades | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Family | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for action violence and peril, some scary images and suggestive material, and mild language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [de] Official site [fr]

Country:

Canada USA

Language:

English Greek, Ancient (to 1453)

Release Date:

12 February 2010 (USA)

Also Known As:

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

Filming Locations:

Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$95,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£1,502,663 (UK) (12 February 2010)

Gross:

$88,761,720 (USA) (25 June 2010)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox 2000 Pictures, 1492 Pictures, Big Screen Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The hydra Percy faces in the Parthenon Museum in Nashville was a creature in Greek mythology. It was the offspring of Echidna and Typhon. The Greek hero Heracles (known more commonly by his Roman name, "Hercules") defeated the hydra by cutting off most of the heads, save for the one immortal head, having his nephew cauterize the wounds with a burning torch, and burying the remaining head with a large boulder.

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Goofs

In the scene in Auntie Em's. Where Annabeth first runs into Medusa, she is wearing a turban. According to lore, Medusa has a head full of snakes, rather than hair. In that scene there is a small piece of blonde hair visible peeking out of the right side of the turban. Uma Thurman has blonde hair.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Poseidon: Zeus.
Zeus: Poseidon.
Poseidon: It's been many years
Zeus: What do you see?
Poseidon: Thunder clouds.
Zeus: With no lightning. Stolen.

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Crazy Credits

Halfway through the credits there is a scene showing Gabe Ugliano's fate on discovering Medusa's severed head.

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Connections

References Las Vegas (2003)

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Soundtracks

"MAMA TOLD ME (NOT TO COME)"
Written by Randy Newman
Performed by Three Dog Night
Courtesy of Geffen Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

Oh my Gods and Goddesses

I went to see this movie without any expectations. I haven't read the books and I only read one review in the paper.

Yes, there are parts borrowed from other movies, but what makes this movie different is that it doesn't take itself too seriously, like Harry P. It was as if most of the actors were instructed to 'Ham it up'.

I didn't look at my watch during the movie (two hours), which is a good sign that I am enjoying going along for the ride.

What I didn't like was that most of the mythology was missing. Like it was assumed knowledge. All it did was not allow me to connect to the main characters because I didn't know enough about them (from the film).

The music wasn't overbearing, but went nicely with the film. Nothing memorable except "Highway to Hell".

S/Fx were done to an acceptable level, especially Hades (the place not the God). But the Gods were too human for my liking.

Maybe the producers are hoping this film will fill in the void being left by Harry P. The hero in this movie looks about the same age as Harry in his last film.

I don't think it is a repeat watch (DVD).