Percy Jackson: Sea Of Monsters (2013)

 

Year: 2013
Running Time: 106 minutes
Director: Thor Freudenhal
Writers: Rick Riordan (book), Marc Guggenheim (screenplay)
Cast: Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddario, Brandon T. Jackson, Jake Abel, Leven Rambin, Stanley Tucci, Douglas Smith

While Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters feels and looks what would happen if Harry Potter and Greek mythology collided, there is no denying that it is fulfilling the void of adventure films that are absent in our cinemas at the present time.

Percy Jackson is the perfect example of how a film can be original without being completely original. It borrows from various past films in a big way, but throwing in Greek mythology makes the film interesting, a lot of fun and even a tad informative . Percy Jackson fans will love it and those who have never encountered Percy before will still have a good time with this film.

When we this time meet Poseidon's half-blood son, Percy Jackson (Logan Lerman), he is suffering from a lapse in self confidence as he is unsure whether it was just luck in saving Olympus or not. When the barriers of the camp for the children of the gods are broken and Percy is reunited with his nemesis, Luke (Jake Abel), he and his friends, Annabeth (Alexandra Daddario), Grover (Brandon T. Jackson) and his half brother, Tyson (Douglas Smith) set off on a quest to find the Golden Fleece to save the camp's barrier tree. While on this quest, they also try to stop Luke and his followers from bringing an ancient evil back to the world.

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters looks so much like a redoing of Harry Potter that it is crazy. The first Percy Jackson film had similarities to the Harry Potter films such as a boy who doesn't know that he has these incredible powers as a result of having extraordinary parents, is sent to a school for those such as him and is part of a trio of best friends. The similarities grow in the second film with the revelations that Percy may or may not be part of a prophecy, there is a "magical" cab driven by three freaky women (seems very much like the Night Bus in HP) and a world within a world that ordinary people cannot see. There is also a scene reminiscent of Pincocchio in a grand way.

The great news is that the second film based on Rick Rordan's book series come at the perfect time for cinema goers. While there is certainly no lack of teenage supernatural romance films at the present time, there is a lack of adventure films, especially those aimed towards the younger audience. Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters fills this gap in the release schedule and gives audiences of any age a bit of fun and a thrill. Given it's similarities with Harry Potter, it is also released at a time long enough after the mentioned to avoid direct comparisons by all.

As the series of books are for children/ young adults, there is nothing confronting or harsh about the film. It is just plain and fluffy fun with a simple and a tad silly story. Although there are some very touching moments throughout the film and they come as a complete surprise. For those who do not know much about Greek mythology, there is quite the lesson with the Percy Jackson film, as long as you remember that it is just the back story based on mythology.

The opening scene of the film, which takes place at the camp's tournament is a great start to the film. It is an action packed start which reminds you of a school sports carnival, except a bit more original than your typical athletics. The soundtrack is also perfect. It truly is a great start to the film as it captures for the audience an atmosphere of fun  that is going to continue throughout the film. The CGI is also impressive, especially the great scene where Percy surfs the wave he has created.

Logan Lerman is wonderful once again as Percy Jackson. The great thing about Lerman's performance in this film is that he gives so much without going over the top. In the scenes where the opportunity arises for his character to be overly emotional and one would normally expect the actor to do so in such a film, he is so subtle but in doing so is far more effective. Some of his later scenes with Douglas Smith and Alexandra Daddario are really quite beautiful because of Lerman's powerful subtlety. Daddario also does well, again not over acting, but being natural and achieving so much more by doing so.

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters is the perfect example of how a film can be original without being completely original and be a success while doing so.

7/10


You may have also seen Logan Lerman in......
The Three Musketeers as D'Artagnan
The Perks of Being A Wallflower as Charlie