Chris Columbus takes the bold outlines of Greek Mythology and turns it on it's heels......

For teenagers they all think that life is going to be simple and easy, some of them find out the hard way that is not so while others lazily go by doing what they do everyday. For High Schooler Percy Jackson this is   so, Percy thinks his only purpose in life is to just survive High School, barely, while dealing with his slob of a step-father. Battling his troubles with dyslexia, ADHD and all the while trying to make his mother proud of him. For a teenager this is no easy feat especially when you’re trying your hardest but   while on a school trip to The Museum of Metropolitan art he discovers   that he is destined for something more than a normal hum drum human existence, he is destined to become something more than he could have ever imagined.

Chris Columbus' "Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” is not a teeny bopper exploitation flick like Catherine Hardwicke's "Twilight” or Chris Weitz's "New Moon". "The Lightning Thief" is  a fairly well scripted, well acted and well thought  out fantasy adventure film, it's kind of like "Lord of the Rings" for teenagers it doesn't  go over your head  and it doesn't leave you cringing  while watching, making you wish you had gone to see something else instead.  It's an interesting film as  it takes liberties with  Greek Mythology  turning  on it's heel everything we know about and creating a whole new and enthralling world for fantasy lovers, film lovers and history lovers alike to enjoy. "Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief"   may not be exactly like the novel it is based upon, it's  not fantastic or phenomenal but it is very, very, very enjoyable  and is one of the best  fantasy films of  the new year.  "Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” will deliver the   action, humor and mysticism you are looking for.

Logan Lerman I have always had faith he would become a great actor and I still do, while this film is not one of his better performances it is one of his good ones. It shows that Lerman is skilled in both being a regular teen and still maintaining the appearance and skill of a seasoned actor.  Lerman doesn't try to be the next Al Pacino or the next Robert DeNiro   he tries his best and succeeds at just being a true rising star amongst other unworthy competitors. Brandon T.  Jackson  is fantastic as the  satyr Grover Underwood; he's funny, witty  and just gives an all around great performance as Logan Lerman's number 2 man, Jackson is natural and doesn't try to be serious as he doesn't need to be, he playing a mythical creature mind you  being serious is not needed for the part. And he's playing a satyr no less they have a reputation for being a little more impetuous than serious and Jackson plays the part well. Alexandra Daddario is neither great nor good she is in between, sometimes she is very serious and also very convincing as the tough girl amongst the guys and for that I commend her for being believable. But There were also times I just didn't think she was the right choice for this picture, but then again she is better than most of the other 20 something actresses out there. Daddario is not the best of the best but she has potential to be great and for this I tip my hat to her. The  rest of the cast including  Catherine Keener, Pierce Brosnan, Sean Bean,  Steve Coogan, Melina Kanakaredes, Joe Pantoliano, Rosario Dawson, Kevin McKidd and Uma Thurman  all turn  in stellar  supporting performances  in one of the best fantasy films  of the new decade.

"Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief"   is not the greatest of it's genre but it certainly is better than most of its kind that have come out in the last few years. "The Lightning Thief"  won't let you down  it gives you what you want an outrageously cool and hip thrill ride with a little bit of a history lesson tossed up in there for good measure, it doesn't patronize you like most fantasy/adventure films, it doesn't make you feel like a three year old while your watching it. It meets you at it's own level  weather you be an adult, a tween, a teenager whichever it  looks you in the eye and tells you  not to expect anything great but to expect something enjoyable and worthy of calling good  old fashioned entertainment  "Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" is just that and maybe  a little more.