2.5 stars (out of 5)
By R. Kurt Osenlund
Chris Columbus, director of the first two “Harry Potter” installments, is back behind the camera for the inaugural run of another fantasy fiction-inspired franchise, “Percy Jackson & the Olympians,” based on the five-volume book series by Rick Riordan. The film version of the first volume, “The Lighting Thief,” has Columbus – and the rest of us – in very familiar territory. The circumstances, compadres, exploits and objectives of would-be high school hero Percy (gifted rising star Logan Lerman) all bear a striking resemblance to those of a certain boy wizard. Percy has a pitiful home life; superhuman powers he must harness and hone; enrollment in a special institution for super kids; two best friends, one male, one female; and a treacherous journey ahead of him in which he must prove his worth by saving the day. The crucial difference is the magic so prevalent in the Potterverse – even in Columbus's minor contributions – has gone missing.
By R. Kurt Osenlund
Chris Columbus, director of the first two “Harry Potter” installments, is back behind the camera for the inaugural run of another fantasy fiction-inspired franchise, “Percy Jackson & the Olympians,” based on the five-volume book series by Rick Riordan. The film version of the first volume, “The Lighting Thief,” has Columbus – and the rest of us – in very familiar territory. The circumstances, compadres, exploits and objectives of would-be high school hero Percy (gifted rising star Logan Lerman) all bear a striking resemblance to those of a certain boy wizard. Percy has a pitiful home life; superhuman powers he must harness and hone; enrollment in a special institution for super kids; two best friends, one male, one female; and a treacherous journey ahead of him in which he must prove his worth by saving the day. The crucial difference is the magic so prevalent in the Potterverse – even in Columbus's minor contributions – has gone missing.
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