Watch Kids' Reviews of
PERCY JACKSON: THE LIGHTNING THIEF

Viewers who watch this film might become inspired to learn more about Greek mythology. Children who watched it were discussing stories they knew from childhood even as the credits rolled. They started discussing what it would be like, and how they would act, if they were the young heroes in the film. A 17-year-old girl viewing the film was excited about the reminder of the stories she loved in her youth. The 10- and 13-year-old boys loved the sword fighting and special effects. A 16-year-old boy summed it up: "The visuals were stunning, and the music was fit for the story. I loved the models and animation with the monsters like the Hydra. It actually looked realistic. The only thing I didn't like about this movie is that the story was extremely predictable (a point the younger children disagreed with). I was able to call out what was going to happen dozens of minutes before it happened, such as needing the 4th pearl to bring his mother and his friends back (the other kids did notice this, also, but it added to the drama for them and made them feel smart). I was also able to predict who would stay in Hades." This film is one our family unanimously voted to keep in our own personal DVD library. It was too good to watch just one time.

The ancient gods meet the modern world as Zeus accuses a young demi -god of stealing his lightning bolt. Never knowing he was part god, Poseidon's son, Percy, is suddenly thrust into another world where he has exceptional powers, and must enter the depths of Hades to prevent a war among the gods. This film is particularly appealing because it clues a viewer in to the inner workings of Greek mythology, yet ties the mythology into the modern world. Not only is the story and imagery captivating, but it also promotes a strong sense of family bonds in a very realistic way. Percy feels like his father abandoned him, and we see the relationship develop between father and son as the plot-line develops and Percy discovers that his father never abandoned him. Although gods couldn't be with their children after birth, the father was always in Percy's mind, helping him when he needed help. There is a poignant scene near the end where father and son come face-to-face and have a realistic confrontation. The cinematography is so crisp, smooth and detailed that some of the evil characters were almost too scary for young viewers. Hades, in his god-form, is particularly scary, and the snakes that surrounded Medusa's head seem incredibly lifelike. While this might make the film inappropriate for younger viewers, these aspects are part of what made the film such a success with the teen and tween audience. The adventurous story shows how a common, somewhat dorky boy, can find something special within himself. It took his dyslexic and ADHD tendencies, and turned them into powerful weapons against the enemy. It's a good message for viewers, seeing how things that can be perceived as negative attributes can be really be used as strengths.

Modern and mythical worlds collide in a heroic epic adventure in Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief . Based on the popular book series by Rick Riordan, the film follows trouble-prone Percy Jackson who finds himself having problems in high school... but that's the least of his challenges. It's the 21st century, but the gods of Mount Olympus have walked out of the pages of his Greek mythology texts and into his life, and they're not happy - Zeus' lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect. Learning he is the son of Poseidon, the young teen finds himself caught between angry and battling gods, and embarks on a cross-country adventure to catch the true lightning thief and unravel a mystery more powerful than the gods themselves. Directed by Chris Columbus (Harry Potter films), starring Logan Lerman ("Jack & Bobby"), Rosario Dawson (Seven Pounds), Steve Coogan (Night At The Museum films), Uma Thurman (Kill Bill films), Pierce Brosnan (The Thomas Crown Affair, James Bond films), Catherine Keener (Where The Wild Things Are), and Kevin McKidd ("Grey's Anatomy").