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PERCY JACKSON & THE OLYMPIANS: THE LIGHTNING THIEFMovie Reviews
Adventure fantasy about a high school boy, Percy, who discovers that Greek mythology is for real: He finds out that he is a demi-god (his father is Poseidon) and is suddenly thrust into battle between the gods of Mount Olympus. Cast:Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddario, Brandon T. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Pierce BrosnanDirector:Chris ColumbusRelease Date:February 12, 2010DVD Release:June 22, 2010From:20th Century FoxRating:PGLength:1 hr. 58 min.
JUNE 22, 2010
Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief, Moderate Reviews
Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief played to moderate reviews. • Stephen Whitty wrote in the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, "Fun as it can be, it feels like halfhearted Hogwarts at times.... if it's not quite 'Harry Potter' -- yet -- it could still grow into an entertaining substitute." • And Bill Goodykoontz wrote in the Arizona Republic, "...isn't a great movie, but it's a good one..." More Reviews Below...
Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief Positive Reviews (41 Reviews, reviews below)
Mary Pols, Time: FAIR "...features tons of creepy computer-generated imagery that's right up there with Voldemort in terms of physical nastiness, although less powerful emotionally."(See all of Mary Pols's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 774 words, 02/13/10
David Germain, Associated Press: MODERATE(cg) "The fight sequences are OK, the generous helping of computer-generated imagery is fine, the wisecracking camaraderie among Percy, Grover and Annabeth is passable..."(See all of David Germain's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 629 words, 02/11/10
Bradley Jacobs, Us Weekly: VERY GOOD(cg) "...not as strong as the first 'Harry Potter' film, but it's improved by a series of cool cameos.... Rosario Dawson... Steve Coogan... and especially Uma Thurman..."(See all of Bradley Jacobs's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 97 words, 02/11/10
Adam Markovitz, Entertainment Weekly: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Punctuated by painful dialogue and high-camp celeb cameos... has all the CGI sorcery of a 'Harry Potter' pic, but none of the magic."(See all of Adam Markovitz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 119 words, 02/12/10
Claudia Puig, USA Today: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...a fast-paced, cheeky adventure saga.... Columbus' best movie since 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets'... [but] it lacks the complexity of the Potter series."(See all of Claudia Puig's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 603 words, 02/15/10
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "This is the first film I recall with end credits including the names of the actors who played Parthenon Janitors. I know, it's the Parthenon in Nashville, but even so."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 716 words, 02/11/10
Lou Lumenick, New York Post: MODERATE(cg) "The film toggles between high camp and deadly earnestness, all the while threatening to drown in an ocean of not-so-special effects."(See all of Lou Lumenick's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 459 words, 02/12/10
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: MODERATE(cg) "...could be the start of something adequate. Something big would've been nicer, though the movie's limitations are less a matter of scale than of imagination."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 491 words, 02/12/10
Rafer Guzman, New York Newsday: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Some of this is amusing, but none of it can substitute for the genuine magic of the 'Harry Potter' films. Likable as Percy may be, it's not lightning he's stolen."(See all of Rafer Guzman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 280 words, 02/12/10
David Edelstein, New York Magazine: WEAK "Columbus is incapable of (or uninterested in, or clueless about) capturing the tumultuous emotions that feed these adolescent fantasies..."(See all of David Edelstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 282 words, 02/08/10
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "This is the first film I recall with end credits including the names of the actors who played Parthenon Janitors. I know, it's the Parthenon in Nashville, but even so."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 716 words, 02/11/10
Linda Barnard, Toronto Star: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "What does work is the enthusiasm of the young cast and the rich fantasy of Greek mythology. Together they make 'Percy Jackson' entertaining enough..."(See all of Linda Barnard's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 552 words, 02/12/10
Rick Groen, Toronto Globe & Mail: MODERATE(cg) "...all dull thunder without a spark of illumination... Columbus still has his CGI toolbox to play with... From that centaur on down, his special effects are a real horse's ass."(See all of Rick Groen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 640 words, 02/12/10
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "The film gets the wannabe franchise off to a good start, introducing a broad cast of characters and setting up the story's universe nicely."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 399 words, 02/11/10
KEY CITIES (16 Reviews)
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post: MODERATE(cg) "...the movie suffers by taking itself a little too seriously. It's not just that it's a lot less funny than the book. It's also a lot less fun."(See all of Michael O'Sullivan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 540 words, 02/12/10
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Like its stars, the film is genial good company. While it won't kill any brain cells, it is unlikely to enter the pantheon of epic screen adventures."(See all of Carrie Rickey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 482 words, 02/12/10
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle/San Francisco Chronicle: VERY GOOD(cg) "...heroic half-breeds look and act just like average American teenagers, which is both the source of its goofiness and much of its considerable charm."(See all of Amy Biancolli's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 530 words, 02/12/10
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: MODERATE(cg) "...has splendid effects, young little-known actors in the leads and a colorful collection of character actors... [but] it lacks much that one could call the spark of life."(See all of Roger Moore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 538 words, 02/12/10
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: VERY GOOD(cg) "...isn't a great movie, but it's a good one... much better when it's on the move, its young heroes fighting computer-generated hydras and such."(See all of Bill Goodykoontz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 591 words, 02/12/10
Tom Maurstad, Dallas Morning News: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...energetic fun, and there are several sequences full of cutting-edge eye candy.... But the climactic meeting between father and son rings not just hollow but ludicrous..."(See all of Tom Maurstad's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 622 words, 02/12/10
Rick Bentley, Denver Post: VERY GOOD(cg) "...likable central characters, the already fascinating world of Greek mythology and solid direction by Chris Columbus.... the start of something that could be really good."(See all of Rick Bentley's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 342 words, 02/12/10
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe: MODERATE(cg) "...cheesy effects and sylvan swordplay between kids in jeans, sheaths, and leather boots... it feels like a cross between 'Clash of the Titans' and a renaissance faire."(See all of Wesley Morris's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 780 words, 02/12/10
Stephen Whitty, Cleveland Plain-Dealer: VERY GOOD(cg) "Fun as it can be, it feels like halfhearted Hogwarts at times.... if it's not quite 'Harry Potter' -- yet -- it could still grow into an entertaining substitute."(See all of Stephen Whitty's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 564 words, 02/12/10
Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "The CGI effects are a familiar sort and so is the heroic-quest motif. The principal virtue in this modest entertainment is that the young characters act like real teenagers."(See all of Joe Williams's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 344 words, 02/12/10
Steve Persall, St. Petersburg Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "...for all of its faults, this frisky movie with a clunky title roused memories of what it felt like to be impressed by a movie as a child. That isn't a gift to be taken lightly."(See all of Steve Persall's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 676 words, 02/12/10
Tom Long, Detroit News: WEAK(cg) "Percy Jackson, you are no Harry Potter. You are not fit to walk in a hobbit's wake.... one of those films that stumbles when it should surge... It has all the wrong moves."(See all of Tom Long's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 363 words, 02/12/10
Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...may not be so deep or richly imagined as J.K. Rowling's universe... but the film is populated by likable characters, great special effects and a neat premise..."(See all of Rene Rodriguez's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 363 words, 02/12/10
Brett Michel, Boston Phoenix: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Percy joins half-goat pal Grover (Brandon T. Jackson) and Annabeth (Alexandra Daddario), Athena's daughter, on a mildly diverting mission to Hades..."(See all of Brett Michel's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 157 words, 02/18/10
Tasha Robinson, AV Club: FAIR(cg) "...isn't awful... mostly a reasonable distraction for bored kids, but also a reminder that the source material is almost always more flavorful and fulfilling than derivative work."(See all of Tasha Robinson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 480 words, 02/11/10
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "The film gets the wannabe franchise off to a good start, introducing a broad cast of characters and setting up the story's universe nicely."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 399 words, 02/11/10
Peter Debruge, Daily Variety: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...generates genuine energy during action scenes... falls far short of iconic, and the digital effects have the cheesy look of so many low-budget SyFy TV movies."(See all of Peter Debruge's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 983 words, 02/11/10
Ethan Alter, Hollywood Reporter: MODERATE "What's really lacking is a genuine sense of wonder... Percy's world seems like a decent place to visit, but it's just not magical enough to make you want to live there."(See all of Ethan Alter's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 782 words, 02/10/10
15.0 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief's reviews are separated by an average 15.0 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief (41 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief's reviews cover 68.9% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 20,435 words involume (average is 20,172 words). Length:The film's reviews average 498 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief Coverage, Volume & Length (41 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 3.7 Hours After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief's reviews on average broke 3.7 hours after opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief (41 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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