Does Mt. Olympus look familiar?That's because it's Hogwarts.
I'm a little too fatigued by all of the failed attempts at starting a new fantasy franchise (Eragon, The Golden Compass). It seems that all these studios are trying to strike the lightning that resulted in success for the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings Franchises. The latest submission into the sad arena of films that don't quite make it to becoming series is Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. Where some people might see this film as the exception to the chain that has been going on for years, I just see another disappointment.
Lets look at the facts shall we? The film adaptation is written by Joe Stillman and Craig Titley. If you're unfamiliar with them then you're right in the same boat as the rest of the inhabitants of the human race. The only previous screenwriting credit I could find for Joe Stillman was Planet 51, and that doesn't inspire much optimism. Even the novel the film is based on is pretty much dead weight. Ever heard of Rick Riordan? Didn't think so. The fact of the matter is it just doesn't hold as much weight as Harry Potter, and to say that it does is heresy. My brother actually turned to me during one of the commercials and said to me, "You know, that looks just as good as Harry Potter". That's not a joke; that's a sin. Percy Jackson is ultimately just another predictable fantasy series that you'd only notice if you were trapped in library for 2 weeks.
And what's the final topping on this likely disastrous production? Christopher Columbus, best known for directing the first two Harry Potter films. Doesn't that sound like it redeems all of the other shortcomings of this film? Well let me rephrase the sentence. Christopher Columber, director of the worst two Harry Potter films. Does that give you a better view of this film? I'm sorry if I'm offending any long standing fans of the series, and I would love to see another fantasy franchise actually survive and be genuinely good. I just don't think this is going to be it.
Lets look at the facts shall we? The film adaptation is written by Joe Stillman and Craig Titley. If you're unfamiliar with them then you're right in the same boat as the rest of the inhabitants of the human race. The only previous screenwriting credit I could find for Joe Stillman was Planet 51, and that doesn't inspire much optimism. Even the novel the film is based on is pretty much dead weight. Ever heard of Rick Riordan? Didn't think so. The fact of the matter is it just doesn't hold as much weight as Harry Potter, and to say that it does is heresy. My brother actually turned to me during one of the commercials and said to me, "You know, that looks just as good as Harry Potter". That's not a joke; that's a sin. Percy Jackson is ultimately just another predictable fantasy series that you'd only notice if you were trapped in library for 2 weeks.
And what's the final topping on this likely disastrous production? Christopher Columbus, best known for directing the first two Harry Potter films. Doesn't that sound like it redeems all of the other shortcomings of this film? Well let me rephrase the sentence. Christopher Columber, director of the worst two Harry Potter films. Does that give you a better view of this film? I'm sorry if I'm offending any long standing fans of the series, and I would love to see another fantasy franchise actually survive and be genuinely good. I just don't think this is going to be it.
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