Leofwine_draca
PERCY JACKSON: SEA OF MONSTERS is a follow-up to PERCY JACKSON & THE LIGHTING THIEF, itself an adaptation of the debut novel in the popular young adult series by Rick Riordan. I mildly enjoyed the first film in the series, but this unfocused sequel is a lot worse; despite the plethora of on-screen action, not much actually seems to happen and it all rings rather false and hollow.This time, Percy and his buddies old and new find themselves embarking on a quest narrative to retrieve the Golden Fleece, of all things. There are various MacGuffins in the film, none of them particularly interesting or plausible, but what is apparent is the debt this series owes to Harry Potter. There are kids on the run, flying cars, magic sprays that change appearance, and plenty more besides. Inevitably Harry Potter got there first and did it better, leaving this all rather redundant.It doesn't help that the characterisation is kept to a bare minimum. Logan Lerman's hero is a dullish type and Alexandra Daddario struggles to shine as the token love interest. Speaking of tokenism, the comic relief black sidekick is still really clichéd and unfunny. The big guest stars have gone from the original film to be replaced by the likes of Anthony Head and Stanley Tucci, alongside a cameoing Nathan Fillion. For 90% of the running time, PERCY JACKSON: SEA OF MONSTERS consists of CGI-heavy action. Some of the effects are pretty good but as is generally the case with such films, it becomes tiresome very quickly.
mike48128
Almost a tribute to Ray Harryhousen! I loved those old movies as a teenager! Great popcorn fodder! I assume that the author is either British or Australian. This series plays in the spirit of the Harry Potter Series, but doesn't quite live up to its expectations. The special effects are extraordinary. Especially the water horse! The Greek influence is fun. (UPS is run by Hermes!) The plot has been simplified for the screenplay, and it dilutes the whole thing. Why and how does the Cyclops have ownership of the Golden Fleece? I thought it was in the Garden of one of the Gods. Where is Half-Breed Summer Camp, exactly? Do they ever live anywhere else? Fun to-be-sure, but missing that "spark". Maybe a better setting? The primal forest isn't exactly "Hogworts"! The heroine is spellbinding. She has far more charisma than poor Percy! He's kind of a "half-breed nerd".
