The latest fantasy film to hit theaters follows in the tradition of the Harry Potter franchise by adapting a popular children's book to the big screen. Based on Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, the film follows three teenagers (all of whom are demi-gods) in their quest to seek and return Zeus' lightning bolt to Mount Olympus before a War of the Gods ensues.
I was disappointed and frustrated with this film. I thought the film took a cheap shot at dyslexics ("It's not that you can't read, you could only read ancient Greek"... really?!?). Using the learning disability to foretell of some greater godly power is kind of irritating, especially considering that dyslexia is something that pervades every aspect of a person's life, and does not make one feel that he or she possesses extraordinary abilities. There is absolutely no way that Percy could have been so empowered after a single game of capture-the-flag (which could have been omitted from the film, it was so bad). He most certainly would have had lingering feelings of doubt and insecurity.
ReplyDeleteOn a second note, I find it hard to swallow the portrayal of the Greek Gods in the film. It was insulting to see them in a children's fantasy film of such low caliber. Although this story might have worked well for a book, there are just some stories that should be kept in them.