Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013)
THE SCOOP
Director: Thor Freudenthal
Cast: Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddario, Brandon T. Jackson, Stanley Tucci
Plot: In order to restore their dying safe haven, the son of Poseidon and his friends embark on a quest to the Sea of Monsters to find the mythical Golden Fleece while trying to stop an ancient evil from rising.
Genre: Adventure / Family / Fantasy
Awards: -
Runtime: 106min
Rating: PG for fantasy action violence, some scary images and mild language.
IN RETROSPECT (Guest review by Yue Jie)
This
film was reviewed in the 3D format.
If sequels were made to generate box office
gross, this movie is likely to be one of them. A continuation to Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief in 2010, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters follows
the lives of Percy (Logan Lerman) and his friends Grover Underwood (Brandon T.
Jackson) and Annabeth Chase (Alexandra Daddario) at Camp Half-Blood where Percy
learns what might just be his fate as the only surviving half-blood child.
Thought to be the only descendant of
Poseidon, one of the three prime gods, Percy meets his half-brother Tyson
(Douglas Smith), a cyclops, for the first time. Demigod son of Hermes, Luke
Castellan (Jake Abel) attacks the camp, poisoning the magic tree that serves as
a barrier protecting Camp Half-Blood that only the Golden Fleece can restore, an
item that only the bravest of Half-Bloods are able to obtain.
Helmed by German-born director Thor
Freudenthal, Percy Jackson: Sea of
Monsters follows a thinly scripted plot that entertains but does not
impress. In a bid to stay safe and not
complicate the story, Freudenthal lays out the plot in linear fashion that
falls flat on comedy and action, two crucial elements that are needed to drive
the film.
Where Percy is greatly emphasized but
uncertain as to what he needs to do, his friends Grover and Annabeth are
severely unused. Their characterization
merely supports Percy and gives him more reason to save Camp Half-Blood. With that, viewers may even be inclined to
root for Percy’s rival Clarisse, played by Leven Rambin.
On the other hand, Tyson’s usefulness is
displayed just once early on and never seen again. His presence may put down rumours that cyclops
are an evil bunch, but it does not venture any further than that. At most, Tyson appears only to give Percy more
trouble and potentially sabotage his mission.
Despite a combination of visuals, stunts
and short-lived humour, Percy Jackson:
Sea Of Monsters feels rather flat throughout and even the climax ends just
as quickly as it begins, making the suspense not as worthwhile as it can be. As Percy goes through the tides, literally, in
his journey into the sea, the adventure does not promise particularly exciting
moments.
Rating: 2.5 stars
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