Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightening Thief - Review + Giveaway X2

Modern and mythical worlds collide in a heroic epic adventure when Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief arrives on Blu-ray Disc and DVD June 29 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.  Based on the popular book series by Rick Riordan, the film follows trouble-prone Percy Jackson who finds himself having problems in high school… but that’s the least of his challenges.  It’s the 21st century, but the gods of Mount Olympus have walked out of the pages of his Greek mythology texts and into his life, and they’re not happy – Zeus’ lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.  Learning he is the son of Poseidon, the young teen finds himself caught between angry and battling gods, and embarks on a cross-country adventure to catch the true lightning thief and unravel a mystery more powerful than the gods themselves.
 
Directed by Chris Columbus (first two Harry Potter films), Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief stars rising star Logan Lerman (“Jack & Bobby”), and features an ensemble cast including Rosario Dawson (Seven Pounds), Steve Coogan (Night At The Museum films), Uma Thurman (Kill Bill films), Pierce Brosnan (The Thomas Crown Affair, James Bond films), Catherine Keener (Where The Wild Things Are), and Kevin McKidd (“Grey’s Anatomy”). The Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief  Blu-ray includes over an hour of special features, 10 deleted scenes, a “Secrets of the Gods” featurette, an “On Set” with Brandon T. Jackson, and much more. The standard DVD includes five deleted scenes, “Bringing The Book To Life” featurette and a “Discover Your Powers” quiz.  The Blu-ray Disc with Digital Copy will be available for the suggested retail price of $39.99 U.S. / $49.99 Canada and the standard DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $29.98 U.S. / $43.48 Canada. 
 

Blu-ray Special Features:
· 10 Extended and Deleted Scenes
o The Museum – Grover Photographs Aphrodite
o The Infirmary – Percy Meets Annabeth
o Aphrodite’s Daughters – Grover Jumps Into Spa
o Int. Bus – Percy Looks At The Map
o Auntie Em’s – Medusa Chases Percy
o Int. Pickup Truck – Grover Talks About Zeus’ daughter
o Lotus Land Casino – Grover Dances
o Lotus Land Casino – Percy Meets 50’s Guy
o Lotus Land Casino – Percy, Annabeth and Grover Fight The Guards
o Hades’ Mansion – Hades Talks To Percy
· Secrets of the Gods
· Discover Your Powers Quiz
· The Book Comes To Life
· Inside Camp Half-Blood
· On Set With Brandon T. Jackson
· Meet The Demigods
Single-Disc DVD Special Features
· 5 Extended and Deleted Scenes
o The Museum – Grover Photographs Aphrodite
o Int. Pickup Truck – Grover Talks About Zeus’ daughter
o Lotus Land Casino – Grover Dances
o Lotus Land Casino – Percy, Annabeth and Grover Fight The Guards
o Hades’ Mansion – Hades Talks To Percy
· Discover Your Powers Quiz
· The Book Comes To Life

What I Can Tell You: I received a copy of the movie from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and watched it this weekend. It was AWESOME.  I love these kind of movies. Movies adapted from books and created into visual masterpieces that entice kids, young adults and more to pick up the books and read them. 


As someone who has not picked up one of the Percy Jackson books yet, I know that Hollywood takes creative license and my ignorance of the story made it really enjoyable for me. My nephew who has read the book tells me that he was disappointed because of things that were in the book but not the movie. Who hasn't read a book, loved it and seen the movie to be disappointed? It happens. 

I thought it was really great. The story wasn't predictable and the effects really fun. 


Positives:

• Working in Percy's ADHD and Dyslexia as gifts.Percy isn't perfect and I love that about him
• Logan Lerman as Percy has Zac Efron looks and Charisma. He is a find.
• Loved the action, it reminded me of the fun movies when I was younger like Goonies, Honey I Shrunk the Kids ET, The Explorers and The Karate Kid. Movies that you enjoyed watching again and again.
• Uma Thurman as Medusa. She rocked!
• The Greek Gods.
• Sword fight, fire balls, multi-headed dragons and Pierce Bronson as Chiron.
• Friendship and honor.

Disappointments:

• I think some of the visuals are too scary for anyone under 10 (know your child and what scares them).
• For a kid movie, there is too much sexual tension between Percy and Annabeth
• Grover was a little too street smart and horny for a kid movie.

All in all, I believe the movie is great. I will watch it again and can't wait until my kids are old enough to be interested. 


About Twentieth Century Fox Home EntertainmentA recognized global industry leader, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC (TCFHE) is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming on DVD, Blu-ray Disc (BD) and Digital Copy as well as acquisitions and original productions.  The company also releases all products around the globe for MGM Home Entertainment.  Each year TCFHE introduces hundreds of new and newly enhanced products, which it services to retail outlets -- from mass merchants and warehouse clubs to specialty stores and e-commerce - throughout the world.  Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC is a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, a News Corporation company.

Take up reading this summer with your kids. Read The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan than watch Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightening Thief.