Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
Percy Jackson, like any teenager, has issues: on top of having ADHD, he also has to cope with an abusive stepfather and dysfunctional home life. When he realises that he is a demigod and his biological father is Poseidon, the sea god, he sets out to prevent all-out war between the Olympians after the lightning bolt of Zeus is stolen, and he is framed for it.
Callum reviewed
November 3, 2025•
ChatGPT said:
⭐⭐⭐½ (out of 5) Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief – The Original Half-God, Half-Blockbuster
Before the series tried to course-correct, Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief was our first cinematic dive into the demigod world. It’s glossy, fast-paced, and more about the spectacle than the subtlety — a Greek myth road trip for the Harry Potter generation. Logan Lerman’s Percy is likable enough as the bewildered son of Poseidon, flanked by a lively cast of gods behaving badly, but the story feels rushed, like a quest done on a deadline.
It doesn’t have the deeper emotional layering the show attempted, but it does have energy — thunderbolts, monsters, and the kind of campy grandeur that makes it easy to enjoy if you don’t think too hard. Where the new show is faithful but flat, the film is flawed but fun; one’s a museum exhibit, the other a rollercoaster that occasionally derails but makes you grin on the way down.
Still, the potential was there — myth, mayhem, and mortal teens learning that divine parents are just as disappointing as human ones.
Pairing: A blue milkshake — vibrant, sugary, and messy, but undeniably fun while it lasts.