Suffers from attention deficit and dyslexia Percy Jackson's life easier at school and private life seems to go better, living with his mother, having never known his father. The reason for this becomes clear when, on a school trip to a museum, a teacher turns into a winged monster and threatens to kill him if he did not reveal where he hid the lightning of Zeus. Percy, a demigod, the son of Poseidon and a mortal and the time came for him to train to become aware of their powers.
The training will have to wait for, someone has stolen that thunderbolt of Zeus and all primal accuse Percy to unleash a colossal war between the big three brothers: Zeus, Poseidon and Hades.
Difficult not to see behind Percy Jackson and the deOlympians: The Lightning Thief attempts to give life to a great new movie saga that takes place (not so much in the hearts of fans as in the portfolios of manufacturers) of the now finished Harry Potter. Also deals with a number of books the same name, written by an American (Rick Riordan) and not by an Englishwoman, the movie just like the novel repeats the same situation potteriana of a boy who seems less talented than others but in reality destined to great things, who, accompanied by a friend and a wise and attractive close friend more sympathetic, committed to learning the secret arts of his rank and from time to time what is even more burdensome resting on his shoulders.
Similar to the one made for Harry Potter then the choice of how to make the transition from page to screen by giving the director right away to Chris Columbus (gi director of the first two films of the boy wizard and producer of the third), selecting actors for parts unknown protagonista and large gauges for the complementary roles and finally focusing more on action than anything else. The result for falling short of the stencil. Although there is Columbus at the helm the film never moves, unable com 'to give his characters motivations that will sound authentic and believable, and even in sequences most incredible sounds fake.
The only point of interest that differs from those of Percy's adventures of Harry, the fact that they take place in the real world and be strongly coupled all'attualit, full of references to contemporary obsessions. If in any Harry Potter disappeared indicator contemporaneit, nullified by the future prospects of the magical world traditional English, Percy Jackson Greek myths are folded American semantic universe. Are adapted not only the characters (Medusa runs a shop selling statues in the province, Ade lives like a rock star), but also geography, drawing a map of places all over Greece within the Stawe Emirates (the Parthenon in Nashville, the gates of Hades in Hollywood, the Olympians on the Empire State Building and the place of oblivion in Las Vegas). The result continues a wink to pop and objects of modern consumption as Apple and Converse can boast two of the best product placement ever seen, which overshadows the charm and mystery that should surround the unknown (for protagonist and therefore the viewer) the secret world of the gods of Olympus.

Christine, a young woman forced by the wheelchair with multiple sclerosis. Resigned to his status as a firm ', participates in a pilgrimage to Lourdes, hoping to regain some' confidence in life. Always smiling, looking for conversation with the handsome young volunteers of the organization, clings all'espressivit the face, the only body part that can move. Spiritual participation to the tour sick in body and mind, all part of a micro world accustomed to solitude and slipped individualism. Quanor vacation days are about to end, the miracle happens: Christine slowly, regained sensitivity in the fingers, then arms and legs up to their feet to the ground and begin to walk. Healing sudden surprises everyone and inaugurates cruel envy among peers. Meanwhile, Christine is enjoying the little moment of happiness, still uncertain about his precarious future.
Christine will do well by all. sweet, funny and curious, but also sensitive and reserved, laconic, as if his physical block he had also stolen the words. Seems not expect anything from anybody, pray much less than the other fellow travelers can enjoy life in despair. Outburst of anxiety that consumes only takes place before God in the confessional, where he pleads guilty of envy normal people '.
But what does it mean to be normal? Casualit rely on a miracle? The search for happiness and integration through the sbidder, ever. The Church dithers, he paints simplistic answers, unwittingly hilarious. Blame the sinful soul and away from the thought. The secular counterpart (the volunteers of the Order of Malta) seems to have stopped believing in miracles a long time, cos you let go and jokes that make fun of Madonna, or accusing glances and puzzled that would create serious difficulties to the sermons of the priest . The normality for them, only a mirror reflecting itself: all are regular and eccentric at the same time. The strength of the doubt overwhelms desecrating Lourdes, the place of hope par excellence, transforming it into a corner of alienating world where the illusion of improvement, spiritual and physical, is sold at the price of garish souvenir statuettes, and mysticism is offered at breakfast, along with hot coffee.
The minimalist style of the director highlights the paradox of sacralit, focusing on the secular aspects. Forit touches and tones popular environments, homage skepticism Kaurismki and subtle irony of French Jacques Tati. Each stage corresponds to a fixed frame (between the most beautiful, the opening sequence of the silent and apathetic preparing the dining room), every action carefully inserted in a harmony of shapes and colors that plays on contrast and opposition. The narrative process is built on the cos sequence of small sequences that move to the rhythm of a swing forever. Christine goes on, regained the use of his legs, touching the happiness (fall in love, dancing and singing as a teenager) but then comes back a little 'back, he fell again nell'assurdit of everyday life, trapped like everyone else in a condition of doubt and continue flying order.