When it is said that Greek mythology is a timeless classic that transcends boundaries of time and space, I don't think it is meant to be like in "Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief". I watched it because Imaginarium has been taken off screen (so fast lo) and because... because it sounds like quite a good show.
It is entertaining. They involved quite a number Greek gods, or rather their children, instead of just focusing on the usual ones: Zeus and Poseidon. They touched on the lotus eaters home (which is an island in Homer's Odyssey but turned into a Las Vegas Casino here), introduced Medusa, Hydra and Hell Hounds and roped in a few of the other gods: Athena, Hermes, Hades, Aphrodite. I like how they did mention a little about Cronus and how Zeus and his bros killed him, because most people I talk to think that Zeus is like the 1st god or something.
It took me awhile before I got the lotus eating part, because I never thought it was going to be mentioned and also because "Poker Face" was playing in the background. But when I did get it, I went "OH!" and nearly jumped off my seat. But no one near me would know who the lotus eaters were anyway so I could only amuse myself with the parody. Here's a passage about the lotus eaters from Homer's The Odyssey:
"Nine days I drifted on the teeming sea
before dangerous high winds. Upon the tenth
we came to the coastline of the Lotos Eaters,
who live upon that flower. We landed there
to take on water. All ships' companies
mustered alongside for the mid-day meal.
Then I sent out two picked men and a runner
to learn what race of men that land sustained.
They fell in, soon enough, with Lotos Eaters,
who showed no will to do us harm, only
offering the sweet Lotos to our friends-
but those who ate this honeyed plant, the Lotos,
never cared to report, nor to return:
they longed to stay forever, browsing on
that native bloom, forgetful of their homeland."
- From The Odyssey Book IX, Lines 90 - 104, translated by Robert Fitzgerald
Just one thing I am not happy though. It is sooo American-ised. I understand that the gods might be able to go outside of Greece to look for pretty girls to hook up with, but all of them only went to the US of A? How come the half-blood camp is in America and it looks like an American boot camp or something?
Everything happens in the US of A, and everything is in the US of A. Seriously, WHAT THE HECK?! I've already talked about the half-blood camp, but Medusa's Lair also? How come its in America?! And what's with the lotus eaters opening a hotel in Las Vegas? And then, wah, the entrance into Hades also found in America ah? Hollywood somemore! And this is the best part. You know where's the entrance to Mt. Olympus? On the top of the Empire State Building, man! You go into an elevator and then "ding". Welcome to Mt. Olympus hotel.
Isn't it funny that Percy Jackson dates Annabeth Chase? That means Poseidon's son dating Athena's daughter. And Athena is Zeus' daughter (it's a little complicated, but she was born from Zeus' head after some cannibalistic activity). Zeus is Poseidon's brother. So technically, it's Percy Jackson dating his cousin's (Athena's) daughter. Will you date your cousin's daughter?
But anyway, it is a fun movie to watch. Think of a Harry Potter + Chronicles of Narnia mixture sprinkled with Greek mythology.
1 comment:
i kinda of agree i think the concept was that the greek gods were not just the gods of greece but the gods over the entire earth i was a little disappointed that annnabeth said the only reason athena and poseidon didn'+ get along was because they both wanted to be patron god over athens. i was sure they would mention the fact that poseidon also defiled one of athena'4 temples by having a tryst there with medusa which was how she was cursed they touched on it in medusa lair but overall the movie was ok probably great for folks who have limited knowledge of greek mythology! FOR ME I EXPECTED MORE ! ~GORGEOUS DORK~
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