Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief Movie vs. Book

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief is a story about a young boy named Percy (Perseus) Jackson. Percy has transferred to numerous schools due to indirect attacks from Greek monsters. During Percy’s 6th-grade field trip to a museum, he starts to encounter the supernatural. This story showcases the twists and turns Percy must face after discovering he’s a half-blood (half human and half god). He starts to encounter more of his identity while trying to save the world on the side.

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, the novel, is written by Rick Riordan and was published in 2005. Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, the movie directed by Chris Columbus, was released in 2010 and is based on the book. The screenwriters include Rick Riordan, Chris Columbus, Craig Titley, and Joe Stillman. Stephen Goldblatt did the cinematography. Both the book and movie were popular when released, and left the audience with various impressions. I watched the movie and read the book, and I have to say that I liked both! However, which was better?

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, the Book

Even though the book was released in 2005, I didn’t read it until after watching the movie, which I really enjoyed. Rick Riordan alludes to many mythological creatures in this rather interesting story. Riordan characterizes each god in a way to fit with their power and personality but he also modernizes it, which is nice. For example, Poseidon “wore leather sandals, khaki Bermuda shorts, and a Tommy Bahama shirt with coconuts and parrots all over it” (Riordan 340). This description of a mighty Greek god in somewhat of a tourist outfit made reading the book more enjoyable, as I was able to visualize the appearance of Poseidon easily. I also liked how the author brought awareness to the various issues kids face, such as bullying from adults, classmates, parents, and many more.

The book’s pace was like a roller coaster ride. At some points, it was like a long wait until the drop, especially in the first couple of chapters introducing  the problem and characters.

However, some scenes were very amusing, like the various fight scenes with Percy and Ares and the suspense of who would become victorious, a demi-god or a god. Even with the inconsistent pacing of the book, it does provide a good moral: to achieve the treasure at the end of one’s journey, one must persevere and overcome challenges. 

The book is a go-to for anyone who wants to read an amusing and at times suspenseful novel and learn about mythology as well.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, the Movie

I watched the movie at home with my family. I didn’t know this movie was an adaptation of a book, but I fell in love with the storyline the movie was playing out. Shortly after seeing the movie, I read the book. Even though I enjoyed the movie, it felt as if the writers changed too much of the original story, making it not so much an adaptation. For example, in the book, there was a minor villain, Ares, who was presented throughout the book; however, in the movie, the war god was never mentioned or shown. Not only that, but the characterization of the main crew consisting of Percy, Grover, and Annabeth could have been more accurate as they were depicted as high schoolers instead of middle schoolers. Even though the characterization of the main team was a bit off, the actors did a good job playing the characters. It was fun seeing the actors interact with each other like long-time friends while still holding onto the original personalities of the characters.

My favourite scene is the casino scene in Las Vegas. I felt the casino was very aesthetic, with the bright lights and coloured scenery.

The casino seems like an appealing place to attract tourists and visitors, staying true to being a gambler’s paradise. I would also highlight the lotus sweets given to the main cast and every visitor of the Lotus Casino. These delectables were enchanting at first glance and even more when consumed by distorting the sense of time spent in the casino. This introduced a new problem for the main crew to tackle, increasing the suspense. 

The movie is a good option for people who haven’t read the book because the film is quite different from the book. Those who have read the book will be very confused by the drastic changes in the movie. Yet the film does have numerous beautiful scenes that are very eye-catching.

Overall Thoughts

Even though the movie had a charming atmosphere and good casting, in the end, I would have to say Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief is more enjoyable as a book. The movie had too many drastic changes, so calling it an adaptation of the book is a bit of a stretch. The book had numerous plot twists and fight scenes, heightening the interests of the readers and allowing them to forget the pacing of the story. The movie had many aesthetic scenes and great CGI when displaying the transformations of various monsters or the demi-god’s powers, but not enough to make the movie as enjoyable as the book.