Review: 'Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters'

MANILA, Philippines - One of the biggest things going against “Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters” is also the biggest baddie in the film—Kronos. I hate to say it but I’ve already seen the Titan king go down in last year’s “Wrath of the Titans” so seeing as how Kronos was treated this time around felt a little uninspired.

But then again the title is “Sea of Monsters” and yes there is one but other than that, the plot is really all about one demigod’s plan to resurrect Kronos using the Golden Fleece.

It just so happens that Camp-Half Blood—where the offspring of humans and of gods stay—needs it as well to heal Thalia’s tree and restore the barrier around it. With very little time, Percy (Logan Lerman), Annabeth (Alexandra Daddario), Grover (Brandon T. Jackson), and Poseidon’s other son Tyson (Douglas Smith), set out to recover the fleece, believed to be in in the “sea of monsters” or more popularly known among humans as Bermuda’s Triangle.

An attack by a mechanical bull starts the film strong but it eventually loses steam as the heroes go on their journey, every once in a while encountering the demigod behind it all who, much like any typical villain enjoys going on a monologue too much. The dreary way it’s delivered, however, makes it hard for me to take him seriously as a threat.

The introduction of Tyson, a Cyclopes, brings with it a whole new dynamic as Percy not only has a prophecy to worry about but also a brother to look after, not to mention a new set of comedic opportunities initially burdened upon Grover.

It is difficult for any myth-inspired story to deviate from the source. It always has to end the same and everything in between that’s different is entirely up to the writer or the director.

While the “Percy Jackson” series is an entirely different universe to “Harry Potter”, it is unavoidable to make comparisons based on what we’ve seen so far in “Lightning Thief” and “Sea of Monsters”. You see a lot of background characters and I wouldn’t know the difference between the cabins in Camp Half-Blood. Percy definitely falls short of the standards set by Harry and “Sea of Monsters” doesn’t do anything but make me reminisce and hope for another Hogwarts adventure.

“Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters” (3D and 2D) is currently showing in theaters nationwide from 20th Century Fox and is distributed by Warner Bros.