Not sure how I feel about the movie. I'm disappointed that they aged Percy and Annabeth so much. And I don't like the casting for Grover (not because he's black but because Grover started off as the quintessential scrawny pre-teen, all gangy limbs and peach fuzz. Not the buff 20-something from Tropic Thunder.)
I have absolutely no faith in Chris Columbus. Yes, Olympus looks awesome and very much like how I imagined it in the books but I have a feeling he's going to go all epic-kid-adventure and drop all the crazy humor and dialogue that made the series different from Harry Potter (for better or worse.) So much of the series' charm is Percy's ADHD sarcastic inner monologue in times of crisis. I can't see how they're going to translate that to film.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I took a peek at the series after I saw this trailer and it looks pretty good. Are there just the two novels?
Posted by Shanna (Member # 7900) on :
Five books total.
Its light on the character development and the narrative style is alittle scatterbrained, but the humor is fun and the mythology is incredibly well-researched (and well-reinvented.)
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I've been looking for an easy read series. I keep meaning to finally tackle Ursula Leguin and George RR Martin, but I just don't have the time to grapple with something so big.
I'm a bit sick of history books at the moment though, and I just want to read something fun and easy.
Posted by Shanna (Member # 7900) on :
Teen and Juvy reads are becoming a serious guilty pleasure so I understand. Besides, I can always claim it as research for work. Yay bookstore job.
Also check out the "Hunger Games" series. Only two books so far (I think the author is doing it as a trilogy) and they were both insanely addictive and easy reads. Good flow, strong characters, a been-done-before plot but every chapter was its own cliffhanger.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
LeGuin is small, man, not wordy. Great books, but not Jordenesque at all.
Posted by Armoth (Member # 4752) on :
quote:Originally posted by Shanna: Teen and Juvy reads are becoming a serious guilty pleasure so I understand. Besides, I can always claim it as research for work. Yay bookstore job.
Also check out the "Hunger Games" series. Only two books so far (I think the author is doing it as a trilogy) and they were both insanely addictive and easy reads. Good flow, strong characters, a been-done-before plot but every chapter was its own cliffhanger.
Yea, I just started reading Hunger Games, and I think i'll be finishing sometime late tonight...or early morning...
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
quote:Originally posted by Kwea: LeGuin is small, man, not wordy. Great books, but not Jordenesque at all.
I'm looking for something in the Harry Potter vein of easy reading.
I've never even picked up a LeGuin book, but I was under the impression that they were involved. I need something that requires low mental RAM. Should I give that a try?
I promised someone that I'd read "To Kill a Mockingbird" over part of my holiday break, but I want to power through at least one fantasy series during December. Do you think I could do the Earthsea books easily? I tend to read for fun fairly fast. I can get through either LOTR or all the Harry Potter books in a couple days usually.
Posted by umberhulk (Member # 11788) on :
Like Logan Lerman, but only okay on the trailer.
Never heard of the series. though.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
Oh man, I know a kid who's going to be excited to hear this!
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn:
quote:Originally posted by Kwea: LeGuin is small, man, not wordy. Great books, but not Jordenesque at all.
I'm looking for something in the Harry Potter vein of easy reading.
I've never even picked up a LeGuin book, but I was under the impression that they were involved. I need something that requires low mental RAM. Should I give that a try?
I promised someone that I'd read "To Kill a Mockingbird" over part of my holiday break, but I want to power through at least one fantasy series during December. Do you think I could do the Earthsea books easily? I tend to read for fun fairly fast. I can get through either LOTR or all the Harry Potter books in a couple days usually.
I think the Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull would put you in good stead if you're looking for something easy to understand but fun.
They were really fun to just glide through on a first look.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
My 12 year old actually screamed in glee. She loves the Percy Jackson books - likes them better than Harry Potter, which she also devoured one after the other.
My oldest loved Hunger Games and asked me to read them, but I had a hard time with the writing in present tense.
Posted by DDDaysh (Member # 9499) on :
My little brother (now 14) loved these books. I've only listened to a small portion of one book, but I really couldn't get into it. It seemed so.. thrown together.
However, after hearing these reviews I may have to give it another shot, from the beginning this time. The author is a local teacher, so I probably should anyway.
Posted by manji (Member # 11600) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn: Do you think I could do the Earthsea books easily? I tend to read for fun fairly fast. I can get through either LOTR or all the Harry Potter books in a couple days usually.
You could probably read A Wizard of Earthsea in 3 or 4 hours, same for the Tombs of Atuan. IMHO, those are the only two of the series worth reading. Well, the Farthest Shore isn't bad if you're really curious about the unexplained page or two about the wall in Wizard, but don't bother with Tehanu.
Ursula Leguin usually has short, compact books. Even the longer ones barely reach 300 pages. They are usually *very* philosophically intense, but the sort of intensity that stays with you and haunts you and keeps you thinking back on it for the next few weeks, not the sort that is difficult to read through.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Has anyone seen this movie?
I ended up buying the books out if curiosity a few days ago and yesterday I read the first two. Not bad. Not great. More amusing than I thought they'd be, and I really like how he blends the mythology into a modern setting. The writing itself though, is clearly aimed at a pre-teen/young teen audience.
I think what I always liked the most about Harry Potter was that it was a "children's novel" that was really aimed at an ageless audience. The writing wasn't dumbed down. I guess it's been awhile since I've read something clearly geared towards a lower age group, it left me a little disappointed that an idea so clever was wasted. I'm about to start the third one, as I'm curious to see where it goes. I'm hoping that when Riordan starts work on the next series in the Percy Jackson universe, he sets his aim a little higher, and aims for the same group of kids who first would have read it, but are now several years older and ready for something a little harder.
That too is what I liked about Harry Potter. It's like the style, and the plot, were aimed at a 12 year old, but the writing got more complex and challenging as the series went on, so that a 12 year old, by the time they got to year seven, could grow up and mature along as the writing did. Anyway, just a hope.
I also fear after reading this, seeing the trailer, and knowing that Chris Columbus is in charge, that the movie is going to be a mess.
Posted by ambyr (Member # 7616) on :
quote:Originally posted by Dogbreath:
quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn: Do you think I could do the Earthsea books easily? I tend to read for fun fairly fast. I can get through either LOTR or all the Harry Potter books in a couple days usually.
You could probably read A Wizard of Earthsea in 3 or 4 hours, same for the Tombs of Atuan. IMHO, those are the only two of the series worth reading. Well, the Farthest Shore isn't bad if you're really curious about the unexplained page or two about the wall in Wizard, but don't bother with Tehanu.
If I may express a dissenting opinion, I think you're doing yourself a disfavor if you don't follow the series all the way through to The Other Wind, which casts the early books in a whole new light. And of the five full novels, Tehanu is far and away my favorite.
Posted by Christine (Member # 8594) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn: Has anyone seen this movie?
Yes, but I made a mistake. I went out and read the first book before I watched the movie. I didn't really love or hate the book either, but as I was reading it I realized that it was eye candy and that it belonged on the big screen. There was no depth of plot or character; it was just an adventure story.
I went ahead and saw the movie, partly because my husband and I had a rare chance at a date night and partly because, as I said, I thought the story belonged on the big screen when I read it.
It did. I thought the movie was good. Not great, but good. Definitely worth seeing. It took the convoluted plot of the book and simplified it in a couple of obvious ways that I felt were an improvement on the story. The character of Grover, who came across very whimpy and whiny in the book, was cool in the movie. I liked him a lot and in fact, I think he was my favorite character. I also liked that they aged the characters up a bit in the movie -- made them 16 or so.
I plan not to read any more of the books, but I'll see the movies if they make them.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Alright good. I was planning to see the movie later in the week, and now I think I'll stick with that. I think I'll finish reading the series too. The books are cheap enough (well, I'll wait for the fifth one to hit paperback), and I really am interested to see how it ends. I mean, I'd like to read the third Christopher Paolini book someday too. Not because I think they're really good books, but I'll admit that I'm interested to see how it ends (of course, I have to wait for the FOURTH book now to see that).
Last night I bought Dune, A Wizard of Earthsea, and A Game of Thrones. Time to expand my fantasy repetoire.
Posted by Nighthawk (Member # 4176) on :
Movie was quite entertaining. And I think I inadvertently made it apparent that I'm some sort of expert in mythology because I knew what was what.
An I found it amusing that they made Hades a rocker, even though they don't ever even mention it... When he came on screen, my wife whispered to me "Is that Frank Zappa?"
I actually had to think about it.
Posted by aeolusdallas (Member # 11455) on :
I really liked the movie but I have not read the books yet.
Posted by Shanna (Member # 7900) on :
Just got back from the movie. I saw it with a coworker who is also a lead in our bookstore's children's department.
My overall reaction is that Chris Columbus didn't even read the book. I mean, he got a few character names right but other than that, it was like watching an adaptation of a completely different book.
I have no idea how they're going to do any sequels considering how many characters were left out and how badly the plot was butchered. So I can understand that Percy wants to help his mother but he's not even going to bother looking for Zeus' master bolt? If he's not going to look for it, why does the solstice deadline even matter?
Watching my beloved Grover (my favorite character from the series) dancing to Lady Gaga was the most embarrassing thing I've seen on film since Spiderman 3. It was just one of those movies that had us groaning at every cliched scene and moment of dialogue.
What really hurt was how little respect Columbus seemed to have for the heart, moral, and humor of the series. Where was the book's Poseidon with his bermuda shorts and hawaiian shirts? What about Grover's mission to find Pan? Here's a character with a personal goal of his own which was stripped away so he can be just another sidekick ready to sacrifice it all for the hero. Where was the background on Annabeth and Luke? Why change the edicts and rules the Gods put in place regarding their children? The relationship between the Gods and the demi-gods is so important to the plot and the motivations of each character.
Its going down on my movie list as the worst film I've seen in the last twelve months. It makes the first "Harry Potter" movie look like an award winning adaptation. Congrats to Columbus for outdoing himself when it comes to butchering another great kids series.
Posted by Christine (Member # 8594) on :
I think the thing about movies based on books people love is that some people expect to see the book play acted for them. I don't. It's a two hour movie. I want to see an adaptation, based on the ideas in the book. And in this case, since I thought the idea was the best part of the book and the implementation was pretty bad, I thought the movie was better.
***********SPOILERS****************
quote:Originally posted by Shanna:
My overall reaction is that Chris Columbus didn't even read the book. I mean, he got a few character names right but other than that, it was like watching an adaptation of a completely different book.
Yeah, but that's why it was so good. The book had a great idea that was poorly implemented. The movie took the idea and implemented it well.
quote: I have no idea how they're going to do any sequels considering how many characters were left out and how badly the plot was butchered. So I can understand that Percy wants to help his mother but he's not even going to bother looking for Zeus' master bolt? If he's not going to look for it, why does the solstice deadline even matter?
Because Hades wanted the master bolt in return for his mother and the solstice was still the deadline for that. It made sense.
As for the missing characters -- I was glad not to see Aries since he was frankly embarrassing in the book. The fact that they left out the whole titan thing, which I assume will follow through the rest of the series (having only read the first book I can't say), is insignificant since the titans aren't exactly difficult to work into an adaptation of a Greek myth at any point in the game.
quote:
Watching my beloved Grover (my favorite character from the series) dancing to Lady Gaga was the most embarrassing thing I've seen on film since Spiderman 3. It was just one of those movies that had us groaning at every cliched scene and moment of dialogue.
Grover was GREAT in the movie! He was my least favorite character in the book. I did kind of which they had put in the pan thing, though. It was his one redeeming feature in the book. And I loved watching him dance.
quote: What really hurt was how little respect Columbus seemed to have for the heart, moral, and humor of the series.
The books were not funny, though I recognized the attempt, and as for the morals....the end of book 1 nearly made me hate the whole book. I cannot believe the author thought it was acceptable to spring a Medusa head on his stepfather and turn him into stone. WHAT? Just divorce the guy. The only reason she hadn't was because of some convoluted crap about needing to hide his scent. ("Harry, the reason you need to stay with the Dursleys...")
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Calling it "convoluted crap" sort of robs his mom of a lot of credit don't you think? She put up with an abusive jerk for years to protect Percy from certain danger.
And I thought I caught myself chuckling several times throughout the book. It was more juvenile that I generally lean toward, but certainly funny.
As for leaving out the Titans, wow, I didn't expect that. I actually liked the fact that the Titans were playing all the gods off each other, and the Titans themselves are ESSENTIAL to the plot moving forward. You could perhaps leave them out of the second movie, but the third? Without a radical shift in the plot, I don't see how. I'll be more in depth with a response when I see it later in the week.
Posted by Nighthawk (Member # 4176) on :
I guess I'm lucky I didn't read the book...
Posted by Christine (Member # 8594) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn: Calling it "convoluted crap" sort of robs his mom of a lot of credit don't you think? She put up with an abusive jerk for years to protect Percy from certain danger.
It has nothing to do with the mom, it had to do with the fact that I found that plot point to be pretty, well, convoluted. It wasn't even particularly believable and it was insulting to humanity. The idea being that he reeked of humanity moreso than anyone else because...he was a jerk? So being human means we're slovenly, disgusting, and abusive? I took exception to the whole idea.
As far as the Titans go...like I said, I haven't read past book 1 though I suspected that they were the big bad guys going through....I just didn't think they were essential to the plot of the first book or the first movie. And it can still turn out that they were moving strings in the background. It's not like this is a whole new world....Greek Mythology is an established backdrop and the Titans are established characters within it. That means they don't necessarily have to get mentioned right up front to make sense later on.
Posted by Christine (Member # 8594) on :
quote:Originally posted by Nighthawk: I guess I'm lucky I didn't read the book...
I think so.
I was talking to a friend a while back about movies based on books and whether it's better to read the book first or the movie first. I've always thought book, which is why I picked up this one before heading to the theater. My theory is that the book is almost always better and that I want to get the most enjoyment out of the book, which takes longer to read than the movie takes to watch.
My friend thought that going the other way might be better, because you don't go to the movie with these impossible biases based on a story that takes many hours to complete when they can only do so much in a 2-hour movie. She thought that it was better to watch the movie and then go back and read the book to fill in the depth.
I don't know anymore, especially after this one. I really wish I had seen the movie first.
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