Reviews

I found the cast of characters almost all borderline psychotics. All metal and no brains was the order of the day for almost every single character.

My time in the movie was spent wondering whether crazy = funny; or whether the director intended to show the characters on the crazy side (particularly the villains whose main aim was mad revenge).

The movie jumped from scene to scene as if the story line ran out of puff and required new energy by a change of set when the writer or director got bored. Given the crazy episodic nature of film's revelations, it almost seemed like a series of black comedy skits especially when you throw in Gary Shandling as a "senator". Unfortunately, the scene changes were not seamless.

The only straight man for the comedic capers of the cast was Don Cheadle who after 20 minutes suddenly does a turn coat act before returning to the side of good.

An the biggest laugh would have to come from Mickey Rourke who's fingers would almost destroy a computer key board does his tap, tap, tap and instantly breaks a complex encryption code and passes through the Fire Wall of a military computer. I seriously doubt whether Mickey Rourke's character displayed the brains to even turn on a computer!!!

The racing car smash up in Monaco (20 minutes into the movie) was spectacular but it was then a long boring wait until the next action scene.

Samuel L Jackson's character was tossed into the movie as a tie-in with the next movie or another Marvel comic movie production. The scene was like the diner scene in Pulp Fiction without any shootout.

I had high expectations and was accordingly disappointed. The movie was more for laughs and spectacle rather than any serious story or character development.

And why would people pay for attendance at a Tony Stark dinner when the entertainment provided required the audience to be on drugs to find amusement at the crazy antics?

My expectations were a prison movie with US marshals on the rampage story, little knowing that it was a psychological jig-saw puzzle. Often offering horror movie and holocaust atmosphere with lashing of blood rather than logic, you enter an on-screen game that references past glories of cinema (WWII movies, horror classics, concentration camps) and throwing them at you like the ever present debris of a storm raging on the outside walls of the institution and with screams of insanity from within, the movie unravels the mystery in our minds. The movie was truly brilliant.

Filmed on an island off Boston (1954) during a fascinating period in history which has been mostly overlooked by film makers (end of war 1945 to 54), it shows an almost forgotten period in time, rich in costumes making you almost think everyone is dressed and ready for church or a funeral. Post-WWII, pre-Kennedy's, pre-rock'n'roll and the end of the Great American Song Book period with up tempo jazz/crooners, it was a period in history that has been left in the dormitory (or mental institution buildings of the movie) for so many years. The world was recovering from the end of WWII; the baby boomers were learning to walk or starting school; the baby boomers were 5 years from bobby socks. It was a rather sedate world that was awaiting the arrival of Rock n Roll.

While watching it, I was constantly thinking Hitchcock and North By North West where Cary Grant questions his sanity against the background of a story that develops on screen - also similar to Vertigo and other Hitchcock where the main character suffers paranoia. In the background, there was an ever present suspenseful sound track reminiscent of again of Hitchcock and the literal cliff hanging scene.

There were some truly disturbing images contrasted with absolute tenderness. In a few spots, I thought Leonardo was playing a weak role but as it works out, he is playing the character's weaknesses and flaws. For a moment, in one scene I thought he showed the facial expressions and mannerisms of a frustrated Jack Nicholson to brilliant effect.

Great support cast including a few look-a-likes and almost circus caricatures. A prison scene shows a character looking like Robert De Niro in "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein" but it is not him. The security guards and hospital staff were perfectly picked looking like main street cops and prison guards from 1950's USA. Hilarious and disturbing selection of extras as patients - they were straight from an old horror movie.

Mark Ruffalo plays a different part as a breakaway from his usual rom-com roles. Great to see the past masters like Max Von Sydow and Ben Kingsley. Patricia Clarkson keeps popping up in movies these days as a careworn eccentric and her old world-style glamour. She usually plays the supportive wife, mainstay or consort of a lead but here plays a gutsy character role.

A dazzlingly and macabre revelation was Michelle William's character (Dawson's Creek and mother of Heath Ledger's child) who was amazing as Leo's wife. A truly magnificent role for our sweet Jen Lindley: I kept looking for Dawson. Joey and Pacey; expecting to spot Jack and the baby - all grown up.

I'm just lost for words. This little known movie is an absolute pearl and a forgotten treasure.

One day soon when Aaron Johnson becomes famous, this movie will be re-issued for movie lovers everywhere.

Brilliantly acted by Aaron when he was only 11 or 12 yo (turns 20 in six months. Perfectly played in two roles - one brother with a bit of a common Cocky accent and the other with a posh accent. As well, they each had separate mannerisms. Thomas had a habit of blinking quite a bit. Tom had a few more freckles or less cover-up.

The simple story was just pure magic and difficult to compare with anything else apart from some overtones of Oliver/Twist.

I cannot for the life of me work out why it was not released widely. It was produced for release in the Netherlands which explains the strange change of scenery. Tourist bits around the Thames and the rest in the Netherlands (the orphanage, town house, shops, museum etc.) I think it may have been produced by a Disney company - perhaps they did not proceed with marketing and distribution.

I saw it an hour ago and have not stopped smiling since. Pure cotton candy entertainment to enjoy for two hours while locked in the dark. The American stars and British actors were almost mocking myths, legends and Harry Potter - it's pure ham, bacon and eggs served and delivered to delight by the cast.

The final release name in Australia is "Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief".

Forget about the book. The book is a bedtime story book. The movie is for 8 to 80 year old.

The movie mixes pure adventure with movie magic. The main 3 characters play out the adventure of a lifetime against a back drop of Greek mythology. It's like they are real life characters thrown into the fantasy backdrop of the movie. The past masters ham it up like it's a Shakepearean play but in pure fun.

Special effects (CGI) were incredible although they were not constantly flung at us or overdone. Some of it was absolutely amazing like Hade's Underworld, the Hydras, the Vegas scenes, 600th floor with senate of Gods etc. etc. I had to wonder whether they'll do a 3-D re imaging if the movie is a success and the series continues.

Music was great, almost classical for the main part then theme appropriate music for road trip, Vegas, Nashville etc.

It's almost a parody of Harry Potter mocking fun at the wizardry. Any comparison to Harry Potter (apart from the theme of myth and legend) is likely to disappoint. It would be like comparing the Bible stories to Monty Python's Life of Brian.

Certainly it has its faults. It is somewhat episodic like the book (it's from a 22 episode bedtime story book) but departs from the strict story of the book to compress the running time and lacks some character development in the name of continuing the flow of action and comedy. If you spend two hours comparing and competing in your mind about your alternative movie to match the book, you'll miss the fun.

Logan Lerman does a fantastic job. Initially he seemed nervous but he was probably acting out the initial shock and bafflement of his Godly status. As well, early filming perhaps showed signs of him being uncomfortable with his "learned" Brooklyn, NYC accent. Ten minutes into the movie and he was totally at home. Good credit to him for heading up a talented team - you don't often see someone so young leading the way with a big name ensemble cast except say Leonardo Di Caprio in Titanic.

I'm still smiling. The movie certainly brought back pure fun and magic into the cinema going experience. See it on the big screen, the bigger the better.