Has your tween caught on to Percy Jackson yet? The best-selling series by Rick Riordan, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, is an adventure story that combines teens and Greek mythology. The first film adaptation, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, came out in 2010. The sequel, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, has just opened.
Here's how big a phenom this series is: My son's summer camp was created around it. He learned archery and sword fighting, he went on quests. Kids are obsessed with Percy Jackson. So should you take the kids to see it? Depends on their age and maturity level, I think. Here's what you need to know about Sea of Monsters.
You'll probably have to see this movie in 3-D, which will make it even more intense than it already is. The action starts immediately, but at least the pace is more human than what I'm seeing in other movies, like Man of Steel. There are a few scenes that let you catch your breath -- and there's plenty of humor.
It's still pretty violent. Does it help that kids are fighting mostly monsters? You will see teenagers in peril. Kids get eaten, stabbed, dragged, and thrown about. No one is safe. But then, you'll also see "dead" kids come back to life -- after all, these kids are actually demigods.
One cool aspect of Sea of Monsters is the gender politics. One of the most aggressive, toughest, most athletic characters is a girl, the daughter of Ares, of course. And then we also see male characters showing empathy and valuing their friendships with other boys and girls.
Parents, you may find the abundant special effects a bit much. There are scenes that seem almost entirely CG -- but probably aren't. Just pretend you're really impressed with what kind of movie magic they can make these days.
See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.
Are your kids excited to see Sea of Monsters?
Image via CieonMovies/YouTube