Freedom

Ok. First off, right off the top of my mind, Happy Chinese New Year and Happy St. Valentine’s Day.

I spent my CNY Eve working in the morning till closing at 5pm. Weird thing was closing shift ends at 5pm and the part timers are paid till 5pm but yet the supervisor decided that last order will be at 5pm. Hmmm. So if we all end shift at 5pm and you take your last order at 5pm, who should be around to do closing? Expecting your staff to work for free to do closing for you without asking if it’s ok with them? Anyway, I’m over it, more or less.

After work, pop back home for reunion dinner. After which, a rest, annoyingly asked to read a specific book (which I would read when I want to read, no reminders needed thank you), and the highlight of my night, a much needed movie outing. And of course my blogging rampage which I can’t seem to stop.

So, to the main topic at hand. Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief. Read the book. Saw the movie. Time for a comparison.

Let’s start with the book, since I read the book first. The book left me a queer after taste. Many stories and myth previously studied by me was cleverly incorporated into the plot. It’s Hercules and Jason and all the other Demi-gods all over again applied to modern times. Like a chemical equation. Ancient heroes + modern backdrop = Demi-gods born modern times. Not exactly an original idea but still pretty interesting. The book takes some time to explain the rules and laws of that world, helping readers to better understand what is going on. The journey of the hero was exciting but at the same time certain parts seem forced into the plot. All in all, a pretty ordinary book to read. Interesting ideas. Could have been polished further.

And now, a brief [or not so brief] review of the movie. Not a bad movie. The visual were pretty stunning, nothing like Lord of The Rings stunning of course, but good enough for me. I particularly enjoyed Uma Thurman’s performance as Medusa. Quaint, seductive, funny, quirky all at the same time. It made me laugh and yet at the same time, made me admire her performance. Seeing Pierce Brosnan as a centaur was amusing for the first 3 minutes or so but I end up wondering why wasn’t the centaur more buff? And what is with that beard? It made him look more like young Dumbledore than wise old centaur. His eyes were just a little too cheeky to pull off the wise father figure. Overall, the movie wasn’t half bad. The fight scenes do tend to get a little fake, more like children playing with plastic swords than heroes in training, which I suppose that was what it was at the end of the day. And keep an eye, or rather ear, out for Lady Gaga’s Poker Face, which the lyrics and the situation in that stage of the movie had me LOL’ing all the way.

Overall, I preferred the movie as the plot was more put together than the book, making it just a little more believable. And of course, the lightning scenes and CGI fire didn’t hurt. Even though books usually affords the time to get into more detail, and if I really had to choose one, I’ll probably read the book rather than watch the movie, but since the book provide enough background information to satisfy my curiosity, the movie satisfied my desire for entertainment more. Oh, you evil, evil movie. Making use of the book, to seduce me in the end. Whatever. The movie helps to really visualize the story, something the book failed to do for me. But yet, without the book, I’ll probably have a lot of questions after the movie.

To end off, do both the book and the movie if you can. But if you had to choose one, go for the movie if you like pretty lights, go for the book if you like details. Each has it’s own merits; Each compliment the other rather nicely.