Percy Jackson - Under the Spell of the Cyclops

Slowly, Percy Jackson (Logan Lerman) has grown accustomed to the fact that, as the son of sea god Poseidon, he is very special. In the safe confines of half-breed camp, he tries to become truly aware of his powers - the powers he once used to save the world. But time and time again, he falls flat on his face. Percy almost believes that his heroic act was a one-time slip. But when the magical border to the camp threatens to be destroyed and the lives of all the half-breed children are in danger, Percy is able to prove his divine courage one more time. With his friends Annabeth (Alexandra Daddario) and Grover (Brandon T. Jackson), Percy sets out for the Sea of Monsters to find the Golden Fleece. For only the fleece has enough power to restore the magical protection around the camp. But the search for the fleece quickly turns out to be more difficult and dangerous than first thought - and it doesn't help that Percy's suddenly appeared half-brother, the somewhat dorky Cyclops Tyson (Douglas Smith), has joined the rescue party. But the biggest challenge is yet to come for Percy and his friends.

Although the film adaptation of the first novel in Rick Riordan's popular Percy Jackson series hasn't been quite the big success the creators had hoped for, a sequel is now coming to cinemas after three years with Percy Jackson - Under the Spell of the Cyclops. After part 1 was directed by Harry Potter director Chris Columbus, hoping to build a worthy successor to the British wizard student, the sequel must now Greg's diary director Thor Freudenthal try to take moviegoers into a magical world somewhere between reality and Greek mythology. With a somewhat shrunken budget and without Pierce Brosnan, who was replaced by Anthony Buffy Head, the sequel benefits primarily from the fact that the first part did not leave such a big impression on the audience, as that their expectations are now enormously high. Who liked part 1, will expect here nice fantasy entertainment for a teenage audience with some nice effects - no more, but also no less.

And this expectation Percy Jackson - Under the Spell of the Cyclops is then also quite fair. The film is nice to look at, has a convincing lead actor in Logan Lerman and offers some nice special effects, whose 3D implementation works really well in most moments. The short, but very amusing appearances of Stanley Tucci or Nathan Fillion (Castle, Firefly) also contribute to the fact that the entertainment value of the fantasy adventure is always screwed up.

What the film but has to suffer permanently, is the fact that the makers have played it safe at every moment, so as to yes not to offend their target audience. There are no surprises, no real emotional depth. Whenever the impression is given that the makers have shown the courage to present something unexpected, it is followed by the politically correct and family-friendly backtracking again shortly after. This is a pity in so far as it makes the movie seem a bit arbitrary and can't leave a lasting impression. And since the last scene clearly sets the stage for a third installment, it would have been nice to make the movie so rousing that you really look forward to another sequel. As it is, however, you tend to think: It was quite nice, but whether it continues or not, I don't really care.

Neither is Percy half-brother, from whom he is confronted completely unexpectedly, one of the film's more successful aspects. He's supposed to be funny and endearing, but could quickly cause many to roll their.sorry eyes in annoyance. It's scenes like the one in which Tyson causes unwanted attention with his loudly clattering backpack or gets on the nerves of not only Percy with his exaggerated cordiality, in which it becomes clear that Percy Jackson - Under the Spell of the Cyclops has not become the enjoyable fantasy adventure that it could have become with a little more courageous and non-conformist staging. As it is, however, the film at least offers fans of the first part some decent entertainment, but lacks that really big wow effect. Nice, but despondent, pretty to look at, but without any form of lasting impact. For those who don't expect more, this is entertaining popcorn fantasy with some pretty visual effects. But if you were hoping that Percy Jackson would prove to be a worthy Harry Potter successor in his second attempt, you'll probably return from Journey to the Sea of Monsters rather disappointed. Therefore: worth seeing with restrictions!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp