This week we’re pleased to have guest reviewer Jane Almirall join us at The Flickcast. Here’s her review of Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief — Editor

Until very recently, I hadn’t even heard of Percy Jackson.  I have not read any of the books and managed to not read or see anything about the movie until I saw the film trailer a few weeks ago. Now, having seen the film, an adaptation based on The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, I couldn’t help but notice similarities between Percy Jackson and another literary figure who has successfully segued onto the big screen.

I am speaking, of course, of Harry Potter.  Both young men resemble one another physically, grew up with absent (or dead) fathers and struggle to find acceptance within the context of the real world. Each discovers at a young age that they are powerful and special and are introduced to a magical world in which they are especially gifted and (for the most part) are made to feel welcome.  Both Harry and Percy are accompanied on their adventures by their two best friends – a boy and a girl.

That Percy Jackson & the Olympians:  The Lightning Thief is directed by Chris Columbus, who also helmed the first two – and my least favorite - Harry Potter films (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets), is bound to invite comparisons between the two series – in which Percy Jackson will certainly fall short.

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While much of the movie-going population will be headed to Valentine’s Day this weekend, there are two other large releases to look forward to: Universal’s Wolf Man and 20th Century Fox’s Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief.

Based on the first of a series of books starting in 2005, the film focuses around a group of half-human, half-god hybrids that are introduced to the very real world of the Olympian Gods. There are five books in the series total, so expect to see Fox take the franchise a bit further than New Line did with His Dark Materials and The Golden Compass.

This year is shaping up to have an ongoing theme of Greek Mythology, as this film opens tomorrow and Clash of the Titans hits theaters on the first weekend of April. With that in mind, we’ve got plenty of clips for you to get ready for tomorrow’s film.

Check out five brand-new clips from Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, starring Uma Thurman, Logan Lerman, Sean Bean, Pierce Brosnan, Steve Coogan, Kevin McKidd, and many more, after the jump.

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Every year, there tends to be a common theme in most big-budget Hollywood films. Back in 2006, magicians were a big hit, as in both The Illusionist and The Prestige. We haven’t even hit 2010 yet, but it looks like the theme for next year may just be Greek Mythology, between Clash of the Titans and Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief.

Though the name is WAY too long, this newest trailer actually makes the film look quite good, and even shows off the who’s who of a cast, from Rosario Dawson to Pierce Brosnon to Uma Thurman. The film is about a regular boy who finds out that he’s actually the son of a Greek God, and must then embark on an adventure which will help him earn his title as demigod.

The film is based on the series of books by Rick Riordan, and even has epic family film director Chris Columbus behind the wheel. The film hits theaters on February 12th, 2010, and you can check out the international trailer after the jump.

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