Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters

"After the disappointment of Percy Jackson & the Lightning Thief, Diary of a Wimpy Kid director Thor Freudenthal delivers a much-improved rendering of Rick Riordan’s books. This time the teen demigods must save a magic tree at Hogwarts - er, Camp Half-Blood - by undertaking the perilous journey to the titular Sea of Monsters (aka The Bermuda Triangle) to fetch The Golden Fleece. As you do…"

"An epic showcase for mediocre CGI and slapdash screenwriting."

"The final showdown whisks up the requisite excitement, but the open-ended coda feels like an optimistic throw of the dice from the franchise showing meagre signs of Harry Potter longevity."

"There’s really nothing to recommend ‘Sea of Monsters’: the young cast are smug and forgettable; the action sequences barely get going before they’re over; and the whole affair is riddled with product placement and pop cultural references – one girl even seems to possess a magic iPad."

"Diverting enough - the director, Thor Freudenthal, is savvy with effects and keeps his young cast on point."

"The kids are charmless, the adults bemused."

"Percy Jackson: Sea Of Monsters continues a tradition of adequacy that could be described as “epic-ish” or “majestic-esque.”"

"Buoyant effects help keep this sequel from being a noisily hit and myth proposition."

"The CG does its part of the bargain, but even more than the brighter, breezier original this is a pale imitation of Potter."