Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (G) * * Splashy Takedown!

Kids and young adults should get a kick out of Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters. Minus Pierce Brosnan from the original this fluffy fantasy is now casting off at the Empire Studio 12, Colos­sus and Cineplex Odeon screens around B.C. Set sail for ancient times as leg­ends of the Gods come home to roost. In a tale whose fantastic el­ements involve all sorts of special effects, sea monsters, competi­tion a la The Hunger Games and kid ribbing this 20th Century Fox juggernault has a great look to it. Feel the heat as we see young Percy Jackson trying to come to terms with always being upstaged by a female warrior of sorts. Cast as Percy, the somewhat maligned boy wonder is Logan Lerman. All the shy, shining demeanour comes in handy as he, along with a few of his closest friends, set off on a quest to save their colony. Too bad for them this race to the gold, and a prize for all time, is rife with danger. high waves viewers will be reeled in by the campiness of it all. Co­starring in this fantasy as the al­ways witty Stanley Tucchi (The Devil Wears Prada) as a master of ceremonies who sends the teens on their new mission and Tyson, portrayed by Douglas Smith.

Director Thor Freudenthal nicely helms this adventure which was actually shot in British Co­lumbia, one of the few remain­ing Hollywood features to come our way. 106 minutes flies by in this tale that will amuse the little ones.