Based on the popular book series by Rick Riordan, Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief follows trouble-prone Percy Jackson (Logan Lerman) as he discovers he is the demigod offspring of Poseidon who has been accused of stealing Zeus' lightning bolt. The poor fellow must embark on a cross-country adventure to catch the true thief before Zeus takes matters into his own hands.

Harry Potter has shown that a popular kids book can turn into one hell of a film franchise, and The Lightning Thief gets things started on the right foot. Director Christopher Columbus gets the most out of the three main teenage characters, and the supporting cast of Uma Thurmon, Pierce Brosnan, and Sean Bean add some gravitas to the cast.

Although I enjoyed the film, the true star of the show is the phenomenal DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, which features some of the most intense bass you'll ever hear, and the creative sound design places you right in the middle of the action. Strap yourself in and enjoy the ride.

It begins

• Chapter 1, 00:00:56
• Frequency response, surround envelopment
• As the credits start to roll, listen to the crackling of the lightning and feel the rumble of the thunder. At the 1:12 mark, the soundfield goes silent because the lightning thief has snatched Zeus' powerful bolt, and rest assured, there'll be hell to pay.

Hades

• Chapter 9, 00:39:01
• Frequency response, surround envelopment
• When Hades erupts from the campfire, listen as the flames envelop the room. When he requests an audience with Percy and the boy doesn't comply, hell hath no fury as a god scorned, and the angry deity begins to launch fireballs throughout the campsite.

The Hydra

• Chapter 17, 01:06:07
• Frequency response, surround envelopment
• As the human security guards transform into the Hydra, listen to the distinct snaps and crackles as their bodies come together to form the vicious beast. Once fully formed, the multi-headed monster has one thing on its minds—kill the kids.

Release Date: June 29, 2010
Studio: Fox

Movie: 7/10
Picture: 9/10
Sound: 10/10