The conclusion to a piece at the Freep:

“Percy Jackson” stars 17-year-old Logan Lerman “3:10 to Yuma” as the title character, a troubled youngster who like a certain boy wizard discovers he has a magical heritage and then teams with his young friends to fight the dark forces aligned against him. Columbus directed the first two “Potter” films and was brought in by Fox with hopes that magic lightning can strike twice.

“Clash of the Titans” is a familiar brand name to fans from the 1981 movie of the same title. Like that film, this new model is more about an adrenaline adventure than meticulous scholarship. Leterrier “The Incredible Hulk,” “Transporter 2” was playing with the idea of presenting Pegasus as a black horse with bat-like wings instead of the iconic white steed with angelic feathers. He and his star, Worthington, have already discussed the possibilities of a sequel, and Warner Bros. has high hopes for the movie.

The films follow a surge in more traditional sword-and-sandal movies in recent years. The decade began with “Gladiator,” which won the Oscar for best picture, and it was followed in 2004 by “Alexander” and “Troy.” It was the 2007 hit film “300,” though, that truly captured the attention of Hollywood executives with $456 million in worldwide box office off a $67-million budget.

The Zack Snyder film, the highest-grossing March release ever, was based on Frank Miller’s graphic novel about King Leonidas and his doomed army of Spartans; Miller is preparing a follow-up now titled “Xerxes,” which begins about 10 years before the events of “300,” and Snyder has expressed interest in it as a film property as well. “It’s the battle of Marathon through my lens,” Miller said.

Miller said he is not surprised Greece is resurgent in Hollywood. “Every generation returns to ancient Greece because, well, the stories are so damn good.”

via Clash of the Greek mythology movies | Detroit Free Press.