The sequel is livelier and slightly better than “The Lightning Thief”— the first of the films being made from Rick Riordan’s five “Percy Jackson” books. But that 2010 movie should have taught a lesson. Both films had potential: why not introduce a dyslexic ADHD boy and let him discover that he is a demigod and the son of Poseidon, The God of Sea? Sounds tasty. And who better than a guy named Thor Freudenthal (a coincidence?) to turn this bedtime story into a classic series? It could have happened. But it so doesn’t. Instead, “Sea Of Monsters” is aimed strictly at kids and is basically geared to go down easy. That it does. In fact, it practically evaporates while you’re watching it. The plot this time around finds Percy and his Demigod friends going on a journey to retrieve the Golden Fleece, which has the power to save their home, Camp Half-Blood. Along the way, they encounter a mechanical bull, a hippocampus, Cyclops, a sea monster and the forces of evil led by an annoying teen named Luke. That’s the conflict. My conflict came in wondering how a team of technicians could create creatures that appear to be cheesy leftovers from “Clash of the Titans” . Worse, the film is in 3D. Ang Lee and Martin Scorsese did wonders with it (see “Life of Pi” and “Hugo”). Thor botches the job and proves that If you can’t make it good, make it 3D. If anything, this sequel could have used more hellfire. Instead it is merely content to scratch the surface. It’s fun for a while but I can’t say I left feeling satisfied.

Rating: 2/4