A modified sol-gel processing has been developed by using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as modifier and lead nitrate as lead source to synthesize (1-x)Pb(Mg-1/3,Nb-2/3)O-3-xPbTiO(3) (PMN-PT) thin films with x=0.23-0.43. The composition distribution and morphology of the gel particles in the PMN-PT solutions have been investigated. It shows that PVP addition results in spatial separation between Pb and Nb ions in the gel particles, leading to the perovskite crystallization via a columbite-like route in the resultant PMN-PT thin films. Pyrochlore phase is circumvented and perovskite phase can directly crystallize from amorphous films at the temperature as low as 460 degrees C, while in the non-PVP films, B-site rich pyrochlore phase (Pb1.83Nb1.71Mg0.29O6.39) is always formed in the temperature range used (460 degrees-650 degrees C).