The Computer Game movie- once regarded with disdain, it’s still rare to see a story make the jump from the hard drive to the drive in successfully. So, will lord of the box office Jerry Bruckheimer make a rare exception to the rule with ‘Prince of Persia: Sands of Time’?
Prince Dastan (Jake Gyllenhaal) is the adopted son of the King of Persia, and a new national hero when he storms the gates of a sacred city. However, when he is framed for the death of his father, he must go on the run with the princess of the city, Tamina (Gemma Arterton). Together, they must prove his innocence, and save the world via a mystic dagger that contains the sands of time.
The film plays like an Arabian Bond movie- our dashing, quick-witted hero leaps and bounds from one scrape to another. There’s no huge, epic battle sequences, with director Mike Newell deciding on tighter, one-on-one fights for the most part which makes it seem more like a video game than a movie. In it’s favour, the pace is lightning fast for a two hour film, and being a Bruckheimer production one doesn’t get the chance to get bored.
Jake Gyllenhaal has carved a career playing characters who are best described as ‘troubled’, so it’s good to see him changing it up a bit with a lighter, more humour-based role. In many ways this is his audition for the big leagues- he’s never been the star of a blockbuster of this size, and whilst it’s not a Jack Sparrow-worthy performance he carries the weight of this very Hollywood film with enthusiasm. Gemma Arterton similarly is heading for the big time, and as the feisty princess there’s a spark between her and Gyllenhaal which is maybe the most entertaining aspect of this movie. Kingsley looks bored throughout, and one wonders how long he can do these money-driven bad guy roles. A big surprise is Alfred Molina, playing an odd cockney version of Sallah from the Indiana Jones movies, and although it’s completely out of place he’s quite funny.
A big, overblown movie with explosions, beautiful people and a shaky script- yup, it’s a Bruckheimer film! Fortunately for him, the formula works (just about) and even though this action/adventure is nothing that will live long in the memory, you can happily while away a couple of hours and not feel cheated.
Prince Dastan (Jake Gyllenhaal) is the adopted son of the King of Persia, and a new national hero when he storms the gates of a sacred city. However, when he is framed for the death of his father, he must go on the run with the princess of the city, Tamina (Gemma Arterton). Together, they must prove his innocence, and save the world via a mystic dagger that contains the sands of time.
The film plays like an Arabian Bond movie- our dashing, quick-witted hero leaps and bounds from one scrape to another. There’s no huge, epic battle sequences, with director Mike Newell deciding on tighter, one-on-one fights for the most part which makes it seem more like a video game than a movie. In it’s favour, the pace is lightning fast for a two hour film, and being a Bruckheimer production one doesn’t get the chance to get bored.
Jake Gyllenhaal has carved a career playing characters who are best described as ‘troubled’, so it’s good to see him changing it up a bit with a lighter, more humour-based role. In many ways this is his audition for the big leagues- he’s never been the star of a blockbuster of this size, and whilst it’s not a Jack Sparrow-worthy performance he carries the weight of this very Hollywood film with enthusiasm. Gemma Arterton similarly is heading for the big time, and as the feisty princess there’s a spark between her and Gyllenhaal which is maybe the most entertaining aspect of this movie. Kingsley looks bored throughout, and one wonders how long he can do these money-driven bad guy roles. A big surprise is Alfred Molina, playing an odd cockney version of Sallah from the Indiana Jones movies, and although it’s completely out of place he’s quite funny.
A big, overblown movie with explosions, beautiful people and a shaky script- yup, it’s a Bruckheimer film! Fortunately for him, the formula works (just about) and even though this action/adventure is nothing that will live long in the memory, you can happily while away a couple of hours and not feel cheated.
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