Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time

Rating: 5/10 (10 August 2013)

I knew this film was made by Disney studios, but I had perhaps forgotten that the film was based on a popular video games series, but I was always willing to try this film because of the concept and cast, from director Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire). Basically, in the land of Persia, Dastan (Jake Gyllenhaal) was adopted from the streets by King Sharaman (Ronald Pickup) after displaying great resilience as a young boy, and he has become a prince, a mighty warrior, and potential heir to the throne. While his stepbrothers Garsiv (Toby Kebbell) and Tus (Richard Coyle) plan strategies of battle, the Holy City of Alamut has been supplying enemies of the kingdom with weapons, according to a spy, so the sacred city faces attack on the order of Tus. Upon the city falling Dastan meets beautiful Princess Tamina (Gemma Arterton), she joins him to become part of the kingdom, but King Sharaman is murdered in mysterious circumstances, and the adopted prince is accused of the crime, so he flees to avoid capture and false punishment. He is determined to somehow prove his innocence, and he discovers from Tamina of the existence of a powerful device on the handle of a magic dagger, the sands inside it have the ability to transport a person back in time to change events before they happen. With this power Dastan sets on the journey to clear his name and bring justice to the true villain of the piece, he eventually reaches his closer brother Gastiv and makes him believe he is innocent, the corrupt uncle Nizam (Sir Ben Kingsley) is the true villain, and in the end he is defeated, Persia returns to normal, and Dastan and Tamina who have fallen in love happily marry. Also starring Alfred Molina as Sheik Amar, Reece Ritchie as Bis, Gísli Örn Garðarsson as Hassansin Leader and Steve Toussaint as Seso. Gyllenhaal is alright being heroic with an English accent, Arterton looks gorgeous in her gowns but is also feisty, and Kingsley isn't on much and is a bit pantomime villain, it is a little long, and the story is a little over thought that you can't concentrate sometimes, but the special effects, fights and set pieces are good enough to keep you going with it, an alright fantasy action adventure. Worth watching!