The first good film adaptation of a video game.

Rating: 8/10 (7 June 2010)

Maybe Jerry Bruckheimer was hoping this movie might become the next Pirates of the Caribbean. Well, this movie fell short of that feat. But, you know what? It actually fell closer than you'd think.
Based on the video game series, the film stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Dastan, a young man who years earlier, was living on the streets of Persia, until he was adopted by the king. He helps his brother, Tus (played by Richard Coyle) invade a kingdom accused of forging weapons for enemies of Persia, all the while finding a mysterious dagger. Life is good, until Dastan is forced to live as a fugitive, after a traitor in his family frames him for murdering the king. He travels across the desert with the guardian of the dagger, the beautiful Princess Tamina (Played by Gemma Arterton). Dastan learns that the dagger has the ability to turn back time, and only the holder of the dagger is aware of what has happened. They both must protect the dagger from ending up in the wrong hands, and if it does, it could unleash a sandstorm that would destroy humanity.
Okay, so the plot is pretty much by-the-book Bruckheimer. It has a rather simplistic action filled plot, the threat of an oncoming apocalypse of hellfire proportions, silly, yet clever comic relief (provided here by Alfred Molina), and two romantic leads who sometimes choose the oddest of times to kiss. It has a bit of predictability to it, but it's simplicity honestly isn't a bad thing. And the action in the movie is fast paced, and never loses interest thanks to film editors Mick Audsley, Martin Walsh, and film editing LEGEND Michael Kahn.
The performances are good in the film as well. Jake Gyllenhaal (who probably isn't THE most obvious action star) was very good in a very physically demanding role, and carries the film so well. Gemma Arterton was fine in the film, and she has good chemistry with Gyllenhaal. Alfred Molina was such fun in his role, providing some great chuckles. And Ben Kingsley (Bald and/or scarred villain number 964 and counting) was great to watch as the jealous brother of the king, who murders him, and wants the dagger to, you guessed it, take over Persia.
I also have to throw out praise to the technical crew, who made this movie look and sound so impressive. I'll give special mentions to Production Designer Wolf Kroeger, who made an epic Persia with a little style thrown in, and Costume Designer Penny Rose of the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, for creating such lovely costumes.
And, I am happy to say that this is the first film adaptation of a video game that was actually GOOD. It's always a tricky source material to adapt, but it did it so well. It's not perfect, but it's a vast improvement.
Predictable, yes, but I never once got bored while watching it. It has good performances, good humor, and thrilling action sequences.
It's a good movie, that's a lot of fun, so I give it *** out of ****