Pure Summer Blockbuster Action

Rating: 7/10 (1 April 2011)

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is easily one of the best computer game adaptations made so far, but considering the competition that was not hard: Tomb Raider, Super Mario Brothers, Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat and the continuous works of Uwe Boll to name a few. Uber-producer Jerry Bruckheimer was able to turn a theme park ride into one of the most successful film series in recent years, so a computer should not be that hard.
In the 9th Century, the Persian Empire is one of the mightiest superpowers, spanning from India to Turkey, Egypt and Sudan. Dastan (Jake Gyllenhall) was an orphan who was adopted by the king (Ronald Pickup) and raised as his son with his biological children Tus (Richard Coyle) and Garsiv (Toby Kebbell). Years later the Persian Empire invade the holy city Alamut after receiving intelligence that they were making weapons and selling the Persia's enemies. But after the city is conquered Dastan is framed for assassinating the king and Dastan has to go on the run with the city's ruler Princess Tamina (Gemma Arterton) who wants to kill him. Dastan discovers that the Princess has a knife that could reserve time by a minute and puts two to two together that the real target was the knife. Dastan sets to prove his innocents to the only man he can trust, his uncle Nizam (Ben Kingsley).
I have not played the games the film is based on so I can only judge it as a film. It is clear that some elements were taken from the game, with Dastan running on walls and using wooden pillars pointing out the walls. But many computer game films fall because they are either not loyal enough to the games they are based or not having a strong story or even throwing too many elements of the game in the film (Street Fighter was criticised on all three fronts). At least Prince of Persia attempted to tell a story about a Prince proving his innocents and stopping people using a magical item (a simple story but at least it is trying to create a narrative).
The style and tone of the film is very much like Pirates of the Caribbean, a light-hearted big-budget action film. The comedy through the main character is much like Jack Sparrow and it is basically a fast paced action film with many different factions and characters. The casting of Arterton reminded me of the casting of Keira Knightley, an up and coming British actress who is strong and feisty. The Alfred Molina character was there to add comic relief and there are many factors in this world. Some scenes reminded me of other films, like when the princes ask where Dastan is and he is fighting with his men, a little like in Troy where Achilles was sleeping with a woman instead of the battlefield. The battle scenes felt like the film was trying to be like Lord of the Rings and Troy and it was decent. But this is a film that is unlikely to match Lord of the Rings for great fantasy.
The acting was find for the most part, Gyllenhall was able to provide a good English accent and shows he can be an action star. But for a film set in the Middle East Gyllenhall is remarkably pale, which is made even worst when at least the rest cast at least got a tan. But obviously Hollywood believes that people are not ready to have a Arab, Indian or Persian hero in a film and with the state of Islamophobia in the States at the moment it is unlikely to change. Also whilst Gyllenhall is good as a dramatic actor, he does not have the great comic ability Johnny Depp. But the comic material was not as pronounced as in Pirates. Arterton acting was very much like Knightley's in Pirates, posh, stiff and not very good. She has had good rolls but this is not her breakout role. Most of the comedy revolved around Gyllenhall and Arterton, as well as Molina. Kingsley was clearly the antagonist but in movie canon you should never trust a bold man with a beard and never trust a man who has eyeliner.
Mike Newell direction was workmanlike, which does not have to a bad things sometimes. He had experience with fantasy filmmaking, directing Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Prince of Persia was certainly a fast paced film. The action scenes well handled, but a little too clear considering there were pitch battles in a city. There is a good scene involving a knife throwing fight. The CGI was also of a good level and the usual things like costumes and the scenery was well done. The Middle Eastern style score was also fitting for the film.
Prince of Persia disappointed at the box-office and a big flop in 2010. There is not much likelihood of a sequel being made but the way the film ended meant that everything was rounded up. Overall it is a fun enough film and a 6.7/10 that Prince of Persia currently has is a fair score.