In a Nutshell: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Rating: 7/10 (30 May 2010)

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time..If you're thinking that this is another cheesy video game based movie, think again!
As much as being based on a major video game makes a movie widely anticipated, it also makes the audience very hesitant towards going to see it. This one may not be perfect but it's a win for your money. At least this is not another "Street Fighter" or "Max Payne".
The Sands of Time or the first of The Prince of Persia series gives us the Genesis of Dastan (Jake Gyllenhaal), your favourite video game Prince, the story of how he is adopted by the good king of Persia and how he becomes a part of the royal family of one of the biggest kingdoms of the world. The story goes on to tell us about Dastan's brothers making the decision to invade the Holy City of Alamut in which Dastan joins hands with Princess Tamina for a dark race against evil forces to protect an ancient dagger that has the power of releasing the Sands of Time.
The good thing about The Sands of Time is that all aspects of moving making behind the lens come together to put on a good show. Cinematography and Art Direction play some of the biggest roles in this picture. The shooting angles and the set decoration make it all so vivid and so real. There are times in the movie where you think you're in the game itself, that you're moving Dastan, as he jumps from one roof top to the other, with your own hands. For all this to happen, you have to have Oscar winning cinematographer John Seale directing those cameras, the man behind photography of "The English Patient", "City of Angels" and "Cold Mountain".
About the acting, I have to say it was average except for Alfred Molina who portrays the character of Sheikh Amar, a desert con man who runs ostrich races. Not only does Molina excel in every line of his role, he also plays lead in the comic relief side of the story. Molina gives you the laugh you need every now then between sword fighting and knife throwing scenes. No wonder he's become the top story of every critic's review about this movie since it was released. But regarding the role of Princess Tamina, let's just say it was very unfortunate for that Iranian actress who was planned to play it to get arrested before the shooting, because as far as I can see it; Gemma Arterton has made the princess of the, supposedly Holy City, look like a sorority girl.
In a nutshell, apart from the acting that could have been more satisfying in some parts, this film is an entertaining ride. This is good fantasy movie making with a strong promise of a sequel.