Romp in Sinbad tradition

Rating: 5/10 (4 June 2010)

I never thought I would say this - Jerry Bruckheimer and restraint! Yes, the CGI is all in the background and it allows stunts to be beefed up, but not in your face like a Cameron movie - note to James, watch this and learn, less is more! It is a pretty romp, very much in the tradition of Harryhausen-based Sinbad films or even further back to Sabu! As such it does not demand too much, and bounces along like an old friend. OK so there is one too many chase sequences through the crowded marketplace, and the film stops for the plot explanations to occur, but at least there is an attempt at plot and characterisation! Writing is alright, and the direction fairly pacey if startlingly unoriginal. The acting is minimally challenging - English accents all round, old boy, because it is about kings and absolute rulers! No problem with the basis being a video game because most video games are based on old films or stories anyway! Full circle! The plot to save the world because a valuable artefact might get into the wrong hands of an evil old bald guy is pretty standard for action thrillers and fantasy adventures. A pity the film was not shot in sequence, because the most distracting thing is Gemma Arterton's complexion, which ranges from white to freckles to reddish sunburn in no particular order! far more distracting than Crowe's accent in 'Robin Hood!' I don't rate Jake Gyllenhaal as an action hero - he's rather limited and one note - so can we have a bit of heft next time, which means no Sam Worthington as a replacement!!!!!!!!!!!