Throw caution to the wind and sit back and watch this thrill-ride unfold on the screen. It is fun and that is all it's supposed to be.

Rating: 9/10 (16 June 2010)

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010) – A Review by Phil Congleton What I found most interesting about this experience is the fact that I didn't know this film was based on a video game until after I saw it. I was told about that fact by a friend and once he said that to me I immediately felt that I wouldn't have liked it as much if I had known that ahead of time. So, when you see this movie forget that it is based on a video game. So, with my ignorance intact I went into this film thinking it was another sword and sandal movie with neat special effects. Produced by the same group (Jerry Bruckheimer and Disney), that produced the Pirates of the Caribbean films, this one is much like the Pirates films. Huge sets, groundbreaking special effects, large cast, even larger cast of extras, and booming soundtrack. It contains the same general formula – very Disney. The good guy (Jake Gyllenhaal as our Prince), the beautiful, but tough love interest (Gemma Arterton), a supporting cast, who you can never tell is good or bad and bad guys, who you can't tell are good or bad either, much like the Pirates films. You just don't know who is good or bad. Is the bad really that bad? Will the bad turn good or the good turn bad? The film contains high-octane energy, great music and special effects and wonderful stunts. Gellenhall does a convincing job as an agile, sword-wielding superhero from the ancient lands of Persia. It could be a tough sell for some people because it involves a lot of time-traveling. If you don't have the brain capacity to handle time travel than this isn't the film for you. Arterton, although I liked her in other things, seemed kind of weak on the acting in this one. It felt like she was going through the motions. Alfred Molina is great as usual as the owner of an ostrich racetrack who becomes intertwined with the plight of our Prince. However to keep in-line with some Jerry Bruckheimer-produced fare it is light on story and contains a lot of corny dialogue. However, throw caution to the wind and sit back and watch this thrill-ride unfold on the screen. It is fun and that is all it's supposed to be.