A movie based on a popular video game, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time delivers on action and EFX. It is an epic adventure that takes place in the deserts of Persia, and it is a great, magical location. While the movie is predictable and nowhere near complex, it is exciting and keeps you entertained. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is a perfect summer movie.
Jake Gyllenhaal plays Prince Dastan, a boy who was adopted by King Sharaman (Ronald Pickup) at a very young age. He grows up to be an honest man who loves his family and his kingdom. But he is persuaded by his two brothers, Seso (Steve Toussaint) and Garsiv (Toby Kebbell), and their uncle Nizam (Ben Kingsley) who is always whispering in their ear, to attack this mystical holy city because they are making weapons for their enemies. But there is no proof of this.
The princess of this holy city is Tamina (Gemma Arterton) and she is the protector of a dagger that can change the course of time which can alter the past. However, when King Sharaman arrives to this holy city, he is not pleased at all. He wanted his sons to leave the city alone, but they did not listen. Once the King is mysteriously killed, Dastan is blamed and he and Tamina are reluctant to join forces but have to in order to find out who killed his father and find out exactly what the dagger is capable of.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time has a good cast. Arterton is a lot better in this than in Clash of the Titans. She is sexy, but sassy in this one. Kingsley is the arch-nemesis in this movie, and do not worry I did not ruin it for you. The movie wants to act like it is a surprise but you see it coming from almost the moment you see his character on-screen. Alfred Molina plays Sheik Amar who loves gold and hates taxes. Most of the comedy comes from his character, which is very much needed.
Now Gyllenhaal being cast as a Persian Prince is a little weird. I am not sure if he was the best choice, but he does a good job with the role. And you get used to his accent, which feels out-of-place at the beginning. Gyllenhaal does have the charisma and look to be a prince who turns in to an action hero. Most of the movie is about action, not dialogue.
Jerry Bruckheimer may have wanted to start another franchise with this movie like he did with Pirates of the Caribbean, but I don’t think it will happen. I am not saying there won’t be a sequel to this Prince of Persia movie, but it will not be as successful as the Pirates films. But for a video game made in to a movie, it gives its fans everything they could want. The fighting, flipping, jumping, climbing, and good EFX can only bring happiness and joy to the audience’s heart.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is a movie that does not worry about the material and plot as much as the entertainment side of it. Director Mike Newell (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) wants to take you on an adventure that is far from the realm of reality. And sure it is not the best movie you will ever see or even the best movie of the summer, but it sure was fun while watching it.
Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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