PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME Review

GRADE: 2 out of 5

I wouldn’t call it a must-see, but PRINCE OF PERSIA is the most decent video game-based movies I’ve seen in recent years. The problem is that it’s too formulaic but… the movie manages to stay on adventure mode that it makes up for what it may be lacking along the way. I’ve never played the game that it’s based on but I can only assume that Mike Newell’s vision is completely different, which might anger some gamers out there but judging the movie on its own, I think PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME suffers from not being able to offer us more than textbook summer spectacle.

From the team that brought the “Pirates of the Caribbean” trilogy to the big screen, Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films present “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time,” an epic action-adventure set in the mystical lands of Persia and based on the video game of the same name. A rogue prince (Jake Gyllenhaal) reluctantly joins forces with a mysterious princess (Gemma Arterton) and together, they race against dark forces to safeguard an ancient dagger capable of releasing the Sands of Time—a gift from the gods that can reverse time and allow its possessor to rule the world.

First of all, when I heard that District 13‘s David Belle was helping out with the Stuntwork, I said to myself, well at least that much would be worth watching and that part indeed does not disappoint. Belle’s choreography for Dastan’s art of escaping a chase is elaborate and creative. It’s probably the highlight of PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME.

I can’t connect with the characters. They make Dastan and Tamina as a couple straight out of romantic comedy. They hate each other’s gut, they’d bicker all the time, and eventually they fall in love, because ya know, girls love guys who can dodge arrows and guys love.. well pretty girls. So it’s as if all the action scenes and the plot are just forgettable supporting roles in their annoying little rom-com.

I said earlier that this movie’s too formulaic and I think the crucial scene between Nizam, Dastan and the dagger they’re fighting over is just Newell’s way to go about it with a big bang but what comes off instead is this exaggerated use of CG work in order to give you an impression of epic. That’s what this movie is,.. it’s just seemingly or quasi or pseudo exciting.

Is Jake Gyllenhaal the wrong actor to play PRINCE OF PERSIA? Yes and no, I think Jake just has the wrong material to work with, the man is not without talent but halfway through the movie, you’re startin’ to feel like no matter how good his attempts are, he’ll never make it convincing enough and that may not be necessarily his fault.
But the studio needs a face that can attract audience especially females so when it comes to that, Jake will deliver.

The story that plays on time has a neat concept but after the 2nd hour, I feel like I’m either watching Deja Vu, starring Denzel Washington or Vantage Point starring Forest Whitaker.
I think the easily amused will find this to be an entertaining movie. Like I said earlier, compared to other game-based movies like Hitman and Resident Evil franchise, PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME has more perks but it’s definitely not one of the best action/adventure movies of the year.