'Prince' is a pauper compared to the masters
You call this a dagger? Dastan (Jake Gyllenhaal) with the knife that can roll back time. (Walt Disney Pictures)
Prince of Persia:
The Sands of Time
Running time: 116 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13 (intense sequences of violence and action)
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Audiences settle for so much less at the movies these days.
By today's milquetoast standards, "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" provides adequate action-adventure swashbuckling in the sands of 6th century Persia. It's the wink-at-the-audience comic tone that pales in comparison to previous rollicking adventures, though.
For anyone who remembers "Raiders of the Lost Ark," the first Indiana Jones action, comedy and romance frolic of 1981, or perhaps the fun-filled soldier-of-fortune saga "Romancing the Stone" in 1984, a weakly imitation grown out of a video game compares rather poorly.
This is an era when so-so is often hyped into super-duper. At least in this gimmicky tale (Come on, a dagger that can reverse time?) popcorn munchers in the dark are treated to above average acting, decent special effects and lead actors easy on the eyes.
Jake Gyllenhaal, an Oscar-nominated actor looking a little self-conscious about playing a joystick-driven hero, takes the title role. A street urchin taken in by the king (ho-hum), Dastan (Gyllenhaal) follows his heart to do the right thing after storming a castle in the fictional holy city of Alamut and, quite by accident, mind you, stumbling upon the aforementioned magic dagger handed down by the gods.
The screenplay, bearing more hand prints than a newborn kitty in an orphanage, may be pedestrian. But at least versatile British director Mike Newell ("Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," "Mona Lisa Smile") knows how to make the most out of what he's got.
And what he's got here is a one-dimensional, yet flashy yarn that moves fast. In fact, it only slows down for alluring love/hate glances between Gyllenhaal and his ingénue, budding actress Gemma Arterton as "Come hither, no don't" princess Tamina.
To tell you the truth, I had more fun concentrating on the support players. Oscar-winner Ben Kingsley (remember "Gandhi"?) looks like he's enjoying himself as sly, beloved Uncle Nizam. And you can't help but like Alfred Molina ("An Education," "Spider-Man 2") as Sheik Amar, the devious, ostrich racing entrepreneur who'd probably be running Goldman Sachs if he could operate in today's market.
Gyllenhaal, on screen most recently in "Brothers," makes a better dashing sword-swinger than I thought he would. That's because the rising star who drew his Oscar nomination opposite the late Heath Ledger in "Brokeback Mountain" ( 2005) makes the audience believe he is a prince with a heart of gold who'll use his back-to-the-future dagger for good, not evil.
Arterton, Agent Fields in the Bond adventure "Quantum of Solace," still has some work to do as the sometimes pouting woman hiding true grit until the right time to expose it. It's an old formula that generally still works, though, and the two leads do stir up a little screen heat in the desert.
"Prince of Persia," no doubt the first in a sword-and-sandal franchise if it flexes muscles at the box-office, is adequate, if not extraordinary weekend movie entertainment. It's got solid elements, just no spark to ignite something magical.
Since it comes from video game source material and doesn't thrill, amuse or tug the heartstrings like the previous masters, let's just call it a token effort and be done with it.
By today's milquetoast standards, "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" provides adequate action-adventure swashbuckling in the sands of 6th century Persia. It's the wink-at-the-audience comic tone that pales in comparison to previous rollicking adventures, though.
For anyone who remembers "Raiders of the Lost Ark," the first Indiana Jones action, comedy and romance frolic of 1981, or perhaps the fun-filled soldier-of-fortune saga "Romancing the Stone" in 1984, a weakly imitation grown out of a video game compares rather poorly.
This is an era when so-so is often hyped into super-duper. At least in this gimmicky tale (Come on, a dagger that can reverse time?) popcorn munchers in the dark are treated to above average acting, decent special effects and lead actors easy on the eyes.
Jake Gyllenhaal, an Oscar-nominated actor looking a little self-conscious about playing a joystick-driven hero, takes the title role. A street urchin taken in by the king (ho-hum), Dastan (Gyllenhaal) follows his heart to do the right thing after storming a castle in the fictional holy city of Alamut and, quite by accident, mind you, stumbling upon the aforementioned magic dagger handed down by the gods.
The screenplay, bearing more hand prints than a newborn kitty in an orphanage, may be pedestrian. But at least versatile British director Mike Newell ("Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," "Mona Lisa Smile") knows how to make the most out of what he's got.
And what he's got here is a one-dimensional, yet flashy yarn that moves fast. In fact, it only slows down for alluring love/hate glances between Gyllenhaal and his ingénue, budding actress Gemma Arterton as "Come hither, no don't" princess Tamina.
To tell you the truth, I had more fun concentrating on the support players. Oscar-winner Ben Kingsley (remember "Gandhi"?) looks like he's enjoying himself as sly, beloved Uncle Nizam. And you can't help but like Alfred Molina ("An Education," "Spider-Man 2") as Sheik Amar, the devious, ostrich racing entrepreneur who'd probably be running Goldman Sachs if he could operate in today's market.
Gyllenhaal, on screen most recently in "Brothers," makes a better dashing sword-swinger than I thought he would. That's because the rising star who drew his Oscar nomination opposite the late Heath Ledger in "Brokeback Mountain" ( 2005) makes the audience believe he is a prince with a heart of gold who'll use his back-to-the-future dagger for good, not evil.
Arterton, Agent Fields in the Bond adventure "Quantum of Solace," still has some work to do as the sometimes pouting woman hiding true grit until the right time to expose it. It's an old formula that generally still works, though, and the two leads do stir up a little screen heat in the desert.
"Prince of Persia," no doubt the first in a sword-and-sandal franchise if it flexes muscles at the box-office, is adequate, if not extraordinary weekend movie entertainment. It's got solid elements, just no spark to ignite something magical.
Since it comes from video game source material and doesn't thrill, amuse or tug the heartstrings like the previous masters, let's just call it a token effort and be done with it.
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