Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Directed by: Mike Newell
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley, Alfred Molina
Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action.
Ah, summer: the time when eye candy fills our cinemas and it’s easy to find a film to while away a couple brainless hours in an air-conditioned room. “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” is a very summer-action-movie sort of film. It’s got all the requirements: beautiful people, interesting/beautiful locations, lots of exciting action, and just enough intrigue to get you to pay attention. Based very loosely on the video game of the same name, it’s a very good time if you’re willing to suspend disbelief for a couple hours.
The plot revolves around the Dagger of Time, held safe in the holy city of Alamut and watched over by its rulers. The Dagger gives its wielder the ability to travel backwards in time about one minute and change his or her actions. When the Persian army, lead by the three Princes of Persia and their uncle Nizam (Ben Kingsley), invades and conquers Alamut, the Dagger falls into the hands of the youngest Prince, Dastan (Jake Gyllenhaal). He was adopted as a boy by the king and although he was raised in the palace, he’s never lost the craftiness and quick wit necessary to survive on the streets.
Soon the king is murdered, Dastan is framed, and he and Princess Tamina are on the run with the Dagger. Tamina wants to take it to a remote temple to keep it safe, but Dastan considers it evidence of a plot against his father and wants to take it to Nizam. Of course, those of us who have seen the trailers or who know anything about this sort of film know not to trust the king’s adviser, especially if he wears eyeliner and has a goatee. Nizam does both, so it’s no surprise when he turns out to have a very complicated plot in the works to make himself King.
Along the way there are bandits and mystically-powered assassins to be faced, along with a burgeoning attraction between our protagonists. The special effects blend in well with the excellent stunt-work and on-location shooting so that we can just enjoy the swordfighting, barbed whips, knife-throwing, and lush scenery without being distracted by bad CGI. My only complaint with the visuals was that some of the fight sequences are shot at such close quarters that it’s hard to tell what’s going on. That’s a common issue in Hollywood movies these days, however, so I should probably be glad that some of the fights are shot from a wider angle at all.
The acting is spot-on for this sort of film: convincing and not too over-the-top. Kingsley chews a little scenery near the end, but he knows the line between entertainingly villainous and ridiculously silly, and walks it like a pro. Gyllenhaal and Artertos have good chemistry and excellent timing with their bickering, and added to their good looks this makes them perfect action heroes. Alfred Molina is hilarious as the amoral leader of a group of bandits who alternately help and menace our heroes.
Overall, “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” is a top-notch summer flick. If you like fantasy, swashbuckling, and great special effects, it’s a must-see. If you like your summer movies to have guns or demand high intellect from films, it’s probably best avoided.