Today’s quick review: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. Prince Dastan (Jake Gyllenhaal), the adopted son of the King of Persia, helps his brothers invade a holy city, only to be betrayed and framed for his father’s murder. To clear his name, Dastan must uncover the secrets of a dagger that can control the flow of time, as well as those of Princess Tamina (Gemma Arterton), the dagger’s willful guardian.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is an action adventure movie with fantasy elements. Set at the height of the Persian Empire, Prince of Persia mixes a lavish, fictionalized historical setting with a hefty dose of action. Though not groundbreaking, its action does get the job done. But in terms of storytelling, Prince of Persia has weaknesses that keep it from achieving its ambitions.
Prince of Persia aims for a particular flavor of action. Based on the Prince of Persia video game franchise, the film sends the Prince running, dodging, and climbing his way through crowded Middle Eastern cities with the help of a time-altering dagger. The film delivers a steady stream of action. No one stunt is all that impressive, but the quantity is enough to make Prince of Persia a viable popcorn flick.
However, Prince of Persia struggles when it comes to its story and tone. The plot, though competent enough, feels too familiar, and the Prince’s dagger isn’t used well enough to set the movie apart. The movie shows flickers of Pirates of the Caribbean-style comedic adventure, but it takes itself too seriously to let that part of it grow. The result is a workmanlike film that never really hits its stride.
The characters suffer from similar issues. Jake Gyllenhaal is a mixed bag. He puts in decent work as the noble Dastan, but he’s missing the roguish charm that the character needs. The same goes for the rest of the cast: adequate performances that never quite fit into a cohesive whole. Prince of Persia also misses an opportunity by pairing Jake Gyllenhaal and Gemma Arterton, who lack the chemistry that would make the film pop.
Give Prince of Persia a shot if you’re an action fan with a hankering for bows and swords. Its value is limited by flaws in its story and characters, but Prince of Persia has enough going on to be worth a watch for the curious. Skip it if you’re looking for a dramatic epic or a rollicking adventure. For a schlockier, more entertaining take on a similar premise, check out The Scorpion King. For ancient action with more polish, check out Gladiator.
6.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for fine action, a decent plot, and missed potential when it comes to character and attitude.