Walt Disney's latest big-budget (US$150 million) film, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, is based (loosely) on Ubisoft's 2003 video game of the same name. The film follows a plot predominately focused on moving from action scene to action scene with very little consideration given to story development or characterisation.
The fact that this film is based on a game gives it licence to hire a cast where no-one really looks all that Persian, though the make-up team have tried valiantly with liberally applied fake tan, kohl and the odd beard and moustache. The filmmakers have gone with fantasy over ethnicity, choosing to stay authentic to the game. Jake Gyllenhaal as the eponymous Prince does looks very much like the game character. Despite certain adherence to the source material, Disney's target audience will probably get much more enjoyment out of this film than original gamers.
When the young Dastan, a parentless street urchin, defends another child from Persian soldiers' excesses, he attracts the attention of King Sharaman (Ronald Pickup), who decides to adopt the brave young Dastan. Skip forward fifteen years and Dastan (Gyllenhaal) along with his two older brothers, Tus (Richard Coyle) and Garsiv (Toby Kebbell), is a courageous soldier, if not a little impetuous and undisciplined. When Tus, who is leading the Persian Army, is told that there are dangerous weapons being manufactured with the purpose of attacking Persia, in the holy city of Alamut, he is convinced by his uncle Nazim (Sir Ben Kingsley) to attack. Alamut's Princess Tamina (Gemma Arterton) is a renowned beauty and after the invasion, Tus decides he wants to take her as a wife. But he is distracted by pressure from his father when no weapons are found and the assault on the peaceful city looks unjust. During the Persian celebrations, King Sharaman is attacked and it looks as if Dastan is the culprit. The prince escapes with the help of Tamina, who is after something he has recovered from her ransacked city.
From here the plot is very thinly spread over highly choreographed action sequences with a heavy emphasis on Parkour. To break up the frenetic chases and sword fights, the occasional bit of comic relief pops up in the form of Alfred Molina (Frieda, An Education) as Sheik Amar, a tax-evading bookie who runs ostrich races.
The fact that this film is based on a game gives it licence to hire a cast where no-one really looks all that Persian, though the make-up team have tried valiantly with liberally applied fake tan, kohl and the odd beard and moustache. The filmmakers have gone with fantasy over ethnicity, choosing to stay authentic to the game. Jake Gyllenhaal as the eponymous Prince does looks very much like the game character. Despite certain adherence to the source material, Disney's target audience will probably get much more enjoyment out of this film than original gamers.
When the young Dastan, a parentless street urchin, defends another child from Persian soldiers' excesses, he attracts the attention of King Sharaman (Ronald Pickup), who decides to adopt the brave young Dastan. Skip forward fifteen years and Dastan (Gyllenhaal) along with his two older brothers, Tus (Richard Coyle) and Garsiv (Toby Kebbell), is a courageous soldier, if not a little impetuous and undisciplined. When Tus, who is leading the Persian Army, is told that there are dangerous weapons being manufactured with the purpose of attacking Persia, in the holy city of Alamut, he is convinced by his uncle Nazim (Sir Ben Kingsley) to attack. Alamut's Princess Tamina (Gemma Arterton) is a renowned beauty and after the invasion, Tus decides he wants to take her as a wife. But he is distracted by pressure from his father when no weapons are found and the assault on the peaceful city looks unjust. During the Persian celebrations, King Sharaman is attacked and it looks as if Dastan is the culprit. The prince escapes with the help of Tamina, who is after something he has recovered from her ransacked city.
From here the plot is very thinly spread over highly choreographed action sequences with a heavy emphasis on Parkour. To break up the frenetic chases and sword fights, the occasional bit of comic relief pops up in the form of Alfred Molina (Frieda, An Education) as Sheik Amar, a tax-evading bookie who runs ostrich races.
