| ‘PRINCE OF PERSIA: The Sands Of Time’ |
| Written by Sian Rafferty |
| Wednesday, 02 June 2010 14:48 |
 ‘PRINCE OF PERSIA’ has to be one of the more lasting game series' which have arisen in the past twenty years. Where better to unleash you inner free-runner, than in the comfort of your own home. Let’s just say, when it comes to racing across rooftops, the Prince leaves Spyro feebly gliding in his wake, and Crash belly-flopping in the dust. Never in a million years could a movie adaptation miss out on all the action, all the swinging, leaping and jumping, which made the game such a revolution. And believe me people: you are sure in for one bone-crunching ride with this one. The love child of perhaps Hollywood’s most family - and box-office friendly union - mega-producer Jerry Bruickheimer (‘Pirates of the Caribbean’) and famed director Mike Newell (‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’, the fourth ‘Harry Potter’), provide a much needed foray into the mysterious and ever enticing fables of Ancient Persia. Prince Dastan (Jake Gyllenhaal sporting some serious arm muscles which could crush small cities), stumbles across an ancient dagger full of sand. Suddenly, his world falls apart as he struggles with the forces he has set in motion, as everyone vies for the sacred dagger... and control of time itself.  The success of this film, is heavily based upon the truly cracking cast. Gyllenhaal was always meant to play the heroic leading man. I could go on for quite a few more paragraphs, waxing on about how perfect he is... but that might be weird. Gemma Arterton plays the leading lady Princess Tamina, with a lot of female empowerment and commanding beauty. Ben Kingsley as the shiny, bald brother of the King - whose smile and support you know to never quite trust - was very calculating as Dastan’s main opponent. Even Alfred Molina, with his gaggle of ostriches, cockney accent and almost unrecognisable orange tan, stole his every scene.  One noticeable departure from the video game, was the decision to not include the sand monsters, which are created when Dastan unleashes the Sands of Time. However, in their place are shadowy and infamous Hassassin, who with creepily unnatural powers, linger in the shadows tracking Dastan in a way that is infinitely more scary than any sand monster could ever dream to be.  In the end, the story is not the greatest. But who cares? You have fighting, you have romance, you have Jake Gyllenhaal leaping up walls. You have all the colour and vibrancy that any good Persian tale should have – the gold, the silk, the sand, and the mystique. What more could you want? THING YOU MOST NEED TO KNOW: Ancient Persia, non-stop adventure, time-stopping daggers, Jake’s muscles and copious amounts of eyeliner (sadly no magic carpets). HEARTOMETER: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 + 1/2 [ out of 10 ] YOU WILL LIKE, IF YOU LIKE: 'Pirates of the Caribbean', 'Aladdin', 'Troy'... and dashing princes and feisty princesses. PLAY: ‘Prince of Persia - Sands of Time’ to experience the action yourself. Watch the official trailer for 'Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time' below...  |
