Release Date: May 28, 2010
Director: Mike Newell
Based on the video game “Prince of Persia”
Synopsis: A young orphan named Dastan is taken in by the King of Persia to become a member of their family after showing courage and humility during a street fight. Despite having no royal blood, Dastan is admired by his people and his new family. When he and his brothers successfully take over Almata, Dastan is betrayed by his power hungry uncle Nizam (very Lion King-esque) and is believed to have killed his father with an enchanted cloak. He and the Almatan princess Tamina are then thrust into the desert to escape Dastan’s family and the lies that follow him, but not before Dastan can acquire a mysterious dagger from an Almatan prisoner. While on this journey, Tamina tries to steal this dagger back, and only then does Dastan realize that when filled with special sand, the dagger can take its holder back in time to change his or her past. Dastan starts to put the pieces together and realizes just how deeply seated his uncle’s lies really are. Dastan and Tamina travel through the desert to return the dagger out of his uncle’s hands to prevent events that would change the course of history.
Review: I was really excited to see this film mainly because it looked fun and Jake Gyllenhaal is smokin’ hot (who are we kidding here). But I must say I was pretty disappointed. The plot was just OK. I felt like producer Jerry Bruckheimer was trying to out do the Pirates trilogy, and it just wasn’t up to snuff. I don’t know what it is about Gemma Arterton (tamina), but I really don’t like her. She’s too squeaky clean and prissy. Gyllenhaal seems more carefree, and I didn’t feel any chemistry between the two leads (which was most of the movie’s plot). I would have liked to see more of Ben Kingsley (Nizam), but his screen time was pretty insignificant.
Not only was the acting spotty, but the writing was as well. The script was all over the place, and I couldn’t help myself from comparing the plot development to Pirates of the Caribbean. It was all eerily similar, just a location and actor change. The special effects weren’t too fabulous either. When the dagger was activated, Dastan would have sort of an out of body experience and it just looked cheesy. The action sequences were fun, though.
Something about this film just didn’t click with me. It was mildly entertaining, but I don’t think I’ll see it again.
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