Well, that finally arrived, but it still took me some time to get around to watching it. Jake Gyllenhall never made much impression on me, and I still wasn’t fascinated with the game’s world. But I’m glad that I did, eventually make time for it, because it is actually a lot of fun – a great popcorn movie.
It’s very easy to watch, even if you have never played the game, and Jake Gyllenhall looks great in long hair and is clearly having a good time as Prince Dastan, the adopted son of King Sharaman. In fact, he is quite impressive all round as a hot headed Persian prince.
I was also impressed with Ben Kingsley as Nizam, and Alfred Molina as the wily Sheik Amar. Both looked the part, and vied for Most Enjoyable Performance in a Popcorn Movie by an Established and Respected Actor Award (I’m sure the MTV awards have something like that). Amar and his racing birds were absolutely hilarious.
Gemma Atterton makes a beautiful Princess Tamina and even manages to inject her with some character and humor. She and Gyllenhall make a very effective on screen couple, sparring and sparking as they keep ahead of the bad guys.
Director Mike Newell and cinematographer John Seale have served up a real treat of a movie, full of gorgeous landscapes and sweeping vistas. Morocco, standing in for Ancient Persia, did a good job of being rocky, scenic and mysterious. Halfway into my popcorn, I was hooked.
I bought this DVD with my own funds.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
