Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time DVD
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley, Alfred Molina
Director: Mike Newell
Rating: 2.5/5
Now it's fair to say that the big screen adaptations of computer games haven't been hugely successful in recent years with the likes of Hitman, Max Payne and Tomb Raider crashing and burning.
But that trend looked like it may come to an end this summer when the team behind The Pirates of the Caribbean brought Prince of Persia to the big screen.
Set in the mystical lands of Persia, a rogue prince Dastan (Gyllenhaal) reluctantly joins forces with the mysterious princess Tamina (Arterton) and together, they race against dark forces to safeguard an ancient dagger capable of releasing the Sands of Time - a gift from the gods that can reverse time and allow its possessor to rule the world.
And while the computer game curse hasn't exactly been lifted with Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time this movie is better than many of those that have come before.
Having said that the film is a little disappointing as it just could have been so much more but it just seems to settle for being a popcorn movie that isn't bad but makes no attempt to blow you away.
Gyllenhaal and Arterton have clear chemistry together but the character development of Dastan and Tamina is almost none existent and sadly these two very talented actors have very little to chomp on in terms of their characters.
It's great to see Gyllenhaal move into the action hero role and take on a big budget blockbuster and he is everything that a Disney hero should be.
It's just everything around him that really lets his down, especially the script that it is rather complicated and all over the place.
Now, if you are like me, and hate the 'it was all a dream' or 'time was rewound' then you, as I, was very frustrated by the ending of the movie!
However if you are willing to accept this as a throw away blockbuster movie then it will keep you entertained for a couple of hours.
There is swashbuckling action with a touch of romance as well as some good special effects makes Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time a solid if not spectacular blockbuster,
Prince of Persia: The Sand of Time is out now.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw