Prince of Persia was one of the most exciting and addictive PC games of its time. The side-scrolling video game was released by Broderbund in 1989 and attracted players with its life-like motion, swordplay and intelligent puzzles, despite its repetitive look. The nameless character from another land was charged to rescue the princess from the clutches of the evil Jaffar, the Vizier of Persia. From there, the game has evolved into a 3D action platform courtesy of Ubisoft, starting the franchise with Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time in 2003, where Jerry Bruckheimer and Disney's film kicks off.
The nameless hero goes by the name of Dastan (Gyllenhaal), an orphan-turn-prince to the King of Persia. When a rival Holy city is breached and Princess Tamina (Arterton) is seized, the King declares that his victorious son, Dastan should marry ahead of his brother. However, a lethal gift presented to the King sets Dastan on-the-run together with Tamina, who would sooner stab Dastan in the heart than marry him. The sands of time are running out for the two and greater concerns abound as a magical dagger becomes the key to Persia's future.
Prince of Persia stars Jake Gyllenhaal, a likable actor with plenty of promise on the back of films like Donnie Darko, Rendition and Brothers. However, one can't help but feel that Gyllenhaal was slightly miscast in this, the first Prince of Persia in the franchise. He has worked on his physique and there's little doubt that he's capable of actually doing the acrobatic flips and leaping over rooftops. However, he doesn't have the temperament of a warrior... he's more of an Aladdin, just a little too soft round the edges. You can see why the production set its sights on someone like Orlando Bloom, whose physique is coupled with a air of danger.
The cast is complemented by the likes of Alfred Molina and Ben Kingsley, who both do their roles justice. Molina's comedic take on Sheik Amar isn't in the same class as Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow, but fulfills a similar purpose in Prince of Persia. Ben Kingsley's probably the best casting decision in the film as Nizam and composes a villain, who probably could have had more screen time to build his evil influence to a crescendo. Gyllenhaal's leading lady is Gemma Arterton, who has the look and came across as a worthy substitute for a younger Rachel Weisz.
Prince of Persia's influences include: Jewel of the Nile, Australia, The Mummy, Aladdin, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring. Jewel of the Nile is reflected in the couple's on-the-run adventure, which takes them across desert plains, lands them in and out of trouble and clashes with various cultures. There's even an attempt to create a similar Douglas-Turner chemistry with Gyllenhaal and Arterton, who bicker and fight their way into romance. Baz Luhrman's Australia is witnessed in the high speed outback horse trail into the desert, the attraction between the leads with ostrich racing Sheiks instead of cattle barons. Although Hidalgo, would also qualify as an influence for similar reasons.
The Mummy is encountered in the balance of reality versus CGI with sandstorms, ancient civilization, high action-adventure with a twist of comedy. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time tries to replicate the same epic level of entertainment and all-round fun that The Mummy engendered. Then there are some parallels with Disney's Aladdin. For one, Disney are backing this franchise and instead of a magic lamp, there's a dagger... with Nizam stepping in for Jaffar, Tamina for Jasmine and Dastan for Aladdin. The Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon influence reveals itself in the rooftop chases, the lofty fights and the romance between the fractious couple. Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring exerts an influence in the snake-charming "wraiths", who are pursuing the precious before it is destroyed - a magical dagger instead of the ring.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is spurred on by dazzling golden colours, eye-catching special effects and swathes itself in an epic and foreign grandeur. The action set pieces are engaging and exciting, never giving the audience a chance to catch their breath. This quick edit style keeps the eye interested and the brain disengaged from a fairly innocuous story. Let's not forget that Prince of Persia was originally a video game, but that's no excuse for intrinsic flaws in the film-making process. For instance, failing to capture an authentic sense of locale without consistency in the cast's accents. Gyllenhaal sounds "British", Molina sounds like Jack Sparrow and the rest of the cast sway between generic American and Arabic accents as if they were given Pirates of the Caribbean for vocal reference.
There are flaws in Prince of Persia, but focusing on the hairline cracks takes away from the beauty of the overall product. This is a better-than-average video game adaptation that looks good, sounds good and for the most part feels good. The fantasy and CGI reminds one of The Mummy's action-packed adventure and it ensnares some of the epic foreign interest that made Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon so captivating. Prince of Persia may not be as original or on par with its influences, but it makes the popcorn go down more smoothly and will keep you entertained in its world of what-if make believe making this an enjoyable, albeit forgettable roller-coaster ride.
The bottom line: Eye-catching.
