Disney's Middle Eastern adventureland

Film review: Prince of Persia

MANILA, Philippines - Loosely based on a video game, Disney’s Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is a ripping fantasy/adventure yarn (and I do mean Yarn, as the story truly asks that we suspend disbelief, but we don’t mind), that comes to us with producer Jerry Bruckheimer’s signature panache for special effects and larger-than-life scenarios — think the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. And I would venture to guess that the film also signals leading man Jake Gyllenhaal making his claim for superstardom and the boffo talent fees, and not just resting on his laurels of being an actor’s actor, garnered for such films as Brokeback Mountain and Rendition. Sure, the film may have been intended for the teen and young children audience, but one can’t help but appreciate how on the storyline level, there is an attempt to make the film still enjoyable for the more discerning audience — and not just a collage of action sequences and special effects.

Jake Gyllenhaal is Prince Dastan, plucked out of public marketplace anonymity by King Sharaman (Ronald Pickup), and adopted as one of the King’s favorites, along with his two biological sons. There’s an uncle, Nizam (Ben Kingsley), who at the outset, seems to be a benevolent ally to Dastan. When the Persian forces attack the kingdom of Princess Tamina (Gemma Arterton), the plot begins to thicken as we’re introduced to a dagger with magical, mystical powers — this is the Sands of Time referred to in the subtitle — and our suspicions regarding the motives for the invasion are raised. Of course, all this is interspersed with fantastic action sequences that include elements of Parkour, transported to a Middle Eastern setting, and various brands of martial arts and swordplay.

This is directed by Mike Newell, and forget his 4 Weddings and a Funeral or Mona Lisa Smile, this is more the Mike Newell of Harry Potter’s Goblet of Fire, with gallows humor and wry asides peppered throughout the high-profiled action scenes. I brought my 10-year-old with me, and Luca enthusiastically gave it his two thumbs up, saying that the story was also very interesting, as he’s into Greek and Roman mythology. Whirling dervishes, bands of assassins, souks and the marketplace, harems and concubines — the culture of the Middle East comes alive in this film, but the scene stealer has to be Alfred Molina as the self-proclaimed Sheik Amar, a low-life who has elevated himself to be ruler of a kingdom that’s a precursor to Las Vegas — and also found in the desert! Molina drives the middle portion of the film with his skewed perspective on life and I was constantly amused by how much of what he said could also be considered contemporary commentary.

At its heart, this is a family film meant to be enjoyed at a superficial level. It’s polished and slick, a true Hollywood product as only Hollywood churns them out. The entertaining quotient is high thanks to the meticulously choreographed action scenes, and the time travel element comes in handy to give it an Indiana Jones, Harry Potter feel. And don’t look now, but the way the film was titled, it stands to gain that this will be the new Bruckheimer franchise, with Disney merchandise to follow.