Review: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Jordan Mechner's much-loved Prince of Persia character has been an immensely popular staple of the video game world since the glory days of the PS2. The title character, who is not one man but seemingly an archetypal witty, brash, and athletically gifted smartass, draws incredible sales each time a developer decides to release a new game in the series. It was only a matter of time, then, until the concept was picked up by a film studio to be made into a summer blockbuster. Just as unsurprising is the fact that Disney is behind the project; the Prince has always been family-friendly, despite his violent tendencies.

The plots of the games seem to have been melted together for this summer's film, which involves around a mystical knife with the power to reverse time. The knife is held by a princess of a sacred city, charged with protecting the dagger and its power. The titular prince, with his uncle (Kingsley) and brothers invade the city, discovering the knife along the way. Wall-running adventures ensue, charged by special effects and several generally well-directed fight scenes.

The resulting adaptation stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Ben Kingsley, both of whom have proven their acting chops in classier venues. Eyebrows were raised when the former was announced to play the film's lead, though fans of the video games will acknowledge that the protagonist of the series was rarely, if ever, a cultural match to the Arabian setting. However, Gyllenhaal brings his characteristic charm to the film, providing an effective, if one-dimensional rendering of the video game hero. What troubles more is the film's dialogue, which is weak at best and outright cringeworthy at worst. Skilled actors like Gyllenhaal and Kingsley seem to wince their way through the film, doing their best with a script that does little to improve upon preceding video game adaptations. It's a shame, because scripted distractions aside, the story is actually quite strong for the majority of the film. Enough twists and turns are provided to keep the audience guessing, and the action is entertaining enough to sustain the film for most of its 116 minutes.

Unfortunately, by the end of the movie, one gets the feeling that the writers have simply run out of ideas. The film's third act feels lost, searching for a satisfying resolution. It never really finds one. Without spoiling too much, suffice it to say that many films involving time travel tend to use it as a crutch, and "Sands of Time" is no exception. The film's ending feels entirely disingenuous, and one can't help but be disappointed that a closing with more finality could be found.

Ultimately, "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" relies heavily on the strength of its actors, who are more than up to the task of the film's meager script. Fast-paced thrills and flashy effects will certainly entertain most audiences, and a reasonably complex story puts a little meat on a the bones of a film that could have been utterly decrepit. In the end, though, the film fails to find a convincing resolution, and most audiences will be left hungry for more.