Opening thoughts: A good overall story is crafted by veteran filmmaker Mike Newell, but the movie feels Disney-ified and lacking in real danger or period realism.
Pros:- The athletic parkor-like feats by the hero are exciting to watch - Gyllenhaal and the female lead, Gemma Arterton, are likable enough protagonists - The special effects are top-notch - The story includes a few emotional elements, including a touching ending - The relationship between the hero, Dastan, and his father is well established early on
Cons:- The villain, while not entirely transparent, isn’t a surprise either - Gyllenhaal doesn’t have quite enough charisma to carry the picture alone - The humor is hit-and-miss during the picture, especially from Alfred Molina’s Jack Sparrow wannabe - The scene transitions in the picture are not particularly fluid - The setting feels rather white-washed, without the gritty period appeal of "Gladiator," "Hidalgo," or even "The Mummy"
Final word: "Prince of Persia" isn’t a bad movie, but it also isn’t ground-breaking or powerful enough to start its own franchise.
Audience: Period adventure junkies looking for a laugh
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action.
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