2010. Dir: Mike Newell. Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley, Alfred Molina and Steve Toussaint. ●●●●○
Last week I went to see a film that I was really looking forward to and ended up being really disappointed, largely because in spite of it's historical pagentry it ended up throwing away all the fun in the concept. This week my low expectations of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time were unjustified as it went the other way (not a care in the world about historical context and) filling the film with layer after layer of fun. I really liked it for that.
It's also a film where describing the plot seems a litle superfluous, not only because it's just a load of macguffin in order to push the action along, but also because Gemma Arterton's Tamina spends the best part of the movie explaining it to us. Essentially Jake Gyllenhaal and his brothers are busy sacking cities in the Middle East searching for smuggled weapons (can't think what that reminds me of) when Jake stumbles across a magical dagger with sand in it's hilt.
Jake's (adoptive) dad is promptly killed, suspicion falls on him, he runs off with Arterton and many twisty turny adventures happen as our leads identify the real killer and try to prevent the bad guys taking the throne.
It really is that simple, and in spite of the plot's collection of minor double crosses we can pretty much guess who's on which side and who's going to be toast before the end credits. Although the last five minutes were a bit of a surprise to me, especially as they seemed to contradict with large tracts of Gemma's expositionary dialogue.
Jake does a grand job in the lead role, wearing a British accent like a glove to avoid seeming odd when compared to the rest of the English cast. He also looks incredibly hot with the new found muscles (a few more gratuitous shirtless scenes would have been appreciated) and there were a couple of sly Brokeback references I picked up - our first sight of Jake involves some man on man wrestling and his first kiss with Gemma almost takes place in a tent... Gemma does her best in a thankless role and Ben Kingsley goes on autopilot as the devoted uncle of Gyllenhaals Prince Dastan - I'll let you guess how devoted he is.
Alfred Molina is probably the stand out cast member though, leering his way through the film as Sheik Amar, part Hugh Griffith in Ben Hur, part John Rhys-Davies in Raiders of the Lost Ark, part Oliver Reed in Gladiator and all Ostrich fancier.
The production design and costume elements are fantastically detailed, and whils I doubt they are even remotely accurate to the period they create a visually interesting movie with a very clear homage to the films computer game heritage. As are the action sequences which make appropriate use of running, jumping and going up and down levels. It sounds silly, but as the genesis of the film is a platform game it's good to see that exhibited in the finished product.
One of the minor points that let the film down was the CGI, with all the money that must have been spent on the movie it was disappointing that when the sands of time things actually happens a Scorpion King quality picture of Jake's face is attached to a bunch of lit blobs until the effects over - was that really the best they could do?
Overall though I would say this is about as good as summer tentpoles get with fun characters, palpable chemistry and a sense of real excitement.
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Friday, 21 May 2010
Out this week (21/05/2010)
Summer defiantly continues (actually it's been pretty hot here in the real world as well as in the multiplexes) with one of those tentpoles that's had a shift forward of it's UK release in order to avoid clashing with the World Cup. Aptly, given the seasonal weather it also involves Jake Gyllenhaal bearing a lot of flesh for the Arabian suns. Not that it's the top film... Oh no, for a real quality night my pick of the week is Warner Herzog's massively gonzo Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans.
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans
If you could imagine the most eccentric pairing of director and star working today you probably wouldn't be far off Herzog and Nicolas Cage. It's fair to say this corrupt cop drama is delightfully bizarre as a result, with copious drug taking and iguanas throughout. The excellent supporting cast includes Eva Mendes, Val Kilmer, Irma P. Hall, Brad Dourif, Michael Shannon, Fairuza Balk, Xzibit....
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●●○○○
Cop Out
If I say anything too pro of anti Kevin Smith I am absolutely suire he'll tarack me down and take offence, as he did on his twitter account following the US release of his latest big budget comedy. But I won't go and see it either.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Heartless
Jim Sturgess wears a heart-shaped birthmark over his face in this latest British horror. Essentially a adult version of TV's recent Demon's about devilish minions in London.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Kites
It's a Bollywood movie, yet on the poster it says "Brett Ratner presents Kites". That's right the B-movie director with A-movie budgets is in someway involved with this Mexican set Hindi movie. Interesting, yes, but not really exciting.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Pimp
Since the last Danny Dyer picture he's been sacked from his "Nuts" agony column for appearing to condone spousal abuse, so I might not be posting the obligatory semi-naked pic this time. The films about a Soho pimp (natch) who's life spirals out of control. True fact - I applied for a role in this movie.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Whilst Bad Lieutenant looks like the best film coming out this week I'm still going to be first in the queue to watch Jake Gyllenhaal prancing shirtless in the desert, all buff like. Can you blame me, really?
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Streetdance 3D
This will be an awful movie, of that I have no doubt, but the trailer is fantastically fun and truly this is the sort of film that deserves the 3D treatment as various well known UK dance troupes (mainly from Britain's Got Talent) jump out of the screen at you.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Oh, who am I kidding - here's Danny:
And Jake, mmm:
Tuesday, 20 April 2010
Tuesday Trailers: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Nice use of double colons in the title there - I'm feeling quite proud of that. I must confess that my little crush on Jake Gyllenhaal (I pretty much confessed to that on Saturday's news post) means that I won't be able to miss the cinemas when this big dumb action flick comes out. Sure it'll be typical Bruckheimer rubbish, but Jake has his abs out so I'm there.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is released on 21 May 2010.
Sunday, 3 August 2008
Coming Soon (maybe)
BAD NEWS - The Prince of Persia has ben pushed back until 2010 to complete post production.
Don't get me wrong. I'm under no illusions that PoP will be a good film. I don't rate Mike Newell as an action director, I mean really don't the producers look at his previous films? And Ben Kingsley has a supporting role so we can't guarantee any quality there.
In spite of all this, and my complete lack of knowledge about the source game, I am very keen. mainly because I have imagined the entire film involves Jake Gyllenhaal running around dressed like Aladdin in short trousers and an open waist coat.
Mmmmm, Jake.
More gratuitous Jake shots after the jump.
