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cathyr19355 at 12:54am on 06/06/2010 under movie review
cathyr19355 at 12:54am on 06/06/2010 under movie reviewTonight, ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-syndicated.gif)
esrblog and I went to see "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time", Disney's latest attempt to make a money-minting franchise from a bit of children's entertainment. This one, unlike "Pirates of the Caribbean," is based upon a video game (anyone who grew up in the 1980s likely will remember the one), not an amusement-park ride, but the principles are the same.
If Jake Gyllenhaal had the screen charisma of Johnny Depp, perhaps Disney would have succeeded in making the lightning strike again. Since he doesn't, this film probably will end up grossing modestly and sinking from sight after the summer's over.
That being said, "Prince" is exactly what you'd expect from a summer movie set in a semi-mythic desert kingdom. It has a pleasant leading couple, lots of sword fighting, sand dunes, trickery, treachery, sandstorms, enormous elaborately decorated palaces, harems, underground chases, collapsing tunnels, snakes (yes, snakes, it always has to be snakes), a sweetly combative screen romance, and a sound traditional moral. Because it's based specifically on the "Prince of Persia" video game, it features a lot of leaping and climbing from rooftop to rooftop by the title character. In short, it leaves no cliche untouched.
The first half of the movie drags somewhat, but the plot picks up to a nice pace once the titular prince and the princess he captures (well, sort of captures--but to get into the details would wander off into unnecessary spoilers) decide to team up and join forces.
It's fun, but not quite enough fun to justify full price tickets unless you really want to get out of the house, as I did. Otherwise, I'd suggest waiting to rent it after it comes out on DVD. Keep the popcorn handy.
esrblog and I went to see "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time", Disney's latest attempt to make a money-minting franchise from a bit of children's entertainment. This one, unlike "Pirates of the Caribbean," is based upon a video game (anyone who grew up in the 1980s likely will remember the one), not an amusement-park ride, but the principles are the same.If Jake Gyllenhaal had the screen charisma of Johnny Depp, perhaps Disney would have succeeded in making the lightning strike again. Since he doesn't, this film probably will end up grossing modestly and sinking from sight after the summer's over.
That being said, "Prince" is exactly what you'd expect from a summer movie set in a semi-mythic desert kingdom. It has a pleasant leading couple, lots of sword fighting, sand dunes, trickery, treachery, sandstorms, enormous elaborately decorated palaces, harems, underground chases, collapsing tunnels, snakes (yes, snakes, it always has to be snakes), a sweetly combative screen romance, and a sound traditional moral. Because it's based specifically on the "Prince of Persia" video game, it features a lot of leaping and climbing from rooftop to rooftop by the title character. In short, it leaves no cliche untouched.
The first half of the movie drags somewhat, but the plot picks up to a nice pace once the titular prince and the princess he captures (well, sort of captures--but to get into the details would wander off into unnecessary spoilers) decide to team up and join forces.
It's fun, but not quite enough fun to justify full price tickets unless you really want to get out of the house, as I did. Otherwise, I'd suggest waiting to rent it after it comes out on DVD. Keep the popcorn handy.
amused
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