‘Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time’ is based on the video game series of the same name. In the video game as in the movie, Prince Dastan (a very pumped up Jake Gyllenhaal) leaps from one adventure to the next, seemingly unafraid of gravity or heat stroke. It is this exhilarating reason that the movie works – assuming you can ignore all sense of reasonable plot or dialogue that is!
The movie opens with the back story of Prince Dastan, not always the best thing to do in a movie based on a video game, but writers Boaz Yakin, Doug Miro & Carlo Bernard (yes – it took three guys to write this film, normally a huge red flag) smartly opt to go with the orphaned thief story ala ‘Aladdin’ and any other number of sword and sand films that have come out in the recent decade. This keeps it simple and allows director Mike Newell (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) to focus on the endless acrobatic action – that is peppered by inane dialogue every now and then.
The film screams ahead to 25 years later or so where a young Prince Dastan is busily defending the kingdom with his two brothers Tus and Garsiv (Richard Coy and Toby Kebbell) on behalf of their father, King Sharaman (Ronald Pickup). Can someone tell me why do all of these movies choose to give the supposed rulers of Middle Eastern countries, English accents? The only real looking character in the entire film is Uncle Nizam played by the very British Ben Kingsley, who looks as if he has overdosed on eye liner to appear even more Persian! Here is where it gets a bit crazy – the boys are convinced to invade a holy city that is suspected of building and selling weapons (really, trying to make a political statement in a Disney movie?), a city that is guarded by the beautiful Princess Tamina (Gemma Areton) who has a magical dagger filled with sand that can turn back time. As it turns out – it is good old Uncle Nizam that is trying to acquire the dagger so that he can become King by turning back time to kill his brother. I have a headache just trying to lay it out here – and so will you if you try to understand it all.
But who really cares? Great stunts – fast and furious action – who needs story or even dialogue? Can someone please tell Alfred Molina, as a wise cracking shyster, to stick with being a bad guy? He is so much better as a villain (remember Doc Ock in Spiderman 2?) than as comic relief. Gemma Areton is very good as the feisty Princess and is a good foil for the blundering Gyllenhaal who should have a better hand on action/adventure films by the sequel.
This is a perfect popcorn film – best enjoyed on the big screen – although try and see it at a matinee or during the discount show times, that way you won’t get as mad at me for telling you to see this 2 ½ star adventure.
A far better Jake Gyllenhaal film and my Redbox rental pick is ‘Brothers’ – a powerful film that dives deep into the darkness that war brings to a family. With Toby Maguire, as the younger brother serving in Afghanistan and the excellent Natalie Portman as Maguire’s wife who become involved Gyllenhaal’s Tommy when she believes her husband to be dead. A powerful, moving 4 star film that was somehow ignored by the Academy; well worth your hard earned $1.00 at your local Redbox!
Showing posts with label movie reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label movie reviews. Show all posts
Monday, June 07, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Regular Reviews
Well guys! The New Lenox Patriot has decided to to a pay per view model! I am going to start publishing my reviews on the Blog - weekly! Which actually will mean more reviews! So subscribe to my Blog for regular updates!
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Adventureland Review
I have to admit I am a sucker for young love movies, especially those that are set back in the days when I was still young! Director Greg Mottola, who made the wonderfully raunchy ‘Superbad’, has hit a fresh, sweet and intelligent home run with this coming of age twenty-something comedy.
James (Jesse Eisenberg) a fresh college graduate, returns home for the summer of 1987, intent on touring Europe before heading off to New York and graduate school only to find that his father has been downsized, thus so has his European vacation (and possibly graduate school). James’ only choice is to find work and save money – being a journalism major – the only thing he seems qualified for is work at the local amusement park: Adventureland. It is here that James becomes a ‘Games*Games*Games’ barker, doing ‘The job of pathetic losers’.
The crew of Adventureland is a curious assortment of everyone we have ever or will ever grow up with. You have the owners of the park (Bill Hader & Kristen Wiig of Saturday Night Live) who immediately can tell that James is a games barker by just looking at him to Joel a pipe smoking agnostic who reveals to James all of the parks secrets. There is also James boyhood friend, Frigo, who insists on striking James in his most sensitive area every chance he gets. And then there is Em (Kristen Stewart of ‘Twilight’) the cute girl who works the other games booths; the attraction between James and Em is immediate.
The pleasure of Adventureland, aside from the smart dialogue, is watching the romance of James and Em grow and develop. Em is a troubled young girl and we feel for her – James is a one girl man, saving himself for the right girl; we can feel the destiny that they are to be together.
What is wonderful about Adventureland and what Mottola has done so well – is that we are drawn into this world so completely. Not a lot is happening – we are basically watching teens do what teens do. Their conversations feel real, their actions never seem scripted and we are drawn into the romance of James and Em because it reminds us of our first romance. Kristen Stewart has created a wonderful character in Em and I would dare anyone not to fall in love with her.
The soundtrack is stocked with great tunes from the 80’s that serve as a perfect backdrop for every situation within the film. If you are looking for another ‘Superbad’ you will be disappointed. This is more of a summer of love type movie – it is not without it’s raunchy humor – but it is not the non-stop raunchy of Mottola’s ‘Superbad’ – rather – this is more of an autobiographical look at one summer in Mottola’s life or just about anyone’s life who had to work a thankless job.
James (Jesse Eisenberg) a fresh college graduate, returns home for the summer of 1987, intent on touring Europe before heading off to New York and graduate school only to find that his father has been downsized, thus so has his European vacation (and possibly graduate school). James’ only choice is to find work and save money – being a journalism major – the only thing he seems qualified for is work at the local amusement park: Adventureland. It is here that James becomes a ‘Games*Games*Games’ barker, doing ‘The job of pathetic losers’.
The crew of Adventureland is a curious assortment of everyone we have ever or will ever grow up with. You have the owners of the park (Bill Hader & Kristen Wiig of Saturday Night Live) who immediately can tell that James is a games barker by just looking at him to Joel a pipe smoking agnostic who reveals to James all of the parks secrets. There is also James boyhood friend, Frigo, who insists on striking James in his most sensitive area every chance he gets. And then there is Em (Kristen Stewart of ‘Twilight’) the cute girl who works the other games booths; the attraction between James and Em is immediate.
The pleasure of Adventureland, aside from the smart dialogue, is watching the romance of James and Em grow and develop. Em is a troubled young girl and we feel for her – James is a one girl man, saving himself for the right girl; we can feel the destiny that they are to be together.
What is wonderful about Adventureland and what Mottola has done so well – is that we are drawn into this world so completely. Not a lot is happening – we are basically watching teens do what teens do. Their conversations feel real, their actions never seem scripted and we are drawn into the romance of James and Em because it reminds us of our first romance. Kristen Stewart has created a wonderful character in Em and I would dare anyone not to fall in love with her.
The soundtrack is stocked with great tunes from the 80’s that serve as a perfect backdrop for every situation within the film. If you are looking for another ‘Superbad’ you will be disappointed. This is more of a summer of love type movie – it is not without it’s raunchy humor – but it is not the non-stop raunchy of Mottola’s ‘Superbad’ – rather – this is more of an autobiographical look at one summer in Mottola’s life or just about anyone’s life who had to work a thankless job.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Who watches the ‘Watchmen’? Everyone should – over 17 that is!
Ok – I admit it, I am a fanboy! I have thousands of comics stored lovingly in sealed Mylar bags, pressed gently against acid free cardboard.
I was raised on the ‘Golden Age’ of comics – Batman, Flash, Superman, Spiderman and Captain America. Throughout college I gorged myself on the darker images and storylines that comics had evolved to. The bigotry and racism illustrated in the tales of the X-Men; the dark side of humanity as illustrated in Frank Miller’s version of Batman (so skillfully bought to life by director Christopher Nolan in the last two Dark Knight films) and then late in 1986 DC Comics published ‘The Watchmen’ – a graphic novel series that Time Magazine hailed as on of the top 100 novels ever written.
‘’Watchmen’ was not your typical superhero story – in fact only one, Dr Manhattan (played by Billy Crudup) was the only character with ‘powers’ – so God-like that he exiles himself to Mars. Rather – the story is one of the human conditions and a reflection of the anxieties that were occurring at the time – more of a deconstructing of the superhero metaphor.
Director Zach Snyder (300) skillfully brings the novel to full visceral life. With stunning visuals and a very true adaptation to the original graphic novel – Snyder creates a film out of what was once thought impossible to do. Set in an alternate version of 1985, the world rests on the brink of nuclear war, Richard Nixon is the President and costumed heroes have been outlawed save for those that have been sanctioned by the government.
A hero is murdered; The Comedian (Jeffery Dean Morgan) is sent reeling from his high rise apartment, an act that brings the heroes together as it seems they are all targeted for elimination; seemingly a part of a larger plan to ultimately destroy the world.
This is not a traditional superhero movie. In this films the heroes are flawed, lost and often far too human to posses the power of gods. We see the heroes struggling to live a ‘normal’ life – but forever fated to serve humanity. Snyder fills the screen with rich colors and images flooded with symbolism; this is a violent film and some of the acts of the heroes may surprise you. But those acts only reinforce the message that we are all only human after all. This is a film that deserves a second viewing (preferably at an IMAX theater). If you have not read the novel yet – I recommend doing so – even if you see the film first. It is a work that stands on it’s own.
4 Stars
I was raised on the ‘Golden Age’ of comics – Batman, Flash, Superman, Spiderman and Captain America. Throughout college I gorged myself on the darker images and storylines that comics had evolved to. The bigotry and racism illustrated in the tales of the X-Men; the dark side of humanity as illustrated in Frank Miller’s version of Batman (so skillfully bought to life by director Christopher Nolan in the last two Dark Knight films) and then late in 1986 DC Comics published ‘The Watchmen’ – a graphic novel series that Time Magazine hailed as on of the top 100 novels ever written.
‘’Watchmen’ was not your typical superhero story – in fact only one, Dr Manhattan (played by Billy Crudup) was the only character with ‘powers’ – so God-like that he exiles himself to Mars. Rather – the story is one of the human conditions and a reflection of the anxieties that were occurring at the time – more of a deconstructing of the superhero metaphor.
Director Zach Snyder (300) skillfully brings the novel to full visceral life. With stunning visuals and a very true adaptation to the original graphic novel – Snyder creates a film out of what was once thought impossible to do. Set in an alternate version of 1985, the world rests on the brink of nuclear war, Richard Nixon is the President and costumed heroes have been outlawed save for those that have been sanctioned by the government.
A hero is murdered; The Comedian (Jeffery Dean Morgan) is sent reeling from his high rise apartment, an act that brings the heroes together as it seems they are all targeted for elimination; seemingly a part of a larger plan to ultimately destroy the world.
This is not a traditional superhero movie. In this films the heroes are flawed, lost and often far too human to posses the power of gods. We see the heroes struggling to live a ‘normal’ life – but forever fated to serve humanity. Snyder fills the screen with rich colors and images flooded with symbolism; this is a violent film and some of the acts of the heroes may surprise you. But those acts only reinforce the message that we are all only human after all. This is a film that deserves a second viewing (preferably at an IMAX theater). If you have not read the novel yet – I recommend doing so – even if you see the film first. It is a work that stands on it’s own.
4 Stars
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