Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time

Let's get this out of the way first: for those who know the classic 2003 videogame of the same name, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is not a direct adaptation. It's more a loose interpretation featuring elements of the game franchise. For those not in the know about said franchise, it's a series that began in 1989, with creator Jordan Mechner inspired by the opening sequence in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

The games are set in ancient Persia and feature the adventures of an unnamed, acrobatic prince. The 2003 game introduced elements of parkour, as the prince explored exotic, atmospheric ancient palaces, caverns and dungeons by swinging between beams and running along walls with acrobatic aplomb. This element is featured in the film, which sees Jake Gyllenhaal as the rooftop-hopping prince. As this is a movie though, and not a solo game, it needs a few more characters and backstory, so here the prince acquires the name Dastan (which means "story" and "trickster" in various Middle-Eastern and south Asian languages, apparently). A street orphan, Dastan was adopted as a child by Persian King Sharaman (Ronald Pickup).

Cut to the present, and Persian forces, lead by Dastan's brother Tus (Richard Coyle), attack the holy city of Alamut. This is against the king's orders, but they're lead on by "evidence" presented by uncle Nizam (Ben Kingsley). Kingsley, replete with Ming-The-Merciless goatee, doesn't go so far as to twirl his moustache, but we're not giving much away to say he's up to something. Alamut, it transpires, is home to a magical dagger that can turn back time. Nizam wantsss it (yes, there are whiffs of the LOTR films), and in his deceit kills Sharaman, framing Dastan, who must go on the run with the dagger's guardian, Princess Tamina (Gemma Arterton). Together they must prove Nizam's guilt - and prevent him from doing something silly like sticking the dagger in a vast hour-glass full of the Sands of Time and, well, destroying the world. Like the Pirates Of The Caribbean films, Prince of Persia is produced by Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer, and it's clearly going for a similar formula involving swashbuckling, adventure and japes. Although it's not as good as the first Pirates film, it's thankfully a lot better than the incoherent sequels. Though Prince of Persia has its fair share of convoluted incoherence too, with the climax particularly unclear.

A buffed up Gyllenhaal is likeably goofy as the hero, and he and Arterton make for a handsome couple, even pulling off a few screwball-ish exchanges as they glower, bicker, then, naturally, fall for each other. Broader comedy comes in the form of Alfred Molina as a desert entrepreneur with a thing for ostrich racing. It's not his finest hour, but it's fairly inoffensive. Unless of course you take umbrage at the film's casting - with most of the leads played by white westerners, but the extras seemingly mostly Middle Eastern (suitably) or north African (it was filmed in Morocco).

Director Mike Newell (Four Weddings, Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire) has overseen a handsome enough film, which is replete with beautiful desert landscapes and elaborate CGI cityscapes. Dubious plotting, however, does frequently destabilise the whole concoction.