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Friday, April 19, 2024
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HOLLYWOOD PRINCE OF PERSIA
EDITOR'S PICK
Rating: ***
America is a strange nation. This country invades one nation after another under
different pretexts while its filmmakers, in different ways and in as many films,
offer to critique the nation`s same warring mentality. Joining the fray while
using a not-so-veiled analogy is this latest Hollywood special-effects
extravaganza from Disney.
The great Persian empire (like the great American empire today) stretches far
across the planet and is ruled by a just king and his prime minister brother.
Moved by the bravery of a young orphan, the king adopts him and raises him with
his own two sons. This boy, Dastan, grows to be a brave and intelligent prince,
and able companion to his brothers.
Once passing though a kingdom revered for its knowledge, a spy reveals a cache
of highly sophisticated weaponry allegedly belonging to the place. So, despite
the kings warning, the prince, and their uncle attack and capture it and its
princess Tamina.
However, Tamina holds the secrets of the dagger and sand of time that can
transport one back to the past. Yet, before much is known, things get out of
hand as the wise king is killed by a robe Dastan has gifted. The prince of
Persia now becomes a wanted man as he tries to absolve himself, but instead
discovers a conspiracy greater than he had imagined.
The first half of the film is exactly what the US is doing to Iraq, with
ironically Persia (erstwhile Iraq and the middle east Asia) being the oppressor
in the case. The analogy of weapons of mass destruction is made too obvious for
any discerning viewer to miss. The second half is an entertaining chase through
a maze of obstacles that Dastan and Tamina have to overcome, before they can
stop the destruction of the world.
There is nothing spectacular about the film. Yet, it is entertaining enough to
grip the viewer`s attention to the very end. After a slew of Hollywood films
based on popular video games that fail as films, this one manages to hold its
own.
Jake Gyllenhall`s new avatar as a swashbuckling, muscular hero in contrast to
his serious performance before is convincing, as is the performance of most of
the cast. What is not convincing is the different accents of English - American,
British, Irish etc. in a film that is supposed to be based in Persia.
Prince of Persia will do good to beat the summer heat, but won`t
inspire a long term recollection in the viewer. Despite the obviously political
analogy, it is not a film that takes itself seriously, and neither should the
viewer.
