Simon Dillon reviews the film

Films based on computer games are always bad idea. That has long been a fundamental tenet of my cinematic statement of belief. It is therefore through gritted teeth that I must concede that Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is actually not a bad movie. Not brilliant, but as a piece of summer blockbuster fun, you could do far worse.

I have no knowledge of the game on which it is based, but I do know that the film's producer Jerry Bruckheimer is also the man responsible for the Pirates of the Caribbean films, and they were based on a theme park ride. That franchise produced one entertaining film (the first) and two mind numbingly dreadful subsequent sequels. Part of me wants to tell you this film is equally mind numbing so my opening statement can remain intact, but it simply wouldn't be the truth.

Borrowing heavily from Aladdin, Sinbad, Indiana Jones, Michael Powell's version of The Thief of Baghdad and several other classics, Prince of Persia is a fun but silly tale about a prized dagger that can turn back time. Said dagger is located in a holy city that is sacked by the Persian army near the beginning, under the pretext of looking for non-existent weapons (topical with the subtlety of a sledgehammer). The wildly heroic Dastan (Jake Glynnehaal sporting a Sinbad outfit, a six pack and twin swords) acquires this dagger, and is then framed for murder. With only the Princess Tamina (Gemma Arterton) aware of his innocence, he has to clear his name and return the dagger to whence it came to prevent some kind of apocalypse being unleashed.

Along the way, our heroes get help as well as hindrance from Sheik Amar (a highly amusing Alfred Molina), who goes to great lengths to provide a secret gambling outlet for those who wish to bet on ostrich races tax free. They also encounter a really dastardly group of killers called hassansins in the second half of the film, who provide some terrific nastiness in the villain stakes with their projectile blades and deadly snakes that shoot out of their robes. Ben Kingsley also turns up in a role he obviously took for the money, and the story is absolutely packed to the brim with battles, sieges, secret tunnels, booby-traps, and swordfights. In other words, to quote Marty McFly, your kids are gonna love it.

Yes, there are times when it seems like the next set piece is simply another level in a computer game, complete with silly exposition to explain the task at hand. Yet in spite of this, director Mike Newell (best known for Four Weddings and a Funeral and the fourth Harry Potter film) at least understands character, and the characters are always very watchable and entertaining. The overall story is surprisingly well-crafted, and even the time travel stuff makes sense (sort of). Special effect wise, it is also very spectacular, with digitally rendered ancient cities looking particularly impressive, and there is an appropriately rousing music score by Harry Gregson-Williams.

Morally Prince of Persia is very positive with cardinal virtues - loyalty, honour, brotherly love, parental affection, wisdom, kindness - all extolled. Spiritually, as with many films of this sort, the pagan deities referred to often sound more like the Christian God, with acknowledgements of grace, blessings and divine providence (Gladiator is another good example of this trend). There are also discussions of pre-destination versus free will, in which free will (in the Christian sense) clearly wins out.

In short, this is - against the odds - a satisfying adventure movie. My not quite six year old loved it, though it might be a bit much for small children of a more sensitive disposition. Otherwise, fun for all the family.

I will however, have to revise my cinematic statement of belief thus: Films based on computer games are almost always a bad idea.