"Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" may be a mediocre movie, but it's spurring a game revival worth loving. Image from Flickr.
This weekend, “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” is hitting movie theaters. The bad news? The movie is a bit formulaic, and there are rumors of “whitewashing”. The good news? The movie has spurred the re-release of classic video games. All in all, “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” is a Jerry Bruckheimer adventure that is reviving fun games.
‘Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time’ reviews
In general, the reviews of “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” are not bad. The movie follows the standard Bruckheimer action formula: misfit band of loveable rogues with lots of action. It is entertaining and even has the usual love-hate relationship between the lead couple that is fun to watch. You won’t need same day cash loans to see the movie, and it’s your standard summertime blockbuster that provides an excuse to visit the air-conditioned multiplex.
‘Prince of Persia’ accused of ‘whitewashing’
The biggest controversy surrounding the “Prince of Persia” popcorn epic is the question of whether it delves into “whitewashing.” A term used when white actors are chosen to play “ethnic” roles, whitewashing is common, though less so now than it has been in the past. Some commentators have questioned the choice of Jake Gyllenhaal to play a Persian character. The ethnicity of actors in the film is pretty flexible, though. Persians are played by a Swedish/Jewish actor, a Spanish/Italian actor and a Kenyan-born Indian who grew up in England. Yes, there are many very good actors who could have been chosen to play the Persian characters. In the complicated, multi-million dollar world of blockbuster movies, though, race cannot be the only factor. The studios spent $200 million on making the movie, and the actor who fronts a summer blockbuster can make or break the movie. In short, a big name that can sell lots of $9 tickets is important to make up the cost of a movie.
Bringing back ‘Prince of Persia’ games
The “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” movie is based on video games. The best part of this is, though, that dedicated developers with a nostalgic bent have revived the game. “Prince of Persia” is now available as a revival iPhone and iPad app. Just in time for the international release of the iPad, this game has all the trappings of the 1989 and 1992 8-bit games, on your modern device. Whether you go see “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” or not, the “Prince of Persia” video games are a great way to spend $1 and return to childhood gaming.
