Although I love to watch my kids play video games, and often follow them for the story, Prince of Persia: Sands of Time never really grabbed me. It looked beautiful, but I found my attention wandering to other things, and jokingly said I’d wait for the live action version.

Well, that finally arrived, but it still took me some time to get around to watching it. Jake Gyllenhall never made much impression on me, and I still wasn’t fascinated with the game’s world. But I’m glad that I did, eventually make time for it, because it is actually a lot of fun – a great popcorn movie.

It’s very easy to watch, even if you have never played the game, and Jake Gyllenhall looks great in long hair and is clearly having a good time as Prince Dastan, the adopted son of King Sharaman. In fact, he is quite impressive all round as a hot headed Persian prince.

I was also impressed with Ben Kingsley as Nizam, and Alfred Molina as the wily Sheik Amar. Both looked the part, and vied for Most Enjoyable Performance in a Popcorn Movie by an Established and Respected Actor Award (I’m sure the MTV awards have something like that). Amar and his racing birds were absolutely hilarious.

Gemma Atterton makes a beautiful Princess Tamina and even manages to inject her with some character and humor. She and Gyllenhall make a very effective on screen couple, sparring and sparking as they keep ahead of the bad guys.

Director Mike Newell and cinematographer John Seale have served up a real treat of a movie, full of gorgeous landscapes and sweeping vistas. Morocco, standing in for Ancient Persia, did a good job of being rocky, scenic and mysterious. Halfway into my popcorn, I was hooked.

I bought this DVD with my own funds.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time