PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action.
Directed by Mike Newell (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire)
Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton and Ben Kingsley
I wish I had some “Sands of Time” so I can go back and watch it again.
Set in the mystical lands of Persia, Dastan (Jake Gyllenhaal), a rogue prince and a mysterious princess (Gemma Arterton) race against dark forces to safeguard an ancient dagger capable of releasing the Sands of Time. This gift from the gods can reverse time and allow its possessor to rule the world.
I never played the video game…but if it is even half as entertaining as the film…then sign me up. This movie has it all: big time producer, director, actors, budget and special effects. And if you are worried that there is no story, let me put you at ease. The story is quite possibly better than the special effects …and the special effects are amazing.
What really surprised me was the depth of the story and characters. From Dastan’s humble beginnings and adoption to his deep sense of honor and loyalty…he is the perfect hero. The King is merciful and just, the brothers are brave and the princess is dedicated. The kind of qualities that are often lost in most films.
I never considered Jake Gyllenhaal a comedic actor, but he made me laugh more than a few times. Not to mention some of the coolest moves I’ve seen since the opening of Casino Royale. Ben Kingsley is Ben Kingsley…creepy, intense and just so good. Gemma Arterton is that perfect balance between the damsel in distress and the “kick-butt” heroine. Finally Alfred Molina once again plays one of the most intense characters in the film.
Honestly, there wasn’t a single thing I didn’t like about it. It was wildly entertaining and extremely fun – Theater Worthy for sure!
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
There are a few scenes where Gemma Arterton is in a skimpy outfit, but other than that it is pretty clean.
Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):
Q: What was the theme (or the message) of this movie?
A: The movie centered on the ability to rewind time so the past could be repaired and mistakes could be avoided. Though time travel is a completely impossible concept, you might want to ask, “Have you ever wished you could “rewind” time? If so, why?”
Q: What can we—as serious Christ-followers—take away from this movie?
A: We need to understand the importance of the way we live our lives, and the decisions we make.
Yeah, in Back the Future, Marty McFly could travel through time, and in Prince of Persia, Dastan discovers how to do the same. But you and I don’t get any “redos.” The decisions we make affect our lives, and the lives of those around us.
However we really don’t need an ancient dagger’s help; we have God guiding us, which is much better! But we must be obedient to His leadership.
Q: How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
A: We all have things in our past we wish we could erase. Those memories may still haunt us with feelings of guilt and/or remorse. We can:
- Pretend the mistakes never happened.
- Blame others for them.
- Live our lives in regret and shame.
- Or we can trust God’s Word!
The Bible tells us in Psalm 103:11-13:
“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.”
So even though we cannot rewind time, God can remove every sin we’ve ever committed. We just have to ask Him and then trust Him, totally!
