PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME (B-)

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Ben Kingsley, Gemma Arterton and Alfred Molina

Story: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is an epic action-adventure set in the mystical lands of Persia and based on the video game of the same name. A rogue prince reluctantly joins forces with a mysterious princess and together, they race against dark forces to safeguard an ancient dagger capable of releasing the Sands of Time—a gift from the gods that can reverse time and allow its possessor to rule the world. (Walt Disney Pictures)

Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action

Bottom Line: It’s PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN with deserts instead of oceans, princes instead of pirates, Jake Gyllenhaal instead of Orlando Bloom and, unfortunately, no Capt, Jack Sparrow-like character to help liven up the story. …which I guess makes it more like THE MUMMY movies than anything else. The script isn’t sharp and the video game based story is muddled but it still manages to be a somewhat exciting, easily digestible, swashbuckling summer movie romp that makes for a halfway decent place to eat popcorn for 116 minutes.