NYC Film Critic

кухни

Sex and the City 2
Written and Directed by Michael Patrick King
Starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristen Davis and Cynthia Nixon
**

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Directed by Mike Newell
Screenplay by Boaz Yakin, Doug Miro, Carlo Bernard
Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Artertron, Sir Ben Kingsley, Alfred Molina
*1/2

At first glance, this weekend’s two major studio releases would appear to have little in common beyond the fact that they each take place in the Middle Eastern desert.  When you watch them back-to-back as I did though, it’s clear that they share more than a setting; both Sex and the City 2 and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time are this summer’s prime examples of blockbuster moviemaking at its most creatively bankrupt, big-budget behemoths that prize fantasy excess above all else, including a well-told story, compelling characters and recognizable human emotions and behavior.

Jerry Bruckheimer made pirates cool again, but can he do the same thing for ancient Persian princes?  Especially when that ancient Persian prince is played by…um, Jake Gyllenhaal?  We’ll have to wait until May 28 to find out whether Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is the next Pirates of the Carribbean, but in the meantime you can read more about the movie courtesy of my interviews with Bruckheimer and director Mike Newell over at Film Journal.

“Princes & Sorcerers”: A Q&A with Jerry Bruckheimer
“Arabian Nights”: A Q&A with Mike Newell