Prince of Persia, full trailer
You can see the trailer we used for the original pitch here.
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November 3rd, 2009 at 10:33 am
It looks great! First good videogame movie? Not counting Wing Commander, obviously.
November 3rd, 2009 at 10:54 am
The effect used for the sand being released from the dagger and reversing time (especially the first time it’s shown in the trailer) is terrific.
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:23 am
Looks cooler than the game. Which is very, very cool indeed :)
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:23 am
Looks good!!! And it’s great to see that big budget movies are not dead, despite all the moaning and bickering about hard times (at least over here in Europe). Now where was my 80 million dollar script that nobody wanted to take on… ;-)
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:29 am
“…Leaping to assist a fallen beauty…”
Great reference to all the acrobatics in the games. I’m glad Sands of Time was used as the basis for the movie, as it had a great story. I personally preferred the Wraith character in the follow up, but that would probably be too much to tackle in one movie. I’m keeping my fingers crossed it does leave that plot line open.
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:31 am
I like it– although I think a few more shots of the Prince’s acrobatic abilities would have helped, especially to appeal to the gamers familiar with the games. Here, it looks like he does it JUST only in the climatic moments, like in Mortal Kombat, when Lui Kang does the bicycle kick only at once.
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:43 am
Um, HOLY FRICKIN COW. I know nothing about the game or whatever this is based on, but that movie looks great! In particular, I love the dynamic between the two main characters. In this trailer at least, I see fantastic chemistry.
November 3rd, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Sorry, John, but this trailer makes this movie look like a dazzling but dreadful mess.
All of the clunky, overly-complicated exposition in the trailer from Gemma Arterton’s character doesn’t really help set up an intriguing story at all. As a trailer, it tries to connect too many dots, much like the Avatar full-length trailer released today.
Sure the action and acrobatics are there, but Jake isn’t really selling me as an action hero type in these limited glimpses. Hopefully, I’ll be pleasantly surprised by the feature.
November 3rd, 2009 at 12:20 pm
I grew up on this game as a kid since the very beginning and I think the trailer looks epic and does it justice.
November 3rd, 2009 at 12:38 pm
This trailer could have done more with less. I’ve always liked movie trailers that are more subtle, enough to provide the texture of a film without trying to explain the entire plot.
November 3rd, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Looks epic!
But I agree with 2 things:
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:02 pm
I think I just had a nerdgasm. And Nicolas, Jake was looking beautiful. It’s about time he found a role that required more stubble.
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:09 pm
This is clearly part of a greater gay agenda to turn straight men by forcing them to gaze upon the unfettered masculinity of Jake Gyllenhaal. I see what you did there, John. Well played.
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:09 pm
How was time travel even a concept in the brains of ancient Persians? Did they have their version of Einstein or Wells?
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Wow. This doesn’t look good. 1. It’s all to yellow (yeah, I know: we’re supposed to be somewhere in the deserts of ancient Persia, here played by the deserts of Morocco)…
Special effects are as if they came from a 2000 movie.
I love Jake G., but he’s so geeky, I can’t fully see him as a hero from a video game.
The dialogue… Dear lord… “The gods have a plan for you, a destiny.” Seriously?! How many times have we seen the same sentence? Then the “How did you do that?” scene, a staple… The secret temple… All narrated in that fake received pronunciation…
It looks terrible, but I’m sure it’ll be a hit.
November 3rd, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Cool. Just gave me a reason to go to the movies and see it when it’s out in Germany.
November 3rd, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Seems special effects is the main attraction.
November 3rd, 2009 at 4:00 pm
LOL “nerdgasm”! Props to Fraser (#12).
November 3rd, 2009 at 5:29 pm
I’m not a gamer, and definitely not an FX specialist, but I know what intrigues me, and this does.
Watch the box office numbers, I bet naysayers will be surprised.
November 3rd, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Wow, it really seems like it captures the essence of the game. At least from what I saw in the trailer you posted previously.
November 3rd, 2009 at 7:28 pm
It seems that movies today are so trite, they are better summed up in two minute trailers than experienced in toto. Call it the YouTubification of narrative, but after watching this trailer there really is no justification for seeing the full picture, as what happens is already spelled out and we’ve seen enough pictures like this that the trailer is sufficient to fill in the blanks of tone, performance and scale. It reminds me, coincidentally, of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, where you could eat one pill and it would take you through an entire meal.
Ah well, kudos to you for getting a picture made at all. That is a feat far more impressive than anything that could ever be rendered on screen.
November 3rd, 2009 at 8:19 pm
What’s that, Gandalf? We have to melt the MacGuffin in the place that’s Far Away, or it will destroy mankind?
November 3rd, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Bad-ass. Looking forward to it.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a video game adapt look this good.
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:01 pm
Agreed with Mike above. Don’t worry about the naysayers, they just haven’t had their screenplay made into a Jerry Bruckheimer film.
November 4th, 2009 at 1:49 am
Looks interesting. The one element that -really- got me though, was… Richard Coyle! Always good to see him. He’ll also be in the third Terry Pratchett miniseries, Going Postal. That’s two high profile projects right there. Go, Coyle!
From this short impression, it seems like the atmosphere and excitement of the game has been translated well. I’m looking forward to the final film.
November 4th, 2009 at 5:13 am
He sounds like Prince of England, not Persia.
November 4th, 2009 at 9:30 am
@James,
Common, It’s an action movie based on a 80’s western video game — Not some kind of historically-correct character piece.
Here’s a spoiler for you: the Mario Bros movie featured two non-Italians lead actors.
Maybe they can find a yellow man with no arms and feet to play in that PacMan movie too.
PS: Just playin’ with you…
November 4th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
John, any thoughts on why they cast a WHITE actor as the Prince of PERSIA?
November 4th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
FX-laden movies always do well in trailer form, of course, but I think it looks promising. Forgot that Mike Newell was directing. Is there anything he can’t do?
November 4th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
@James:
I don’t know when the convention started that period movies have British accents. But they do. I invite you to change that.
@Todd:
http://twitter.com/johnaugust/status/5397121214
November 4th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
The visuals and action are exactly as they should be. Nicely done. Now here’s the problem: Where’s the comedy? There’s one mildly entertaining joke where Jake doesn’t know how to respond when the girl says he likes her. For the rest hardly anything.
Iron Man and Pirates 1: big success because of the combination of action and spot on jokes. PoP’s a film that can have an 85 million opening weekend looking like it does, if you also have great jokes in the trailer. If it’s just selling action you’re gonna do 45 to 50 million (which i’m sure you’ll be happy with, but why settle for less if you can have way more).
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t intent it to be about just money – but let the next trailer have four laugh out loud jokes and some cool new action and i’ll go and see this.
November 4th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Well, now I know when to short Disney’s stock.
November 5th, 2009 at 8:39 am
John-
Whatever happened to cinema?
Have we conditioned the few people who actually still go to the movies to seek out these Anglophillic, CGI-laden, “Epic” entertainments? It seems that Hollywood lost the war when it decided that it would “out video game” video games. Which is kind of like a hamburger deciding to “out burrito” a burrito. They are different mediums with different strengths and it would seem that films should attempt to exploit its exclusive and magnificent gifts rather than bow to the challenge of a somewhat lesser peer. (This is coming from someone who very much loves video games, btw).
My wife and I just watched Howard Hawks’ “To Have and Have Not” for the first time a few nights ago and it was amazing to see how effective the film remains. Hawks was a master of storytelling and Bogart, Bacall and the WB stock company made each character (major or minor) memorable. It also reminded me of a time when you could watch a film late at night and not worry about a.) waking up the neighbors and b.) actually getting some sleep after the credits roll without popping an Ambian.
My question to you Mr. August is if you have decided to make this type of film because you genuinely enjoy this style or if this is the only type of film buyers in the business are currently after. I’m not “hating” here, believe me. I’m just very curious as to why filmmakers seem so infatuated with dragons and robots and pretty accents lately.
Continued peace and prosperity to you.
-AS
November 5th, 2009 at 9:58 am
I’m stunned by the negativity. It’s a movie, people, you know, for fun. A movie, not a film. A summer release. A blockbuster. Popcorn and a Diet Coke. What the heck is the matter with everyone?
“It has too much yellow in it.” “There aren’t enough jokes in the trailer.” “What happened to cinema?” “I didn’t get to cast it so the cast must be wrong.”
I hope it does well. When movies are good and people go see them we all win, even those of us who aren’t in the game yet.
November 5th, 2009 at 10:09 am
So what, are they arabs? Where’s the flying carpets? THIS MOVIE MAKES NO SENSE. Boy let me tell you, when 12 Angry Men was on top, you sure as hell knew who the arabs were. You could see it in their eyes because of the acting, and the eye makeup. That’s when movies were good.
November 5th, 2009 at 11:48 am
I don’t mind the British accents and actually prefer them. You could take the argument much further… why are they even speaking English? Look at Gladiator, they spoke English with Brit accents. To me, it’s incidental. The story is what matters.
November 5th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Ooo-er. I liked your pitch trailer better. That evoked an excitement about what could be achieved with the movie and how things could be developed. Now it’s here it looks to me as if it’s almost entirely bereft of a story and a soul.
November 6th, 2009 at 1:55 am
I really – really liked the letters at the end. Super cool. I really hope this flick beats all the existing desert movies, and don
t fall into the bluescreen trap like so many before. Besides movies these days are so sterile. Looks like we can expect some deasent moves and fast effects and anglings. i Like the way they take stuff from the original platform game aswell. Im thinking scorpion king or pirates of the ca…. Looking forward to it!!November 7th, 2009 at 12:14 am
Epic. I like Jake. And his sister too, not that that’s relevant. Congratulations, John. You’ll get my money. :)
November 7th, 2009 at 7:45 am
Totally outstanding trailer! The woman is superb, and the line, “There must be some reason you can’t take your eyes off me,” sounds classic.
November 7th, 2009 at 8:00 am
I think it`s time to cast a new actor. I know Bruce can do it. :))
I
m sure its a “must see”. All other John -projects are.November 8th, 2009 at 2:27 am
@Mike (a different Mike) –
They’re speaking English because it’s an American movie. If Jake was speaking in his normal voice I think people would be complaining about it (slightly) less: “Oh, they just decided not to bother with the whole accent thing.” Instead, Jake specifically learned an accent for the role — but the wrong accent. Which is noticeably weird.
But I agree, if the story ropes us in, we won’t care while we’re watching the movie. It’s a pretty slick trailer.
November 14th, 2009 at 10:39 am
For me, the original trailer is better and much more exciting – partly because (weirdly) it feels much more real and believable. Much more like the real world, and so much more seductive.
November 15th, 2009 at 12:51 am
About time.
M.
November 15th, 2009 at 1:13 am
The “Sands of Time” was just a device to change the original videogame experience.
It allowed you to have a continuous gameplay without resorting to the old LOAD GAME when you were dead.
If you had enough sand, you pressed a key [I don't remember which,] activating the sands, going back in time a few seconds, giving you another chance at fighting your enemy without going back to the menu screen.
A good find, but I think it was also frustrating. At least, when you died in the “usual” way, you could “discharge” the game tension, breathe, curse, and make another action plan before engaging your enemy again.
That device had to be explained, so it was somehow embedded into the story of Prince of Persia, which is now a movie.
But Disney / Mr. Bruckheimer’s behind it, so… there’s hope.
M.
November 16th, 2009 at 3:03 am
you can
t go back in time because it already happened. and nobody are. so we didnt make it. but this is just a movie. anything goes!!November 18th, 2009 at 9:37 am
@ John
Forthwith, I shall! (spoken like Sir John Gielgud)
It’s not that Jake is speaking in a Brit accent, i accept this is the convention, it’s just that he sounds so… plummy! In england we’d call his accent ‘well posh’.
Looks like a good summer movie, sure it’ll be a lot of fun.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
It is Disney. And having John on the team is going to be exciting. But Disney has also changed. Go look at how the Disney stars is using the social media these days. Not all those accounts is posers. See for example noie and ems show episode 14. and screen it carefully. I could be bjoern. Not ok.
November 19th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Hey John. If youre reading this. Could you please erase my Miley Cyrus comment. it
s her 16th birthday or something. Big party in NY. Not a good way to preach storytelling courses... I wonder if this film is gonna blow me really away. Cant wait to go to the theatre and see it. I love that game.