'Prince of Persia' - an unintelligible film
Film Appreciation : with K S Sivakumaran
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Ben Kingsley as Gandhi |
To be honest with you, yours truly couldn't understand the story or
the plot or the theme of the English film from Hollywood titled 'The
Prince of Persia' despite it is a Walt Disney production.
True, children and adults who go for adventure and violence and all
that would appreciate it very much. But I must be true to myself. Of
course I could access the Internet and know more about the film and
interpret the film accordingly, but I wish to have my own ways of
appreciation.
The World Wide Web
Before the advent of the Internet and the World Wide Web, the film
critics of yesteryear had their own assessment.
And I am here a loner perhaps depending on my own inspiration and
understanding of the films I see following the critical standards I
absorbed. There may be others who have the same approach.
But I do not want to discourage those young people who are perhaps
influenced by the studied publicity the commercial film makers and
distributors make even for an unsavoury film.
One may ask why this film did not satisfy me. The main thing is that
the story and the film scenario should be intelligible to the viewer and
take the viewer with its direction and acting for the masses and even
the intelligentsia.
There should be a smooth continuity which should also be entertaining
and provide at leas some kind of aesthetic catharsis.
Society and relationships
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A scene from ‘The Prince of Persia’ |
This is because I am a conditioned viewer who appreciates most,
realistic films on social issues and human relationship rather than
implausible and fantastic films depicting far fetched imaginative
creation.
The present day films, particularly the Hollywood productions cater
to a different generation using the mechanical devices that overtake
human feelings.
Therefore films that satisfy the majority of viewers undoubtedly
become box office hits and one may argue that since cinema is a mass
medium it succeeds in grossing huge dividends for the producer and
therefore justifiable.
All that is true, but box office hits are not necessarily artistic
and everlasting in its contribution to quality world cinema.
Ben's presence
However, I liked the presence of Ben Kingsley in the film although I
didn't like him playing the role of an ambitious evil man. His
magnificent performance in 'Gandhi' is still memorable. Another striking
performance by this British actor was in 'The Schindler's List'.
As for other actors I have nothing special to say. But this I must
confess: the technical virtuosity and camera ticks made me wonder
whether such things are really possible in this century. Perhaps I am a
square in the sense of too old-fashioned.
Sure, you see the film if you wish to.
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