What Do Prince Of Persia And The Chronicles Of Riddick Have In Common?

The central special effect used in the upcoming film, Prince of Persia: The Sands Of Time, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, looks suspiciously like one used to great effect (no pun intended) in The Chronicles Of Riddick (2004). I’m talking about Gyllenhaal’s out of body experience when he uses the dagger to travel back in time. Didn’t the Lord Marshal (Colm Feore in a great performance) do the same out of body schtick in The Chronicles Of Riddick? I realize that the Lord Marshal was a holy half-dead Necromonger who traveled to the Underverse, then returned, and used his out of body self as a backup personality to battle Riddick and others who challenged his authority. Not quite the same as traveling back in time. But the special effect looks almost identical based on the trailer for Prince of Persia: The Sands Of Time, even if the trick is used for different reasons.  Don’t get me wrong. I’m not complaining. The Lord Marshal’s out of body trick was one of the most effective digital effects in recent years. It was a defining visual for a great film. I’m a bit giddy to see something like it used again. Sometimes imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Tagged as: Action, Adventure, Colm Feore, David Twohy, Fantasy, Gemma Arterton, Jake Gyllenhaal, Mike Newell, Sci-Fi, Thandie Newton, Vin Diesel