And this is what it has come to apparently. While promoting Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, star Jake Gyllenhaal has taken to begging for the approval of the finicky gamer audience to see his new, video game-based, movie. Because the only thing that can sink the box office potential of a movie faster than negative reviews is negative reviews from a niche audience of demographically friendly fans who will see the movie anyway. You tell 'em, Jake!
As Gyllenhaal said at the London premiere:
"I know ... this will not appease all gamers, and I know there is a lot of skepticism about the translation of a video game to a movie, but I also feel excited that I think we've done something that's better than any of the translations that have come out thus far.
These games haven't been given the respect they deserve in the movie world, and I think (producer) Jerry (Bruckheimer) has done that and I think that we tried so hard to make it our own and at the same time stay true to the games.
Never mind the depressing nature of a statement like "we tried so hard to make it our own and at the same time stay true to the games" -- because, no -- but who does Gyllenhaal think he's fooling here? Somehow I doubt Bruckheimer and company were sitting around talking about respecting the video game. And they shouldn't. This is a mass-market tentpole along the lines of Pirates of the Caribbean, not Resident Evil. Who really cares what the gamers think?
Well, apparently Gyllenhaal. But he's ready for the slings and arrows:
They (the gamers) are tough, and I appreciate that. I come from a tough family. I don't mind tough critics."