the oh-no! DVD of the week: ‘Princess of Persia’

If you’re hoping your straight-to-DVD fantasy action flick is gonna ride the coattails of a big Hollywood blockbuster, you should probably pick your big Hollywood blockbuster better: it doesn’t pay to hitch your wagon to a flop.

The epic true story of one woman's battle to save a nation. King Xerxes is leading the Persians in a brutal war with the Greeks. At his side is the beautiful Esther, a woman transformed from peasant to princess. As the battle intensifies, an unlikely chain of events forces Esther into an impossible position to choose between all she has ever dreamed of and the fate of her people. Can she defy an empire and save a nation on the brink of destruction? Featuring breathtaking action and performances from an all-star cast including Omar Sharif (Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago), Peter O'Toole (Lawrence of Arabia, Troy) and Jonathan Rhys-Davies (The Lord of the Rings trilogy), The Princess of Persia is this year's must see epic experience.

Oh, poor John Rhys-Davies: He’s been stuck in crappy fantasy action films since The Lord of the Rings. And Peter O’Toole? Oh dear...