Now on DVD, the arguments still rage about Sahara.
THE PLOT:
Searching for a treasure on the River Niger, Dirk Pitt thwarts the attempted assassination of a U.N. scientist investigating a disease that is bringing death to thousands of North Africans. The suspected cause of the epidemic is pollution that threatens to extinguish all life in the world's seas. Racing to save the world from environmental catastrophe, Pitt and his team run a gauntlet between a billionaire French industrialist and a bloodthirsty West African tyrant. In the scorching desert, Pitt uncovers the truth behind the fate of a Civil War ironclad. Now, amidst the blazing, shifting sands of the Sahara, he must make a desperate stand and win a battle the world cannot afford to lose!
Summary reproduced from IMDb - the world's greatest movie data base written by Ronos
L - R : Dirk Pitt - Matthew McConaughey / Al Girodino - Steve Zahn / Dr Eva Rojas - Penelope Cruz
RIK says
: In most people's opinion, as a long time reader and fan of Clive Cussler's
Dirk Pitt stories I should hate Sahara. Oddly, I agree with most of its critics:
It is nothing like the book, one of the main characters has been utterly
changed, much more comedy has been introduced and large cuts and changes have
been made.
All this said, I despair of the criticisms that are levelled at this and many other films made from books. I would point out one important thing. IT'S A FILM! If Clive Cussler fans want what's in the book I suggest they read it again. It is a great read and includes a UN special forces team, an extra sub plot and a long and bloody siege all of which would have contributed to a film run time of about eight hours.
The film is tongue in cheek, very funny in places and also thought provoking in others. McConaughey (not previously an actor I liked) makes a very good Dirk Pitt. He has been criticised for being a "light weight Indiana Jones" in the role. This, in my opinion is not departure from the character in the books who is very like "Indy" but a more realistic "Indy". So what's the problem? Cruz brings a reality and strength to the Doctor, this is not the woman in the book who has less hard edges and is there to get in to situations Pitt can save her from (not characteristic of Cussler heroines usually.) Greatest honours must go to Steve Zahn for his Girodino. True he is not short fat and Italian as the books tell us, but given the things he does in print Zahn's Girodino could probably achieve them, I have always doubted that the Girodino in the books could have as he is described. Zahn manages to come across as a great comic creation but also never forgets that Girodino is the equal that Dirk Pitt relies on rather than the assistant he claims in one scene to be.
L - R : Al gives cover / "I think we have to pull a Panama!" / In the Ironclad.
The film pulls some superb and, for once original , action sequences but never lingers on them. Everything here is moving the plot along at breakneck speed. There is enough love story for the incurable romantic but even within it the plot hurtles onwards.
L - R : Dirk cons The Admiral (William H Macey) out of his boat / Lambert Wilson as Bad Guy Yves Massard / 3 heroes discover what dynamiting a mountain can do!
In short, No, it's not like the book but it's not supposed to be. It's a fun film to watch and if it introduces you to Dirk Pitt and you like him you could always go and buy the book, or all of them... go on, you can pay the rent next week!
SAHARA LINKS
SAHARA - THE OFFICIAL SITE