... When Dirk's boat is shot up by the Mali military looking for Eva, Dirk abandons his plans of hunting for the "Texas" and goes looking for the doctor before it's too late…
"Sahara" is almost like a modern day Indiana Jones and while not as good as Raiders of the Lost Ark, could arguably ... Read review
It took more than 25 years for another Clive Cussler novel to come to the screen after the ... more
financial and critical disaster ofRaise the Titanic. Based on Cussler's oddly landlocked adventure,Saharafinds the author's hero, Dirk Pitt (Matthew McConaughey)...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Columbia's biggest hit of 1943,Saharaconfirmed the superstar status Humphrey Bogart ... more
attained with his Warner Brothers' North African adventure,Casablanca(1942). Surrounded by the Germans on three sides, Bogart's tough-as-they-come Sergeant Joe Gunn tak...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
If the mere sight of Michael Palin striding purposefully towards the camera across some ... more
foreign terrain is enough to send you into fits of delight, thenSaharais just for you. Following on from his three pan-global expeditions, Palin is back on the expl...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
It took more than 25 years for another Clive Cussler novel to come to the screen after the ... more
financial and critical disaster ofRaise the Titanic. Based on Cussler's oddly landlocked adventure,Saharafinds the author's hero, Dirk Pitt (Matthew McConaughey)...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
A thrilling action adventure based on the novel by Clive Cussler! Dirk (Matthew ... more
McConaughey) and Al (Steve Zahn) have been friends since kindergarten having also gone through college and the Navy together. The two now work for a former admiral travel...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Columbia's biggest hit of 1943,Saharaconfirmed the superstar status Humphrey Bogart ... more
attained with his Warner Brothers' North African adventure,Casablanca(1942). Surrounded by the Germans on three sides, Bogart's tough-as-they-come Sergeant Joe Gunn tak...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
There's plenty of top-notch explosive action in this 1943 "Bogie" classic about a ragtag ... more
battalion stranded in the great African desert during World War II. After the fall of the Libyan city of Tobruk Sergeant Joe Gunn (Humphrey Bogart) and his crew-...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
There's plenty of top-notch, explosive action in this 1943 Bogie classic about a ragtag ... more
battalion stranded in the great African desert during World War II. After the fall of the Libyan city of Tobruk, Sergeant Joe Gunn (Humphrey Bogart) and his crew - ...
Production Year: 1964 - Action/Adventure - Director: Cyril Endfield - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring:Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Michael Caine, Nigel Green
Production Year: 1977 - Action/Adventure - Director: Clint Eastwood - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring:Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Pat Hingle, William Prince, Bill McKinney
Production Year: 2002 - Action/Adventure - Director: Vincenzo Natali - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Lucy Liu, David Hewlett, Anne Marie Scheffler, Joseph Scoren, Matthew Sharp, Jeremy Northam
Action/Adventure - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring:Jack Ging, Marla Heasley, Lance Legault, Melinda Culea, Mr T, Dwight Schultz, Dirk Benedict, George Peppard, Carl Franklin
Advantages: Swash and buckling. What more do you need? Action? Adventure? Humour? It's all here. Disadvantages: Nothing serious enough to spoil the fun.
...
Where Sahara really wins is with Steve Zahn's Al Giordino. The reason I liked Al so much was not simply because he was the comedy sidekick (which Zahn seems to specialise at), but because when the going gets tough, Al's as much in the thick of the action as Dirk is and is able to handle himself. It's a feature of action/adventure flicks that doesn't happen enough in my opinion and this made Sahara that little bit different to other ... ...alone. It turns out that Sahara was probably the best movie of the three.
The performances of the two male leads were excellent and the film managed to avoid my usual bugbear of a female companion/love interest whose sole purpose is to get into trouble. The film, at just under two hours long, kept my attention throughout and ended before it got too much. I don't remember there being any swearing, sex or blood in it, either, so if you ... more
In 1865 the "Texas", a Confederate iron clad ship escapes into the Atlantic, never to be seen or heard from again…
Dirk Pitt (Matthew McConaughey) is an ex-Navy SEAL working for the National Underwater and Marine Agency (NUMA), headed by Admiral James Sandecker (William H. Macy). They specialise in underwater archaeology and while off the coast of Africa, Dirk Pitt once again raises his theory that the "Texas" had sailed all the way across the Atlantic to Africa. Eva Rojas (Penélope Cruz) is a doctor working for the World Health Organisation, investigating the possible outbreak of some kind of plague.
Their paths cross, first when Dirk rescues the beautiful doctor from a mysterious attacker and second when Dirk's trip into Mali (borrowing his boss's boat) to hunt for the "Texas" coincides with Eva's trip into Mali to find the source of the plague.
After dropping Eva and her colleague off to travel overland, Dirk, his friend Al (Steve Zahn) and colleague Rudi head further up the river to investigate a clue Dirk has found. When Dirk's boat is shot up by the Mali military looking for Eva, Dirk abandons his plans of hunting for the "Texas" and goes looking for the doctor before it's too late…
"Sahara" is almost like a modern day Indiana Jones and while not as good as Raiders of the Lost Ark, could arguably give any of the others a run for their money. The action starts early and never really lets up until the very end.
Matthew McConaughey's Dirk Pitt is likable enough, though able to deal with most circumstances as you might expect of a leading character. As an acting role, it might not tax him too much, but you get the impression he had a lot of fun in making the movie and this does translate across onto the screen. Penélope Cruz, as Eva Rojas, is a modern woman and holds her own when the danger levels rises (and in Sahara, this is a frequent occurrence).
Where Sahara really wins is with Steve Zahn's Al Giordino. The reason I liked Al so much was not simply because he was the comedy sidekick (which Zahn seems to specialise at), but because when the going gets tough, Al's as much in the thick of the action as Dirk is and is able to handle himself. It's a feature of action/adventure flicks that doesn't happen enough in my opinion and this made Sahara that little bit different to other films of this genre.
From the very start, I was drawn into the story as I watched the Texas escape and disappear into the fog. Soon after, the action kicked off in the present day and didn't really let up for the next two hours. There are a few plot threads to follow (Dirk, Eva and the Admiral), but none of them is particularly taxing and everything remains clear right up until the end where I found my only real complaint about the film and that was that the mystery of the Texas wasn't really explained to my satisfaction, despite being Dirk's driving force for a lot of the movie and, as was hinted near the start, an obsession of his.
Complementing the good fun atmosphere of the film is the soundtrack and rather than be spoon fed dramatic music to tell us what's happening, the director has chosen to use some good-time rock music instead, so expect songs like "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd to accompany the boat trip, for example. Most of the music is American 70's rock (Dr. John, Steppenwolf, Grand Funk Railroad etc.), but it seemed to suit the sequences perfectly.
I don't usually pay too much attention to stuff like direction or cinematography when watching a film. However I couldn't help but be impressed by the photography during the scenes in the Sahara. Even on my relatively small screen, the scale of the desert was remarkable and really gave life to it.
To be quite honest, I wasn't expecting a lot from Sahara. It was only in my collection to bulk out a three for three nights package from my video shop. The cover just looked fun and cheesy and a risk was taken on it for that reason alone. It turns out that Sahara was probably the best movie of the three.
The performances of the two male leads were excellent and the film managed to avoid my usual bugbear of a female companion/love interest whose sole purpose is to get into trouble. The film, at just under two hours long, kept my attention throughout and ended before it got too much. I don't remember there being any swearing, sex or blood in it, either, so if you don't mind the kids see a couple of bad guys get shot (bloodlessly), then it could be one for youngsters, too. It's been a long while since I last was able to sit back and simply enjoy a really good, fun movie as I did with Sahara.
It has been suggested that Sahara might be the first in a series of Dirk Pitt (or possibly NUMA) films, and if that's the case then I eagerly await the next. However, I get the impression that Sahara didn't perform particularly well at the box office, so any further adventures might not be forthcoming.
Advantages: Fun adventure romp, full of action Disadvantages: Shallow plot and cheesiness
First off, I will say that if you're for a bit of fun and adventure and not after a truly believable or solid plot, then this is the film for you. Two hours or so of action with some cheesy acting, the odd occasion of raw comedy and a dash of romance is enough to keep you going. I, for one, enjoyed it, because that is all I was expecting, and that is all I got.
In 1865, an ironclad ship called Texas was lost. Shoot forward to the present day, and ... ...to find the Texas, aided by long-suffering friend Al Girodino (Steve Zahn). Along the way, the pair rescue UN Doctor Eva Rojas (Penelope Cruz) who is investigating the suspicious deaths of thousands of Africans, and when a link between the two appears possible, they join forces in searching for the ship. However, they are not alone, and have managed to make more than one enemy!
The film is based on the novel by Clive Cussler, and the author's hero, ...
pmcds 21.01.2009 (13.02.2009)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Sahara (DVD)
Advantages: Good action romp Disadvantages: Lack of chemistry between main male and female leads
...into the desolation of the Sahara where they have to prevent a global catastrophe instigated by evil African dictator General Zateb Kazim.
The film is based on the novels of Clive Cussler also famous for another screen adaptation of his book 'Raise the Titanic' in the 80's. Cussler is also known for founding the real life NUMA in the 70's, which still exists. Just like the novels the film is made to be a rip-roaring adventure where any improbability ... ...any film that is titled Sahara will include plenty of action in the desert and this does not disappoint. The scenic shots of the rolling dunes like some huge ocean made of sand are impressive as is the overall lighting and cinematography. One other aspect of the film to mention is the soundtrack, which shunned the more orchestral music (well it was there in part but wasn't that memorable) typical of this genre for using a very good rock soundtrack. ...
Mauri 12.05.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Sahara (DVD)
Advantages: Steve Zahn Disadvantages: No characterisation, dull plot
Dirk Pitt, adventurer and former Marine, has long held an ambition to find a battleship that disappeared in the Sahara, a relic of the Civil War. He sets off to find it with best friend Al Giordino in tow. But the path of a true adventurer is never straightforward. On the way, he meets a UN doctor, Eva Rojas, who believes that an epidemic killing thousands of West Africans may have a human explanation. Certainly, an African warlord seems intent on ... ...able to prove the source of the epidemic? And will Pitt and Giordino find their battleship? Based on a book by Clive Cussler that I have never read, I didn't really have much of an idea of what this film would be about; I was encouraged to watch it simply because of Penelope Cruz. As Eva Rojas, she gives a reasonable performance, but I wasn't particularly bowled over. In some ways, Eva is a means to an end - she is in the film because Dirk needs ...
sunmeilan 09.04.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Sahara (DVD)
Advantages: Excellent cast, entertaining ideas, and very humorous with enough action to keep things flowing Disadvantages: A little uneven in the pacing, some standard genre errors, and the ending lacks luster
...up stranded somewhere in the Sahara with the "last" of a rare series of Confederate golden dollars that never quite surfaced during or after the Civil War. Imagine their surprise when Al finds ancient paintings in a cave that depict an infamous "Ship of Death" that looks, undeniably, like an ironclad vessel! Is the ship the source of this mysterious illness? We, the viewers, quickly realize that this illness is just an inconvenient by-product for ... ...of Confederate ironclad in the Sahara is intriguing, it simply isn't plausible. While the (rather large list of) screenwriters did manage to avoid the "endless" count-down bit, they still had the "just escaped the huge explosion Despite the fact that I'm carrying explosives" scene, which just glares out as a flaw, in my opinion. The very Best action or action/adventure either a. finds creative but acceptable explanations for situations that arise ...
Entwife 19.10.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Sahara (DVD)
Advantages: Easy watching, fun, action movie Disadvantages: Penelope Cruz, lots of plot holes
...by Clive Cussler in 1992, Sahara is the 11th of the 17 book series of Dirk Pitt books but the first to be turned into a film. It was released in April 2005 and is well worth a watch as it is a fun, easy to watch movie. It is especially good considering that it is director Breck Eisner's first major movie and stars two of the most wooden actors in Hollywood in Matthew McConaughey and Penelope Cruz.
There are quite a few plot-holes in the film but ... ...of the novels as, based upon another book of his that I have read (The Lost City), these holes are commonplace. However, if you are willing to look through them, then the film can be extremely enjoyable.
If you are planning on watching this film then I would recommend hiring it out or watching it on TV if it's on as the DVD is not worth spending money on as there are no extras. Although having said that, a quick search shows it available for as ...
StereoMike1983 04.07.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Sahara (DVD)
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Advantages: If you love the weather this is great Disadvantages: already seen footage could be longer
If you love the weather you love this too. Presented by Donal MacIntyre With great informative facts about how hurricanes are made and how fast winds can reach in the wake of the moment.
With stunnng CGI to breathtaking filming techniques.
There are four programmes on the DVD which talk about the 'Wind', 'Water', 'Winter' and 'Summer'
Donel shows us the heat of the Sahara to a fury of a monsoon then through the coldest of temperature's to the artic and swimming under the ice. Then once again shows us that no man can withstand hurricane force winds up 150 mph, has he reconstucts this for us in a wind tunnel
The BBC should make more DVD's like this in the future this is excellent series really shows us the true Forces of Nature ...
Advantages: Bogart, Grahame, the dialogue, Disadvantages: Lack of English subtitles on special features
montage of posters and lobby cards for the eight movies that Bogart made for Columbia pictures from 'Sahara' (1943) through to his final performance in 'The Harder They Fall' (1957).
There are two documentaries included on the DVD. Firstly a brief look at the restoration process and digitisation of 'In A Lonely Place.' Comparing pieces of the film in the original Library of Congress print with the film on this DVD shows what an amazing job Pro-tek and Sony pictures did.
The second 'In a Lonely Place Revisited' is an excellent documentary hosted by Curtis Hanson (Director of 'LA Confidential') from the building that inspired the main set from the movie. He discusses the relevance of the films title, the films story, Bogart's performance, Grahame's performance, Nicholas Ray's direction of the film, the differences between the film ...
Explorer Dirk Pitt sets off of a quest to discover 'The Ship Of Death', a sunken battleship which locals believe protects a secret cargo. Teaming up with his sidekick and Dr Eva, he soon realises that the ship may well be the cause for the poisoning of thousands of North Africans...
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
PARAMOUNT HOME ENTERTAINMENT; TECHNICOLOR DIST. SERVICES, PARAMOUNT HOME ENTERTAINMENT; TECHNICOLOR DISTRIBUTION SERVICES, SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT; CINRAM LOGISTICS, 2 ENTERTAIN VIDEO; SONY DADC
Dolby Digital 5.1 English Italian Spanish, Mono English French Italian Spanish
Special Features
Vintage Advertising, Filmographies
Professional reviews
Review
The most fun you'll have at the movies this year! (Daily Mirror, )
Spectacular! It's INDIANA JONES and JAMES BOND rolled into one incredibly fun film (Fox TV, 19/09/2008)
Belting action extravaganza! (News Of The World, )
Stunning, high-octane fun... The best popcorn flick I've seen all year! (The Sun, 19/09/2008)
DVD Description
Dirk (Matthew McConaughey) and Al (Steve Zahn) have been friends since kindergarten, having also gone through college and the Navy together. The two now work for a former admiral travelling around the world and salvaging treasures from the sea with the National Underwater and Marine Agency (NUMA). In his spare time, Dirk is obsessed with the 150-year-old mystery of the Texas, an Ironclad battleship that reportedly disappeared from Richmond, Virginia during a Civil War battle and turned up in Africa. When a Confederate coin--allegedly one of only five minted--surfaces in Mali, Dirk and Al plan to travel there from Lagos, Nigeria on the admiral's yacht to investigate. Meanwhile, in Lagos, Dirk meets Eva (Penelope Cruz), a doctor for the World Health Organization (WHO) who believes that there is a plague building in Mali. Since the WHO is unable to find another way into the war-torn country, Dirk and Al give Eva and her colleague a lift up the river. Once in Mali, Dirk, Al, and Eva quickly find themselves embroiled in trouble as she pursues the source of the disease. Meanwhile, Dirk and Al search for the Texas. Based on a novel by Clive Cussler, SAHARA is a rollicking thrill ride through exotic locales, including everything from high-speed boat chases to helicopter pursuits to jeeps racing through the desert to camel rides. A warlord and a greedy French businessman prove to be formidable villains for the trio. McConaughey fits the bill as gentleman and adventurer Dirk, while Zahn holds his own as likeable sidekick Al. Cruz is feisty as independent Eva. Director Breck Eisner's theatrical feature film debut also features William H. Macy as the admiral.
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