Sahara DVD > Reviews > "Whats a panama ?"

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Good
Characters / Performances	Outstanding
Special Effects	Standard
Soundtrack	Outstanding

Advantages:	Humour, action, adventure, locations,
Disadvantages:	alot to take in while watching, very visual

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

This movie, based on the same book by Clive Cussler, stars Matthew Connaughty as Dirk Pitt, Steve Zahn as Al Giordino and Penelope Cruz as Pitts love interest Dr. Eva Roshas.

We get drawn into the movie first by viewing an iron clad during the civil war being shot at and escaping unharmed. Then we switch to the inside of, what I first thought was Dirks home, but actually is a NUMA research vessel and then switch to Nigeria where we get introduced to Dr. Eva Roshas, who works for the WHO (World Health Organization), reacting to an outbreak.

While she is trying to get a further blood sample from a lighthouse along a beach she gets attacked. To her rescue comes Dirk Pitt, who is fishing in the waters close to the beach. After coming too on board of the NUMA research vessel she gets introduced to Al (in the funniest of ways, looking at his backside !)and Rudi. The story evolves from there in Eva meeting Eva Lassard, who is a business man but also in some ways responsible for the outbreak, to Dirk convincing Admiral Sandecker (William H. Macey)to let him have the boat for three days to look for the iron clad.

As I like Cusslers books as well as the Dirk Pitt character this movie is one of my favorites. Matthew Connaughty plays his role quite well as the reserved but in control Pitt, while Al plays the perfect Al Giordino (if you look at the books). Funny, sticking by Pitt and with some great lines. The two of them make it believable that they are friends who knew each other for ages.
Penelope is a nice woman to use as romantic interest for Pitt and she herself does get involved too in the action making her an interesting character as well. And..you can actually feel the real romance that Penelope and Matthew had while shooting the movie. Nonstop action, great soundtrack and nice locations in Africa make it a real adventure.

Critizism ? Well, they are alot of anecdotes packed into the movie and that maybe overcrowds the senses a bit. In the intro you get the whole life story of Dirk and Al through Photographs, trophies and other stuff while in between Dirks interest in cars comes over when he finds the car belonging to Kazim. Unless you rewatch the movie or have read a book involving Pitt, Al and Rudi you might not understand everything at first.

A movie for adenture seekers, action and Clive Cussler fans.