The opening sequence of Sahara is a thrilling scene that shows
the Confederate Ironclad CSS Texas battling her way through a Union blockade on
a river at the end of the American Civil War. It's an exciting opening, with
guns blazing on both sides and the Union shells bouncing off the Ironclad's
armored sides. And, just as the viewer is getting really caught up in these
engrossing events, the main titles begin, and things pretty much go downhill
from this point. In present day Africa, Dr. Eva Rojas (Penélope Cruz, who at
times looks like she'd rather be anyplace but in this movie) is tracking down
the source of a plague for the World Health Organization. During her
investigation, which requires her to wander around unsavory areas alone for some
strange reason, Rojas encounters some thugs who steal her bag. They're about to
do a lot worse to her, but Dirk Pitt (Matthew McConaughey), all around hero and
nice guy, just happens to be there to save her.
Dirk has been working off the coast of Africa on a deep-sea salvage operation.
But in his spare time, he's been doing a little investigating on his own into
the CSS Texas. Captain Mason Tombs, the commander of the vessel, was given one
of only five gold coins that had ever been minted by the Confederacy, and when
Dirk finds this last coin in Africa, he knows that the wreckage of the CSS Texas can't be far
behind. This revelation is a little strange, because this particular Ironclad
was not designed to sail the open ocean (they were used primarily on rivers and
in bays during the Civil War), and although this fact is brought up in the film,
they never really explain how the ship could have made the crossing on the
Atlantic Ocean in the first place. But Sahara is a movie that doesn't really
want to think too hard about these annoying plot points; instead it just brushes
them aside and moves on to the air-headed business at hand.
After getting permission from his boss Admiral (retired) Sandecker (played by William H.
Macy, who must be killing time in-between starring in David Mamet movies) Dirk
and his friends sail off in a powerboat to find the CSS Texas--but not before
dropping Doctor Rojas off in a village along the way. Eventually, Dirk and his
buddies encounter some armed soldiers who shoot up their boat with automatic
weapons--but that's ok, because even though the boat is made of Fiberglas, it
somehow still stops the bullets from killing the boys. Although, at this point,
if Dirk and his team HAD been killed, it would have been a blessing, because
then the movie would have been over right then and there.
I've read several of author Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt novels, and while they
stretch credibility at times, they are always entertaining and just plain fun.
In contrast, Sahara is just plain silly. Cussler's novels work because they
always pay close attention to the tiniest of details, despite how far-fetched
they may be, and it's these very same small details that are exactly what the
movie ignores. The film tries so hard to capture a freewheeling, devil may care
style that it makes its characters act like total buffoons. Case in point is the
scene where soldiers in boats attack Dirk and friends on the river. And while
Dirk's ultra sleek powerboat could easily outrun the little clunkers driven by
the soldiers, he ultimately deals with this problem by diving into the water
after running his powerboat into the soldiers' boats and rigging it to explode!
Dirk and his buds are lost in Africa without any transportation or
communications, but who cares? Because we're having fun, right?! The special
features include two separate commentaries: one by director Breck Eisner and
another by Eisner and McConaughey, who served as a producer on the film. There
are also the deleted scenes, and the usual making of documentaries. If you're
looking for a fun modern day adventure, just read any of Clive Cussler's Dirk
Pitt novels and spare yourself the agony of sitting through this flick.
--SF
Main Review Page | Action/Adventure Page |Buy This DVD Right Here (Only If You Must)!
