Product ReviewsSahara (DVD, 2005, Widescreen)

Sahara (DVD, 2005, Widescreen)

Once again Dirk Pitt (Matthew McConaughey) and his lifelong pal and best friend, Al Giordino (Steve Zahn), are on another treasure hunt in Clive Cussler's "SAHARA". This time they are looking for the fabled Civil War Confederate Ironclad "TEXAS". The story has it that it crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 1865 and made it all the way to Africa and up the Niger River where it disappeared, and has never since been seen. On a tip from an antiquities dealer in Nigeria, Dirk acquires a $20 gold coin, one of only five minted, by the Confederacy in 1865, and found in Mali!

Dirk and Al convince their boss, retired Admiral James Sandecker (William H. Macy), and NUMA, to let them go to Mali and search. Upon arriving, they meet Doctor Eva Rojas (Penelope Cruz) and her associate, Dr. Frank Hopper (Glynn Turman), both with the World Health Organization. They are going to Mali to try and find the source of a deadly epidemic, spreading through the land. Dirk and Al give them a lift on their boat.

A French businessman, Yves Massarde, and a warlord/dictator, General Kazim, who controls half of Mali, are trying to stop them. After dropping the doctors off, Dirk and Al discover strange bacteria in the Niger River that can only be from hazardous waste contamination. This stuff is flowing towards the ocean, and killing many people along the way. All of a sudden, Dirk and Al come under fire from soldiers of this General Kazim. Narrowly escaping, but with the loss of Sandecker's Yacht, they are afoot in Africa. The WHO people also come under fire and all are killed except Dr. Rojas (Cruz). She teams up with Dirk and Al in an attempt to find the source of the contamination. They trace it to a secret solar powered plant in the middle of the Mali Desert. In truth, the contamination is coming from this plant and seeping through the well system into the river.

As the movie progresses, the plant owner, Massarde, fearing discovery as the source of the contamination, attempts to blow up the plant with Dirk, Al, and Eva, locked inside. In the mean time, they have been trying to stir up the inhabitants against the Dictator General Kazim. He is moving against Dirk and his party, and anyone else in his way. By accident they discover the rusted wreck of the Ironclad Texas, and while under attack by Kazim's forces, take refuge inside. With the help of a 150 year old cannon and a very lucky shot, they manage to kill Kazim, and with the opposition forces, stop his army. As a bonus, they discover thousands of Confederate gold coins on-board the Texas.

In the closing scene, Yves Massarde is having lunch in a restaurant with another man. He is brought water to his table laced with the same contaminant that killed hundreds of others.Read full review...

Mathew Mcconaughey is a slam dunk as Dirk Pitt!!

You must just let yourself go...… get into the characters that Clive Cussler creates with such gusto!

The actors fully engage in the parts, despite the harsh conditions where they are filming, and the results are great fun in the adventure.

This is the only film Cussler has allowed to be made from his books...… a great choice for the swashbuckling characters, Dirk Pitt and Al Giordino…….. and Sandecker is perfectly portrayed!!

When you need a 'lift' or a little nail-biting excitement, just plug this one in and ENJOY!!!Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: yourmomlovesmedia

Wildarse Fun

What do you get when you cross Dr. Schweitzer with Mata Hari, throw in some evil warlords, the CIA, and Navy Seals, toss in some Confederate technology and gold, then set it in Bedouin Arabia? You get one helluva wildarse fun movie. I've really become a fan of Matt McConaughey action flicks, while Penelope Cruz and Steve Zhan support well.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: decluttr_store

Great movie...but the book was a little better

I watched Shara the first time because I am a huge fan of Clive Cussler and I wanted to see how true to the book the movie was. I watched the movie the 2nd, and 3rd, and 4th time because it was a great movie.
The movie followed the general premise of the book but didn't have all the details - I especially missed the twist on the Lncoln assassination that was in the book but not the movie. If you've never read the book, I would highly recommend reading it after watching this movie...the book gives alot more details and twists.
I was surprised at how well Matthew McConaughey played the character of Dirk Pitt. All of the actors did a wonderful job portraying Cussler's characters and bringing them to life.
This is a movie that you definitely won't mind watching again and again.Read full review...

THE TREASURE HUNT IS ON!

Features Actors: Matthew McConaughey, Penelope Cruz, William H. Macy & Steve Zahn
Running Time:123 Min.
Rating:PG-13

Dirk Pitt is a modern-day, treasure-hunter. With the experience of serving in the Navy under his belt, Pitt joins the National Underwater and Marine Agency (NUMA) with childhood pal Al Giordino (comic relief Steve Zahn) as they search for artifacts and other historically-important trinkets under the dime of Admiral James Sandecker (William H. Macy). Dirk has been long searching for an ironclad Confederate ghost ship that was lost at sea towards the end of the Civil War, and the recovery of a Confederate gold coin off the coast of Mali delivers his first clue in years.On his way to Africa, Dirk saves the life of a World Health Organization doctor (Penelope Cruz) after she is attacked by a group of mysterious soldiers on the beach. The doctor is investigating a possible plague that is swatting the African population, and the main source of the disease is originating from none other than Mali. How incredibly convenient for the pair of buddies to team up with the beautiful girl, but the evil General Kazim (Lennie James) isn’t going to let the trio of troublemakers ruin his plans for world domination without sending a few thousand troops to thwart their efforts.

Action-packed movie, will keep you glued to your seat!Would recommend to rent or buy!Hope this helps you decide!Thanks for reading! :)Read full review...

sahara

absolute classic adventure film, clive cusslers dirk pitt character is timeless indeed. the special effects were way above average, and cussler just seems to be able to suck you into the movie with his great story lines and bonafide characters.

his use of classic cars,great locations,and high voltage-high speed storyline keeps me riveted to the screen. I just wish hollywood would make more of his books into movies instead of constant foul mouthed semi porno flicks they usually do.Read full review...

SAHARA (2005,DVD )

"SPECTACULAR "! IT'S INDIANA JONES' AND 'JAMES BOND' ROLLED INTO ONE INCREDIBLY FUN FILM TO WATCH." THERE IS A LEGEND OF A TREASURE THAT CLAIMS ALL WHO SEEK IT... SCOURING THE OCEAN DEPTHS FOR TREASURE-LADEN SHIPWRECKS IS BUSINESS AS USUAL FOR THRILL-SEEKING UNDERWATER ADVENTURER (MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY) AND HIS WISECRACKING BUDDY (STEVE ZAHN). BUT WHEN THESE TWO CROSS PATHS WITH A BEAUTIFUL DOCTOR (PENELOPE CRUZ), THEY FIND THEMSELVES ON THE ULIMATE TREASUE HUNT. SOON THE THREE ARE IN FOR THE RIDE OF THEIR LIVES AS THEY CROSS THE BLISTERING NORTH AFRICAN TERRAIN,PITTING THEIR SKILLS AGAINST RUTHLESS ENEMIES BENT ON WORLD DESTRUCTION. IN A RACE AGAINST TIME, THIS TRIO OF UNLIKELY HEROS MUST UNRAVEL THE CLUES, SOLVE THE MYSTERY AND SAVE THE WORLD IN "... A DELIRIOUS ESCAPE INTO ADVENTURE-SERIAL HEAVEN" THE WHOLE FAMILY CAN ENJOY. "THIS IS ONE TERRIFIC MOVIE!"Read full review...

Great Clive Cussler novel put on the big screen!

Great Dirk Pitt fast paced adventure, very well done and very entertaining!

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: nicolgra-36

SAHARA Matthew McConaughey Steve Zahn movie

Wonderful fun, fast-paced action/comedy/romance with great music!! Worth buying because you'll want to watch it more than once. A faithful and carefully-crafted Dirk Pitt adventure that should please Clive Cussler fans. Memorable African music and landscape interwoven with classic old rock serve to highlight and intensify the story. Suspend reality and enjoy a great escapist movie. Steve Zahn's comic sense and Matthew McConaughey's rugged daring-do make for great screen chemistry between the characters.Read full review...

Wonderful campy adventure story!

What's not to love about Matthew McConaughey?!?! Sahara, the movie, is based on Clive Cussler's novel by the same title. I expect a lot of women don't care for his somewhat chauvanistic writings. You just have to remember this is fiction. Matthew McConaughey makes the very unbelievable tale of a civil war ship with gold in the Sahara not only enjoyable but believable. I don't waste my money often on buying DVDs since seeing a movie once is usually enough. But this is one I know I'll watch several times again. Enjoy!Read full review...