"Sahara" Anything but Dry
Category: Movies...
Posted Saturday, April 09, 2005 at 03:42 PM [GMT-6]

I can sum up "Sahara" in two words: great fun! If you liked any of the Indiana Jones films, then you'll almost surely like this one, provided you're able to suspend any requirements that a movie's plot be without holes big enough to ride camels through.

When last we saw Matthew McConaughey in an action role, he looked like a shaven-headed tatooed WWF cast-off (wait...that's redundant, isn't it?) fighting dragons in "Reign of Fire," a movie that was unseen by millions. (For the record, I liked it. Go figure.) In "Sahara," he plays Dirk Pitt, the hero of a series of Clive Cussler novels and a character we'll be seeing again in future movies. McConaughey has the right combination of self-deprecating humor, McGyver-inspired ingenuity and deadly accuracy with any type of firearm...just what you'd expect from your average archaeologist.

McConaughey has as his faithful sidekick Steve Zahn, the poor man's Owen Wilson. Zahn works steadily in Hollywood, but this may be his biggest role yet, and he doesn't disappoint. Penelope Cruz plays the female lead, a doctor for the WHO who (I've been dying to type that!) doesn't do a heck of a lot of doctoring, but still acquits herself admirably. Oh, and let's not forget William Macy, who will get slammed for appearing in a movie of this nature but who still avoids just coasting through it.

The bonus is the excellent soundtrack, an eclectic mixture of African "world music" and late 60s/early 70s rock (including Grand Funk Railroad).

The plot isn't important; you can read about it elsewhere if you just need to know. What's important is that this is a PG-13 movie that you can take 13-year olds to (especially boys) and have a great time with it. I can't recall anything that would bump the movie from a PG to a PG-13, other than perhaps some tense and somewhat gross scenes (of a medical nature...remember the WHO?) early on.

"Sahara" won't win any Academy Awards, but the fun ones rarely do. I give it 7.5 stars out of 10.

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Comments

Eric, we were wondering if we could take the boys (9 and 11) to see it. Not much out there, in the A&E press, to help us. That guy in the MRT, the one who counts the 'dirty words,' didn't even have the film in his column.

Posted by: Jeff at April 9, 2005 06:18 PM

Jeff, you might double-check with Screenit.com, but we couldn't remember any bad language at all, and definitely not any sex/nudity.

Posted by: Eric at April 9, 2005 06:42 PM

I liked the movie, too.

It was good, clean fun.

Posted by: Julie at April 9, 2005 07:11 PM

Sounds like a good movie! I was wondering if I would have anything cinematic to look forward to this year. I am lost without an LOTR or M&C to wait for. I occaisionally remember Clive Cussler and tell myself that i need to pick up one of his novels, but then I get distracted.

Hope all is well your way!

Posted by: Sharon Ferguson at April 9, 2005 09:11 PM

Sharon, we also saw the trailers for "A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe" and "War of the Worlds." The former looks like "Men in Black" on steroids...should be a blast. The latter might be a blockbuster also, although I'm always skeptical when a classic gets recycled.

We're getting ready for summer in west Texas...it hit 85° today!

Posted by: Eric at April 9, 2005 09:27 PM

The War of the Worlds trailer made my hair stand up. That looks like an incredible movie. Hitchhiker's looks good too, and that reminds me: I need to reread the book before April 29 just because I need a refresher.

But definitely WotW.

Posted by: Julie at April 10, 2005 12:11 AM

Eric, thanks for the input on Sahara.

Everyone, I'm sure the Spielberg/Cruise version of WOTW will be a big hit ... it does look stunning. But it also appers, from the trailer that the script will make some of the same (to me, at least) mistakes that the first film version made.

Did you know there's another WOTW in the works, ready to come out this spring? It's by Britain's Pendragon Films, and it appears to be a near-literal adaptation of Wells' story to film. Budget differences will show, though ... I suspect the entire British project's budget is less than Cruise's salary. Their website is at http://www.pendragonpictures.com/WOTWKEY.html

As for Hitchhiker's Guide, I've always been a great fan of Adams' work, but I don't know if the folks at Disney/Buena Vista will be able to transfer his humor well - if at all - to the screen. Keeping my fingers crossed, but I'm a little leery, already ... they gave Zaphod Beeblebrox only one head! :-)

Posted by: Jeff at April 10, 2005 07:54 AM

It's shaping up for a good year in movies! I was apprehensive about Sahara, but I'll take the Fire Ant Gazette entertainment columnist's word over the local reviews. That guy you've got doing your reviews seems to have the "right" outlook.

The WOTW trailer does look good! I'm hoping (hoping... hoping... hoping...) that its release will encourage Paramount to jump on the bandwagon and release the two seasons of the TV series on DVD.

@Sharon
"I am lost without an LOTR or M&C to wait for."
LOL! I used to say the same thing after the original Star Wars trilogy concluded.

Posted by: Mr. Freen at April 10, 2005 09:05 AM

...the two seasons of the TV series on DVD.

Man, I'm drawing a complete blank on this one.

Posted by: Eric at April 10, 2005 02:30 PM

Wow. Thanks to Mr. Freen for reminding me of WoTW, the TV series. I loved that show. (well, first season, anyway)

Eric, Just head over to IMDB (War of the Worlds 1988) and you'll find more than you ever wanted to know.

Posted by: Jack Grey at April 11, 2005 04:48 AM

I am so glad to hear that Sahara turned out to be a pretty good movie. Now I can go see it! After being really excited to see Sin City and being so disappointed, I was starting to doubt my ability to pick a movie. ;)

Now, I know what to see this weekend. I am also anxiously awaiting the WOTW movie and of course the new Batman. (weakness for superhero movies)...

Posted by: Katt at April 11, 2005 01:00 PM

Katt, don't be so hard on yourself. After all, "Sin City" pulled in almost $30 million the first weekend and another $20 million last weekend. You had a lot of company! And the trailer did look amazing...

Posted by: Eric at April 11, 2005 02:16 PM
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