I actually went to the Cinema to watch this film, and with some trepidation.

As you will know only one other of Cussler's books have been filmed, and that was Raise the Titanic!. The film was awful, bad script, bad acting (if you could call it acting), it was simply one of the worst films to have ever been made. So what was Sahara like?

I'm pleased to say that on the whole, it was a pretty good film, pacy, reasonable acting good script which actually stuck to the main plot. All the main characters from the book were there, including Ruddy, Sandecker, Dirk, and Al.

The plot is basically an environmental one, where pollutants from a 'green' incinerator are leaking into the underground water of the Sahara, causing a plague. Pitt and Al go into the centre of the Sahara primarily to look for the Civil War Iron Clad that was rumoured to be in the desert. However it turns into a rescue mission to save the World Health Organisation crew led by the Dr Eva Rojas.

The film sticks fairly rigidly to the book but the major changes are :

1. Dirk and Al are ex- special forces.
2. NUMA is not an official government agency for some reason.
3. The history of the crashed plane is not revealed - The Kitty Mannock story was dropped. (Mannock was played by Dayna Cussler).
4. The battle on the river is simplified.
5. The main battle against Kasim, is shortened, and not so detailed.
6. The desert prison/mine is dropped.
7. The torture of Yves Massarde is dropped (can't think why) - although his death is as per the book drinking his own polluted water.

The changes I didn't like are those to Rudi Gunn and Al Giordino. Both are intelligent men in the book, Rudi is not the out and out go get em, that Dirk is, but he has been known to get his hands dirty. In the film he comes across as a bumbling nerd.

The biggest change, was to Al who came across as a total idiot, and yet in the books he is very much Dirks equal. I never quite understand why characters have to be meddled with, in what could become a franchise, and especially when the character is from a long running series of books

So what about the casting?

	Character	Review
	Dirk Pitt	Played by Matthew McConaughey I quite enjoyed his portrayal of Dirk. Certainly it was far superior to the Richard Jordan version. McConaughy, certainly had a presence and there did seem to be a certain chemistry between himself and Penelope Cruz who played Dr Rojas. McConaughy was certainly animated and more in the thick of things, just as Dirk should be. In the books Dirk is described as clean shaven, and this was the only thing that really grated with the portrayal 9/10.
	Al Giordino	Played by Steve Zahn This was one character that really did jar. The character was poorly written, and the impression given was of an uncouth yobo. In the books he is described as swarthy with curly hair. Physically he could just about pass muster. Unfortunately the way the character was written was a big let down. He was portrayed as the side kick, there to provide a few laughs along the way. A poor AL 4/10.
	Admiral Jim Sandecker	Played by William H Macey Physically I think a very good bit of casting, especially with the beard he certainly looked the part. However the characterisation was again very poor. Sanddecker is full of energy, and constantly on the move, in some ways a bully who intimidates the people who get in the way. I thought this Sanddecker was rather underplayed. Although the cigars did appear - quite surprising in this day and age of political correctness (PC- is a load of crap). With a better more powerful script this could become a really good character. 6/10

The other characters are not so important. The Gunn character needs reworking, but is in some not so central to the story. Put him in his proper domain and he would be fine.

Overall I liked the film. It kept reasonably close to the book. If I had not read the book, then it would still have been a good film. Not deep, but then I don't go to the cinema to see worthy films, I go to have a bit of excitement, and enjoy myself. If you haven't seen the film then I recommend that you go and get the DVD.