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Blu-Ray : Worth a Look
Ranking:
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Release Date: October 24th, 2006 Movie Release Year: 2005

Sahara

Overview -

Master explorer Dirk Pitt goes on the adventure of a lifetime of seeking out a lost Civil War battleship known as the "Ship of Death" in the deserts of West Africa while helping a UN doctor being hounded by a ruthless dictator.

OVERALL:
Worth a Look
Rating Breakdown
STORY
VIDEO
AUDIO
SPECIAL FEATURES
Tech Specs & Release Details
Technical Specs:
BD-25 Single-Layer Disc
Video Resolution/Codec:
1080p/MPEG-2
Length:
123
Aspect Ratio(s):
2.35:1
Audio Formats:
French Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Subtitles/Captions:
Spanish Subtitles
Special Features:
Theatrical Trailer
Release Date:
October 24th, 2006

Storyline: Our Reviewer's Take

Ranking:

I didn't want to see this movie. Am I allowed to say that? Whenever I hear about a comedy set in a desert, I immediately flash back to 'Ishtar,' the notorious 1986 Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman boondoggle that remains one of the biggest box office bombs in history. I imagine overpaid actors running around all sweaty in the heat, with their shirts on their heads screaming bad dialogue at each other in a desperate attempt to be "zany." So coming into 'Sahara,' I didn't exactly have a lot of confidence. Another 'Indiana Jones' spoof, especially one starring Matthew McConaughey and Penelope Cruz doing their best 'Romancing the Stone' imitation -- did the world really need this movie? And, more importantly, did I really need to see it?

Much to my surprise, 'Sahara' turns out to be a fun, perfectly enjoyable souffle of a movie, despite all that sand. A lighthearted hybrid of 'Indiana Jones,' 'National Treasure' and 'The Mask of Zorro,' it is the perfect no-brainer entertainment tailor made for lazy Sunday afternoons. Nicely blending humor, adventure, romance and derring-do and fueled by the charisma of its stars, 'Sahara' is the kind of movie-movie people say they don't make anymore. No, this is no rival to 'Raiders of the Lost Ark,' but it is refreshing to watch a movie that isn't grim, crude, overly violent or wallowing in torture. I suppose I sound like an old fuddy-duddy, but this movie really brought me back to my summers spent in the early '80s, sitting alone in a darkened theater watching movies like 'The Goonies,' 'Young Sherlock Holmes' and 'The Jewel of the Nile.'

Since the plot of 'Sahara' really doesn't matter all that much (though perhaps it should) and it is best to leave the film's surprises intact, I'll just say that the film is based on the popular Dirk Pitt literary series by Clive Cussler (who famously disowned this movie shortly after its release, claiming it bore little resemblance to his source material). Having never read any of the novels, I can't say how original they were or how faithful 'Sahara' is to Cussler's creation. But certainly the film feels nothing but derivative. You can practically count off all the pastiches and homages and allusions to great cinema adventures past and present. Yet, oddly, this only adds to 'Sahara's charm. Director Breck Eisner pumps up the situations and the action with such a knowing wink there is no mistaking that the film is very much aware that the audience is in on the game. The cast, too, has a great deal of fun, all but breaking the fourth wall to tell us that yes, they really are having the time of their lives making this movie.

Funny enough, though, the cast may be the weakest aspect of 'Sahara.' Certainly, this is as handsome a studio film you're likely to see, with nothing but top-notch cinematography, production design and costuming. Yet somehow, Matthew McConaughey (though he also co-produced) doesn't strike me as the type of A-list first choice actors the makers of a film like this would go for (was Nicolas Cage busy?) Penelope Cruz is also not exactly my idea of the perfect femme fatale -- she's certainly no Karen Allen, or even a Rachel Weisz -- and she strangely lacks chemistry with McConaughey, despite the fact they were supposedly a real-life during the film's production. And then there is the ever-dependable Steve Zahn, who has the sidekick shtick down pat, and even though his routine is getting a little old I bet he was cheap. Again, this ensemble has tons of fun in their roles, but I couldn't help but feel a few more original casting choices may have brought 'Sahara' up a notch above the merely efficient. As it is, this is a perfectly enjoyable, respectable way to widdle away 123 minutes. Which surprises me more than anyone.

Video Review

Ranking:

'Sahara' was one of the first Paramount HD DVD titles I chose to review, and as I remarked then, watching the film's transfer is like stepping out into a bright desert oasis -- lush, vibrant and as shiny as a new penny. So I was excited to see how the presentation would compare on Blu-ray, though sadly this is one of the few Paramount titles thus far that doesn't quite match its HD DVD rival. (Note that like all of Paramount's initial Blu-ray titles, 'Sahara' is presented in 1080p/MPEG-2 video.)

Certainly, most aspects of this presentation are excellent. The source material is pristine, with not a speckle of dirt or other blemishes noticeable, and the kind of smooth, grain-free look that looks more like a digital photo than film. Color reproduction is also impressive -- hues are rich, vivid and free of chroma noise and smearing. Fleshtones are also a realistic shade of orange, which gives the film a warm glow that is very appealing. Blacks and contrast are also excellent, with even the film's few dark scenes (indeed, the vast majority of 'Sahara' takes place in sunshine-soaked daytime exteriors) boasting above-average shadow delineation. At times the level of detail and depth to the image is up there with the best Blu-ray transfers I've seen, with the kind of three-dimensional appearance that really shows off the high-resolution capabilities of the format.

However, as I noted in my review of the HD DVD version, the transfer can suffer from softness. Unfortunately, the Blu-ray fared a bit worse in that regard. I did direct A/B compares of three scenes -- the opening credits, the first major action sequence, and a dinner party scene about two-thirds of the way through the movie. It is not a severe difference, but the BLu-ray looked slightly flatter, with the sense of depth a bit more limited. I also was distracted by a few noticeable patches of grain during the mid-movie action scene, with the clear sunny skies somewhat fuzzy. Again, it is far from a night and day difference between the two, and a casual glance at both transfers probably won't reveal any differences. But taking a closer look, I have to give the edge to the HD DVD on this one.

Audio Review

Ranking:

Unlike the video, the audio presentation for 'Sahara' compares well to the HD DVD release. Though we still haven't got a clear confirmation from Paramount on just what bitrates they are using on their Blu-ray audio tracks, the studio has included both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 surround options here. And the film's sound design is a winner, delivering an aggressive, exciting experience that is sure to please.

All channels are active, with noticeable uses of discrete pans across the entire soundfield. Imaging is very good, with near-seamless transitions and excellent fidelity. Dynamic range also earns a solid "A," with a very full presence from lows to highs. Bass is delivered forcibly but tightly, and doesn't overwhelm the mix like some big-budget action soundtracks can. Balance is also well done, though I did have to adjust my volume control to compensate for low dialogue levels at times. However, if I do have to make a complaint, it is that the quieter scenes are front-heavy -- atmospheric sounds could be more prominent, as could the score. But when this one works, it works.

Special Features

Ranking:

Paramount has loaded 'Sahara' on Blu-ray with extras, porting over all of the same supplements that can be found on the standard DVD and HD DVD releases of the film. Though I didn't feel 'Sahara' warranted all that much in-depth discussion, the extras are appropriate to the film's tone, being largely jovial and light-hearted.

Included are two audio commentary tracks, and surprisingly, the solo track with director Breck Eisner is actually better than the second track where he is joined by Matthew McConaughey. Perhaps it is that old beer-drinking-buddies syndrome thing, but when the two get together they fall into rambling "Remember that day...?" banalities, whereas Eisner is much more focused on his own. He and McConaughey also recycle too many of the same stories from the first track. So if you are actually interested in the making of the film, I'd go with Eisner solo. Sorry, Matt.

Up next are three featurettes totaling 45 minutes: "Sands of Sahara," "Visualizing Sahara" and the "Cast and Crew Wrap Film." Though many continue to criticize Paramount's support for supplementary material on their standard DVDs, I find that their in-house EPK stuff is actually the best of any of the studios. And 'Sahara' is no exception. This is actually a nice little three-part overview of the making of the film, with a snappy pace, plenty of making-of material to stave of boredom and the usual on-set interviews, but since the film is all about fun, the glossy nature of it all doesn't irritate. Oddly, however, for a big-budget action film there is not very much on the creation of effects and stunts; but then if you've seen one blue screen demo on a DVD, you've probably seen them all.

Also included are four Deleted Scenes, but they run less than five minutes and are completely forgettable. I often wonder why studios even bother with this kind of stuff, when something like a gag reel might have been more entertaining.

Finally, rounding out the package is the film's theatrical trailer presented in widescreen and full 1080p video.

'Sahara' is a silly film, but a great deal of fun. Light in tone and filled with 'Indiana Jones'-esque derring do, it is the perfect popcorn flick to watch with no expectations. And Paramount has produced a solid Blu-ray release, one that nearly matches the HD DVD in video quality, but is on par with the audio and extras. I can't say this is an unqualified recommend, but it is definitely worth a look if you like adventure movies, or just have a couple of hours to kill on a Sunday afternoon.