 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Sahara
- Review Date: August 25, 2005
- PG-13
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- 2005
Common Sense Media says
Some exciting action, but overall not satisfying.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie has non-stop "action" violence, which means that our intrepid heroes get shot at a lot but never get hit while their own shooting is almost unfailingly on target. Despite the fact that it's based on a book written in the 1990s and includes some positive black characters and a female doctor, the movie has an unpleasantly retro approach to women and minorities, approaching racism in its casual attitude toward killing Africans.
What's the story?
Based on one of Clive Cussler's series of novels, SAHARA follows the adventures of former Navy SEAL Dirk Pitt (Matthew McConaughey) and his wisecracking best pal Al (Steve Zahn). They work for steely-eyed former Admiral Sandecker (William H. Macy), seeking sunken treasure, rescuing beautiful doctors, and expediting regime change. The guys get involved in two treasure hunts in which a beautiful woman is hunting a microbe, and a handsome explorer is in search of a long lost ship. The beautiful doctor is Eva Rojas (Penelope Cruz) of the World Health Organization. She is a neurologist seeking the source of a mysterious disease that is killing people quickly. No one takes her seriously except for her dedicated colleague (Glynn Turman) and a mysterious turbaned man who is stalking her. The second treasure hunt is for a Confederate Civil War ship that Dirk thinks made it all the way to Africa as the Confederacy was falling and is now buried in a desert. In the middle of all this is corrupt French industrialist Yves (Lambert Wilson).
Is it any good?
Sahara feels more like a 1940s serial than a book written in 1991 or a movie made in 2005. The characters are too thin, the violence too careless, the suspension of disbelief required too strenuous, the treatment of non-whites too stereotyped. All of that keeps getting in the way of some terrifically exciting stunts and some spirited action.
This movie would be good, All-American, popcorn fun except that as you try to put your brain to sleep to sit back and enjoy the action, but the careless carnage ruins it. Dirk and Al have no hesitation in blowing away battalions of uniformed troops without any real justification. The African bad guy says that "No one cares about (killing) Africans," but no one making the movie seems to have got the memo about how that was a bad thing. One saintly African-American doctor does not make up for portraying the Africans as evil, ineffective, or, worst of all, expendable.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about groundwater contamination issues, and about the Navy SEALs.
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AGE
Perfect for 14 up but im not so sure about 10-12. def. not 10 or younger
I thinkk that this should be seen when kids understand that shooting and blowing people up is not a good thing. this movie has a lot of guns in it but is a very good moovie
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AGE
Fun for grownups as well as kids
In the vein of Indiana Jones--no it REALLY couldn't have happened -- lots of action (bloodless) and roller coaster fun. I don't get the concern about how Africans are portrayed---I did not feel it was insensitive and I've lived there.
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AGE
Mindless Fun
I took my 13-year-old daughter to this and we both had a blast. It's a light adventure with a few great chase scenes and funny lines thrown in. Not the greatest plot in the world, but fun for a summer night at the movies.
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AGE
A lot of fun!
If you just want a fun action-adventure, this is a great movie to rent!
Just cover the kids' eyes during the scene where the gunmen shoot the best friend of the main female character. That's pretty graphic.
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AGE
Divers in the desert
This movie isn't fantastic, but it isn't bad, either. Cruz is great in her role as the Spanish WHO doctor, and McConaughey seems to be enthusiastic about the part. The plot, however, is a little unsatisfying, and some scenes were unnecessary even if they were entertaining. Steve Zahn is the ultimate comic relief and is one of the reasons to watch this film. Parents, be aware that it is quite violent, and at times reveals some of the hardships of impoverished African people. Some are portrayed as good, but one African man is the primary antagonist.
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AGE
Eh.. Ok
This movie was a lot more violent then i thought, i heard it is NOTHING like the book. I would recomend it to only action movie goers!
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AGE
Bad, dumb things that happen too.
Not a great movie infact a bad movie.It is okay for kids 11 and up but may be a bit violent for anyone thats younger then that. There's a lot of dumb things that happen that are not funny nor intresting It is pretty stupid.
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| Studio: | Paramount Pictures |
| Director: | Breck Eisner |
| Cast: | Matthew McConaughey, Penelope Cruz, Steve Zahn |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Run time: | 120 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | April 8, 2005 |
| DVD release date: | August 30, 2005 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | action violence |
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