<_< MM made a passable Dirk Pitt (notwithstanding the opaline green eyes), but in no way did Steve Zahn resemble the Giordino in my mind...where was the curly black hair and Italian Stallion? I would have loved the Lincoln sub-story included in the movie, but it was not to be. Even though the action was far-fetched at times, it still rang true of Dirk and Al. My brother thought it was a bit over the top, but a true Cussler reader expects the impossible. Loved Bill Macy as Sandecker, but Rudi was not as I pictured either.

snor: I hope Inca Gold is next. I can't wait for the DVD!

Ha ha!! :lol:
So very true!

Three cheeers for Dirk and Al. beer: beer: beer:

I too also hope Inca Gold is next. That was my very first CC read and I was hooked. :)

Yeah, I know what you mean about Al but i honestly can't see anyone else doing it, can you? If they ever did recast then i would sure hope he was as funny as Steve Zahn, i mean, besides the appearance i think he was a GREAT Al. He and MM just worked great together in capturing the whole 'we've been friends since kindergarde' relationship.

- Oh yeah, i hope its Inca Gold as well...
*KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED EVERYONE*

I have to agree that Steve Zahn was not what I see Al to be. Al Giordino is described many times as being short, stocky,and black haired.Steve is none of these.IMHO Richard Karn,Al Boilin of Tim Allens show, would make a better Al Giordino. I did find William Macy to make a fine Sandecker. The person they cast as Rudy Gunn was all wrong.THe man they cast as Rudy in Raise The Titanic was a better man for the role.
I also maybe see Brandon Frasier as Dirk Pitt. t:

I think the movie should not be taken as a book tie in. I would like to see more movies, but not of the book's, maybe just using bits for inspiration. There were too many errors, Rudi's character, Navy not Air Force ect ect But Steve Zahn was the life of the party.....

'Im so tired of being shot at!!'

sorry that this is a quote, i see to be having troubles with the board

Dude, so what if he didn't look like him, Zahn was Al. The humpr, the buttkicking, etc. Zahn's performance is part of the reason I'm a fan of Al.

You can't have read any of Cussler's books and believe that Steve Zahn was anything close to Al Giordino.

Al is short and built like a barrell, very Italian with curley dark hair (and part of one finger missing). Al is also very intelligent with a "laughs at danger" attitude.

Steve Zahn as Al was a buffoon. Do you really believe that an ex-Navy Seal can't tie his own tie, or would go to a fancy party with no shave and a nylon baseball hat? Al cleans up nicely, as does Dirk, who is always a snappy dresser.

"Always the Als-maid, never the Al?" Dirk and Al have been together since kindergarten, but Al thinks (knows) Dirk is THE best.

I don't know who should play Al, but it sure as hell isn't Steve Zahn.

BTW, the guy who played Rudy was also a boob, which Rudy certainly is not.

William Macey was OK as Sandecker, but Sandecker is a bantam-sized man with a red Van-Dyke beard, and usually in uniform. And Sandeck is a real ball-buster -- I can't see him pussyfooting around with a CIA agent like Macey did.

I see Rudi Gunn as a Scott Glenn type, kind of wiry and tough as nails without having to prove it. Scott may be a bit too old at this point.

Brendan Frasier as Dirk???? Come on, get realistic!!!. Next you'll be recommending Will Ferrell. MM was pretty good, although he needs to lose the Texas twang. Dirk's from Colorado, right? When I first started reading Cussler, I saw Dirk Pitt as Robert Urich (Dan Tanna from "Vega$" on TV), but he's obviously not available (deceased in 2002). My wife and sister-in-law prefer Tom Selleck, but he's too long in the tooth at this point, so I'm OK with MM.

One of the interesting things about casting a book character is getting an unknown, which is how they've cast Superman and Batman. That way, people aren't saying "Look, up in the sky, it's a bird, it's a plane, it's Nicholas Cage!" That way, if the actor LOOKS like the character they've read about, they focus on the CHARACTER, not the ACTOR.

Steve Zahn and Rudi fail mserably on that one.

Dude, you serious?

Macey was Sandecker. So what if he didn't look dead on like the guy, Macey had the authority of Sandecker down to a t.

And Zahn made a good Al.

Anyone who begins a post with "Dude..." can't be taken seriosly.

I didn't say macy was bad, just passable. He didn't look like Sandecker, and in general, I thought he was too soft.

As for Steve Zahn as Al -- I already made my points. Go back and read the books, and if you still thing the boob that Steve Zahn plyaed was anything like Al, you should seek some help.

While I agree that Zahn doesn't look like Al, blame for the rest of his character for the most part falls on the writers. The script said he doesn't know how to tie a tie, and that he should wear a cap to the gala. I personally thought Al's spirit was there, and that the banter between he and Dirk was great. I think the Al in the books would have more faith in Dirk, though, whereas Zahn's character seemed to be questioning Dirk's sanity too much.

Rudi, though, was dreadful. The actor playing the part did a good job with the script, though, so I guess we'll say Movie-Rudi was fine as Movie-Rudi, but Movie-Rudi was hella bad as Book-Rudi.

I agree with you on Macy, as I've said before, I but I guess the same analogy holds true as for Rudi. Macy wasn't Sandecker from the books, but he was fine for a movie.

Oswalder, thanks for the intelligent reply.

I enjoyed Steve Zahn. He had some really funny lines, like "I'm so tired of being shot at!" and "Bob, don't marry that harpy". He just wasn't Al. Some of the lines and scenes would have been much better with an Italian Al who wasn't a boob. And I agree 100% that it's bad writing (and casting) as opposed to bad acting.

Dirk and Al are like Butch and Sundance. MM and Zahn were more like Abbott and Costello. That's bad writing.

No wonder Cussler is suing.

That's really a great analogy. th:

Ya know....I'm still wondering why they couldn't have at least died Steve Zahn's hair black...I mean really! Matthew did it, thank GOODNESS! :P

If you want to see exactly how bad the casting of Al Giordino, Admiral Sandecker and Rudi Gunn really was in Sahara, go to Helene Noelle's site (The World of Dirk Pitt) at

http:/www.geocities.com/hn4dpitt/

No where does it say All and/or Rudi are boobs.

What great research by Helene.

hi all, i must confess i was dubious as hell when i heard who was going to be cast for the roles in sahara but william h macy was far better as sandecker than i thought he would be, steve zahn wasnt bad as al, the guy who played rudi was nowhere near right and matthew was a fair dirk but in my opinion you couldnt ever beat richard jordan as dirk from the original raise the titanic, yes i know the movie was a flop but i liked it and still do and i know richard is dead but again i felt he fit the role pretty well. having only recently watched sahara when i was given a copy as i point blank refused to see it at the cinema or rent it because of them not letting clive have creative control, all in all i must confess it wasnt bad as a stand alone film but as a dirk pitt adventure? sorry it gets thumbs down from me.

I'm sorry, Zahn was not Al, not even close. Where was the sarcasim in his voice, nada. It was all wise cracks. Yes, there is a lot of banter in the books but Al is as sarcastic as they come. I know Zahn was dying to play the part but let's get real, once they made both the guys Navy Seals the movie was doomed to be a plain action-adventure.

Yep. Why do film makers always insist on their action-hero characters having previously been Navy S.E.A.L.s or C.I.A agents? Does nobody have any imagination? :blink:

Matthew McConaghay as Dirk Pitt - I think he did a fair job but a few tweaks here and there in the way he portrayed the character would be in order.

Steve Zaun as Al Giordino - I have to say I like Steve Zaun as an actor in anything. He is really one of my favorite actors so I was happy with his job.

William H. Macy as Sandecker - WHM could act like a paper sack and get an award for it. He is a phenomenal actor and had no doubt he would have been a great Sandecker.

Rainn Wilson as Rudi Gunn - I felt he looked the part of Rudi but in no way shape form or fashion did he portray Rudi. When I picture Rudi in my mind I can see Rainn Wilson but he acted like a fairy when Rudi is not a fairy.

Penelope Ann Miller as Dr. Something - she is just hot. That is why I like her. th: th:

Even though I like Steve Zahn,I dont think he`s the right Al.
I picture Benicio Del Toro as a good Giordino. rugged,curly darh hair,rough buildt. yup! th:

I am in the minority, and will probably be crucified for this, but I love Sahara! Sure its not a straight adaptation, but it captured everything Dirk Pitt and NUMA are about. It was fun, highly enjoyable, and a movie I watch regularly, especially if I'm trying to get out of a bad mood. The movie introduced me to the characters and the books, and I am eternally grateful to the film for that. McCounaghey was Dirk Pitt, its that simple. Steve Zahn, forget what the naysayers say, was Al. To this day, I still can't picture Al the way Cussler describes, Zahn was dead on as Al. The rapport between Dirk and Al in the film was straight out of the books and couldn't have been better.

I'm really bummed we will never see another Dirk Pitt movie with the cast from Sahara. :(

I loved all the actors in the movie and thought Al was funny. I have all Clives books and often read them over again. Reading Atlantic Found yet again and loven it! MM was perfect for the part. If you noticed he was wearing green contacts in the film. beer:

yike: WHY WILL WE NOT SEE THE SAME CAST IN ANOTHER DIRK MOVIE?????????

I finally got around to seeing Sahara and found it a bit to cheesy and bright for my liking. McConaghay was okay as Pitt, but a bit too jolly imho. While Zahn did not fit my image of Giordino at all - he appeared to be a bit of a yokel and it seemed like the writers were trying to give him a comedic role whilst forgetting about his serious side as well. t: