Greetings all:

I just joined the forum and I thought I would get started right away with a comment. Though I really enjoyed the movie, and I have absolutely nothing against Matthew M. , I just didn't think he fit as the Dirk Pitt that I read about.
I suppose I picture more of a Pierce Brosnan type for Dirk Pitt. Again, I think Matthew M. is a great actor but for me , he didn't fit the part--but the movie was great regardless. But that is just my unproffessional opinion.
David

Welcome to the Forum davidsmithba! I'm sure you'll just love it here! Post and post often! I think there is a section about MM playing Dirk Pitt and SZ playing Al...etc. under the Movie section on the forum.

Again, WELCOME!

To me, MM,SZ,and Macy are all perfect for their parts. Rainn Wilson,who to me,is unfairly criticized as Rudi. I understand the comic relief complaints in the boat scene,but from the middle of the movie on,he was great,especially in his scenes with Sandecker. So let me state,without hesitation, that George Clooney,Sly Stallone, Pierce Brosnan,Greg Kinnear and any body else you want to mention don't hold a match to McConaughey,Zahn,& Macy. Now if they would only let them continue to work.......

Hello David.I am new to the forum as well.

In regards to McConaughey as Pitt, I seriously don't think they could have come up with a better actor to play the part.I've only read about six of the novels, starting with "Vixen 03" but the descriptions of Pitt fit quite well for the most part IMO.

In the books, Pitt is supremely confident in his abilities (which is reflected in his speech and actions); upbeat and positive even in the face of dangerous conditions; charming and charismatic.Those are all qualities McConaughey exudes on screen.The only flaw I see is Pitt's physical build.In the books, Pitt is described as fairly lean while McConaughey's physique in "Sahara" was lean but very well muscled.This is a minor flaw though and I am just making objective comparisons.

I respect your opinion and am just giving mine.Everyone's interpretations are different.McConaughey did such a good job in the film that I can easily visualize him as Pitt while reading the novels, which makes them even more enjoyable.



Matt

Welcome to the forum, Matt! Looking forward to more posts! th:

Thank you for the welcome, oswalder.



Matt

For some reason, every time I think of the Sahara movie, I first picture the beach fighting scene near the start. I believe thats when McConaughey really came closest to being Pitt.

That's because he IS Pitt, plain and simple.

Sorry, mate, but Hugh Jackman is Pitt to me even though he didn't get the part.

You know,I tried envisioning Jackman when I read the stories and I kept seeing Wolverine or Van Helsing. I like Mcconaughey for a couple of reasons besides the obvious. First,He made sure he looked like him with hair color and contact lenses.The fact that he is one of the executive producers means that he loved the role a long time and put a lot of thought as to how Pitt should act. I don't mean the script,but the way he ACTS. Now I know for the book SAHARA,he might of been the wrong age,but that's because they did not have the rights to PACIFIC VORTEX. And,finally,he's new to the genre and I think the action adventure movie needs a new face. Jackman,as good as he is,has a francise and with the start of a prequel WOLVERINE series starting up and the continuation of X-MEN (you can be sure of that despite title of the last movie)
Jackman will be all over the place. I am glad that Pitt is being played by someone we haven't really seen before because I think he is a uniique hero.I know it was Mr Cussler's first choice,but he sign off on McConaughey.

Oh man, he's expanding into other sections of the forum. :lol:

I have no problems with MM and SZ. Even though SZ doesn't look like Al, he played the part well. But I think just about every single other main character in the movie (and I know a lot of people liked Macy, but I didn't) were miscast. Probably with the exception of Hopper and maybe Kazim.

Ozzie,
I know you and I are on the wrong foot right now,but I do respect your opinion. I liked Macy because I think he had the right atttude towards the role and certainly the right coloring.(red hair looks so phony when it's dyed). Also, I think the role needed a character actor and one that didn't chew the scenery,and one who likes cigars so you handle them well.
Wondering who you thought would be better in today's market??

I'd have to think for awhile about who else I would choose but Macy (at times) in the movie and particularly in the context of many other characters he has played comes across as too whiny to be Sandecker. I think if this were the only movie he ever did then he would be ok but I think (for me at least) his previous roles influenced my view of him as Sandecker.

The guy with the right attitude (albeit not the right build/coloring) is Zed from Men In Black (Rip Torn?). He was full of the same kind of piss and vinegar as Sandecker, and commanded the same kind of authority.

Points well taken. But it is still Macy for me !!!!!!

Unhappily cause I am gettin on I still see the original actor as Pitt.
What was the actors name who played him in RTT. I agree MM was a good choice and also lets be honest RTT was pretty poor though a good yarn in those days for people who hadn't read the book but the actor i thought really looked Pittish. What do you guys think??

I agree with you Lee. I like the RTT actor as Pitt. MM is good in Sahara but DP was described as an older man. MM is to attract the younger viewer and he did a good job.

I belive you guys are thinking of the late Richard Jordan. He played Pitt in RTT. For what the screenwriters gave him to work with, I'd say he did a damn fine job.

Kind of funny though. When ever I read a book I always see Jordan as Pitt, but then I see Steve Zahn as Giordino. It's wierd.

I haven`t seen the movie Raise the titanic, but I know who Richard Jordan is and what he looks like.
For me Dirk Pitt looks like Matthew, I had that kind of image even before that movie and after the movie I have always imgined MM as Pitt. Steve Zahn didn`t look like Al, I have my own image of Al in my head, when I read those books.
If they still make some Dirk Pitt- movie, the casting could be like it was in Sahara, but the characters should be like they are in those books. The new movie could be one of the greatest advnture- movies ever if it would be done according to those fantastic books... co: