Sahara (Blu-ray)

 

Picture: B     Sound: B     Extras: C-     Film: D

 

 

Well, here is a third version of Sahara and our second look at the film after the HD-DVD version.  That review can be found at:

 

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/4039/Sahara+(HD-DVD)

 

 

This film is just so lame and it just gets lame upon repeat viewing, so you have been warned.  The Blu-ray is the technical equivalent to the HD-DVD for all intents and purposes.

 

The 1080p 1.85 X 1 digital High Definition image is not bad, but the look by cinematographer Seamus McGarvey, A.S.C., is again often absurd and tries to make Lawrence Of Arabia look like (along with the bad editing and digital manipulation) the worst possible combination of a video game and Music Video.  It constantly amazes me how phony the location shooting is and how the digital makes the open space look fake.  The Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 and DTS 5.1 mixes are also on the gimmicky side, with very little imagination in the design, but plenty of nonsensical explosions and gunshots on occasion with Clint Mansell’s “this is an adventure blockbuster” score.  The combination is better than the standard DVD, but ironically, the fidelity actually brings out more of the fakeness of this mess.  Extras include the trailer in HD, two rambling full-length audio commentaries, six featurettes and deleted scenes with the option of more rambling audio commentaries.

 

Fortunately, few know the Dirk Pitt name and there is no sequel planned.  Whew!

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo