Sahara

Day 19 - 1/19/09 - Movie #19

BEFORE: Let's continue the theme of treasure hunt movies, starring meathead actors as scientific geniuses and would-be supermen. Here's another in the same vein, but as a bonus, this one has Penelope Cruz in it. As a doctor. No, really, she plays a doctor. Matthew McConnaughey plays the resident genius/hunk who's obsessed with finding a lost historical MacGuffin.

THE PLOT: Explorer Dirk Pitt goes on an adventure seeking out a lost Civil War battleship in the deserts of West Africa while helping a UN doctor being hounded by a ruthless dictator.

AFTER: Completely implausible, to the point of being ridiculous - but yet somehow also an enjoyable thrill-ride. I got caught up in the action and had a good time.

RATING: 7 out of 10 gold coins.