As everbody here on the forum should know, the character, Al Giordino is based on Clive Cussler's real life friend from his Air Force days, Al Giordano. He and his wife who are retired and living in Florida, recently went along to the movies and saw Sahara. Al had seen Steve Zahn on the tv talk show circuit promoting Sahara and regarded him as "silly" but respected the way he gave credit to Clive Cussler. As Al watched the movie, he saw past Zahn's blonde hair and thought that he "good job with the character". All in all, Al Giordano and his wife enjoyed the movie and they both thought that Zahn's "character portrayal over shadowed MM's portrayal of Dirk Pitt".

Clive is aware of Al Giordano seeing Sahara. To my knowledge, Clive himself has not yet seen it.

Please ensure the above information remains in the confines of the Clive Cussler Forum. This site is not publically searchable.

If Clive's old friend likes it, that's great. I can hardly believe Clive is still acting juvenile and hasn't seen it.
It was the only book where there was an Al Giordino romantic interest, but that would have added another 1/2 hour to the film, at least. Having the Al character be more humorous adds to the chemistry. IMHO :)

IMHO, I wouldn't call it "juvenile," I would call it standing up for what you believe in and I respect Clive for standing firm, even if I enjoyed the movie as well as others. If you don't stand up for what you believe in, there will never be change.

I have complete respect and admiration for Dr. Cussler and all he has done. Saying that, he just needs to wake up and smell the coffee. I think Dr. Cussler was looking for a perfect portrayal of the book, which was never going to happen. He should never have sold his rights to the book unless he was willing to have the movie bend the story a little.

Then again, I haven't written a famous series of books that were made into a movie. ;)

I think there is an important point here - there was a contract whereby Cussler would have the say about the script. Does one approve of people breaching contracts that they have signed?

If he wanted movies made out of the books for the sake of it, he could have done so a long time ago.

How would you all feel if you wrote a book and your character was a barel chested, muscular guy with black hair and you get a blonde haired thin fellow to play the part. I always likened Al Giordino to Andy Sipowiz (NYPD Blues) as far as the wise cracks go. Not a jokester looking for laughs.

Well, that's just one mans opinion.

First I would not sell rights to my books. And if I did it would be for an extremely high price that would leave them nothing to make a movie with. I am with Dr. C. and that he should win this lawsuit mess. It's bad enough that there are lawsuits because that's a whole mess in itself. Lawyers should be shot and not allowed in politics. That's my two cents. p:

It's my understanding that Dr.Cussler personally approved Steve Zahn for the Al role.

I did not see the character as a jokester looking for laughs, but your perception is a valid as mine.

I am sure that it was difficult for Dr. Cussler to see changes in his story line, but I know it's the nature of the beast when novels are turned into movies.

I think we all hope that the differences beween the author and the studio can be resolved so that we can have more movies that make everybody happy.

mlp

Well, without lawyers, there would be no politics. The whole point of lawyers is to protect a person from injustices and inform them of their legal options. So in that way, they are needed greatly. Things I don't approve of though, are the frivelous lawsuits. They just waste everyone's valuable time and money.

In this case with Dr. Cussler, I think he has the full right to take legal action if he truly feels his "contract" had been violated (even if I personally disagree with him in principle). p:

Dr. Cussler is not a stupid or naive man (not saying you said that). I'm sure he's well aware that a movie cannot be an exact replica of his book. The point of the suit is that Cussler had script rights. After many drafts, he had finally approved and signed off on a script. Shortly thereafter, they changed the script without his approval. I'm glad he's standing up and doing something about it. My only hope is that all this will not keep him from pursuing someone to do any future movies the right way by honoring their contract.

Thanks for the scoop, Michelle. I had always thought that after Clive turned down the first 7 scripts, the producers said "enough of him, let's go ahead and make a movie anyway." I didn't know he had actually approved a script. Hmm. Perhaps there is more merit to that one ridiculous imdb post that talked about CC suing because the producers took Dayna out of the movie. Might that be the change they made to the approved script? Hmm. :unsure: :blink:

This is a very belated posting....

I decided from the very beginning that the movie was just that -- a movie. I knew I would have to detatch myself from the 'conditioning' of the book (I remember "Raise the Titanic"....)! The movie was a great action movie. I too was very disappointed with the initial choices of actors, as we all have our own characters and what they should look like in our own minds, but I was nicely surprised and allowed myself to believe...

I think the movie put Doc Cussler into the 'mainstream' for all those mindless, non-readers who have never heard of Clive Cussler. Now, I also believe the movie has given him a greater name recognition. I am always travelling around and usually I end up at some restaurant or book shop where I inevitably run into another die-hard, Cussler devotee. They are few and far between, so I think the movie will help this.

I am looking forward to more Dirk Pitt adventure movies and that's what they'll be, just adventure movies. Because I am a true fan, it won't bother me, because I've read all the books anyway!

Anybody going to the Clive Cussler Convention???

Me? You bet! Already have my reservations!

Cheers!

DAVEY

As I said in my initial post a few days back, I found Clive Cussler novels because of the movie poster for Sahara.

I saw the movie, and I liked it fine, but I came out of it and said "It is almost there. There is something missing". And that makes it a good time, but not a great movie.

Movies of novels will never be "as good as the book" or able to make the book appear on screen. You cannot take a 500 page book and make a 2, 2 1/2 movie out of it.

Look at Harry Potter. The first two movies, especially the first one, crammed so much in from the books, but the feeling was different than the book. And the third one got it right - the cut scenes from the book to make the feeling of the book, the subtext, if you will, appear on the screen. And I think they will do the same with this next movie Goblet of Fire.

But I have not read Sahara yet, I am still on Dirt Pitt # 7 (Deep Six). So I will repost when I read the book, and watch the movie again when it is on cable.

But the argument that the book is better is silly - there is no way it can be. They have to be treated as seperate, but related, entities.

As for CC suing - well, if his contract was breached, yeah - he has the legal right. And most politicians are lawyers....so that comment must have been from the hip. That is all I will say about that.

I for one read the description of Pitt and Al in the books, and rarely picture MM or SZ as the characters, though in Deep Six when Al lights up the cigar he stole from Sanddecker and calls Pitt to tell him he was too late in Florida to get Loren off the ship, (I tried to be as vague as possible in the way I described that, for I do not want to spoil the book for people who have not read it yet), I pictured Zahn at a desk, because it fit.

Regardless, I think Zahn was the best thing in the movie, and though I liked Cruz and MM, I think as the books describe Al and Dirk, purely looks-wise, they were miscast. But they did a great job anyway. They worked well together, I felt. And I liked what they did. They got the banter, the friendship. They just do not look like we all envision them, as they are described, by CC.

John Grisham sells all his books to the movies, and only a handful of them made serious money or got good adaptions. Watching The Firm in the theater, I went out and read the book afterwards, because I could not believe the ending of the movie was the ending of the book everyone was reading two summers before. There was no way a story could end like that, and everyone on the beach was reading it, word of mouth being read this book! - with an ending like that. And I was right - they changed the ending for the movie.

If people like the story, and the characters, they will find Sahara if they haven't already. That is why they release movie tie-in covers of novels.

Well put... thanks for the post! w:

Hey everyone! I agree with you brocktoon75.

My boyfriend and his father have been trying to get me to read these books for ages and I kept putting it off. When I found out they were making a movie I decided it was time to start reading. I've been hooked ever since. I wasn't very far along the series when the movie came out, but I fell in love with both the books and the movie.

I think they could have done a better job of Pitt's character in the movie, but I love all of the choices for actors. I think Steve Zahn did a great job portraying Al and I think Matthew did a wonderful job with Dirk. I wish that there was just "the perfect actor" to play every book to movie adaptation, but since there very rarely is...I have to look past it.

As I was going to say though, I saw the movie before I read the book and I see them as similar but not the same. To me they will always be two seperate stories. I can enjoy them both the same.

I do like how the story of the Texas fit in the movie better than in the book. It seemed almost as if the discovery was an afterthought in the book.

I hope Cussler lets them do another movie and I hope they follow his wishes. He did okay Matthew for Dirk, Steve for Al, and W.H.M for Sandecker. I think William H. Macy did a superb job with Sandecker.

:)

Hiya, sharkluver22 and welcometo the forum!! w:

I don't think that the discovery of the Texas in the novel was an afterthought, though I can see why some think that. It's just so much more happened in the book that the ironclad plot gets pushed aside a little, whereas the movie focused more on the ship and Dirk's quest to find it. At least, that's my take on it.

I think the ship was intended to be an afterthought in the book. Pitt and the NUMA crew were looking for the source of the red tide, not the ironclad. I think Sahara will be one of my re-reads next summer when I have time to read, just so I can brush up on the differences between the book and the movie, but the Texas was not a major focus of the book by any means, it was just something that kept getting referenced to in different ways at random times.

Erik, you know nothing in Dr. Cussler's novels are "random" :P

And you're quite right in your analysis, my friend.

I don't know about that....Steven King managed quite well with "The Stand" and although it was a bit long, it was well worth the effort...

Off topic but didn't Al have a Japanese girlfriend in Dragon? Been a while since I read it. He "tamed" her.

Cheers beer:

Andy

Well, it has finally happened. I've worn out (actually severely scratched) my copy of Sahara and have to purchase a new one. Luckily they are a bit cheaper than when the DVD was first released. I only wish that the Australian version had all the DVD special features, rather than just the movie. Does anyone know whether there is an Australian version with the special features?

Unfortunately I don't know about the Australian version, however if it is anything like here in the UK then I hate to report that we haven't had a copy released with the special features :( Thank Goodness for ebay!!!!

I thought MM was a fantastic choice for DP (I could be biased...) I know he looks a bit different and all, but his personality and everything just really capture Dirk well. I was a bit disappointed that Rudi Gunn seemed a lot softer than he is in the books, but I s'pose you need a "weak guy makes good" character to sell tickets...

Can't see PC/Eva being a real love interest for Pitt, but she played the part pretty well... love how the WHO doctor knows how to fire an AK47

SZ was great as Giordino, although quite different from the character in the book, but him and MM seemed to have the same chemistry as you'd expect from Al and Dirk.

As for Dr C's stand - I think suffering a disappointment like Raise the Titanic (I vaguely remember seeing it about 12 years ago...) would have a huge impact on how he would deal with movie offers, but I think maybe he could bend a bit. By all means, if there's a broken contract then, sue. But he should at least watch the movie before he writes it off.

I would love to see MM and SZ in a series of Pitt movies, better than Bond in my opinion, but like I said... I'm biased.

I agree that SAHARA was a great movie and that Clive should drop his asinine lawsuit and let the MAJORITY of us enjoy more films. Clive's remarks on June 13th were,in my opinion unwarrented.
MM and company gave the material much respect under the circumstances and really brought Dirk Pitt to the screen the way it should be. I am surprised at Clive for judging before he has seen it. He will always be entitled to his opinion but in every movie poll I have seen more people like the movie then dislike it. He should ask his friend Tom Clancy what he thinks of Harrison Ford as Jack Ryan or remember what they did to James Bond after GOLDFINGER. Ian Fleming would be spinning in his grave. Don't forget Donald Hamilton,an author who watched his gritty hero,Matt Helm, become a boozy Dean Martin. So, again I have to say,that Clive's creation was treated very well. Maybe some day,he will wake up and see that and realise that more of his fans want the movies to continue. Now why would an author not want his fans to be happy? MM,Steve Zahn,and William Macy all did fabulous jobs. Let's hope this entitled,though silly, lawsuit is resolved soon so we don't have to watch a great author continue to want to be perceived as a whiney old man.

I fail to understand if your are so against Clive Cussler Just WHY are you here???
Not to be rude but is there anything you do LIKE????

I have explained myself many times about this,but you are too busy criticizing my tone that you don't really read the content. And if you do read the content,you would understand the need in every forum for a devil's advocate because complete and total complancey does not move forward.I do NOT believe Mr Cussler is acting in the best interest of the majority of his fans,just himself. How many times do I have to say it to you?? I take exception to over privledged people who do not respect the opinion of the majority of the people who have supported him all these years. Do you?? Apparently you must !!
And,yes,there is one thing I like---the movie SAHARA and just about everything about it !

What you do is keeping saying the same thing over and over again. It's like you think you are the only one who can have an opnion. No one else's is to count. WE HEAR you. Now you give the same respect that you want us to give you. It's a 2 way street. We like Sahara but don't feel Dr. Cussler is out of line in wanting what was agreed to in his contract. You have called him on a few occsaions very unkind things. If we side with him it's because we respect him wanting to present his books in movie form that resemble the books just a little more. We all would like to see more movies but not at the expense of his abillity to creat an excellent story.

Why not let it go and be a person who contributes a little more than attacks on the rest of the people here? We really are a good bunch of people if you take the time to know us. w:

Loren1,YOU asked--and I replied. I was leaving it alone. Just watching the site and finding out what people think. I know everyone has an opinion that's why it's a forum. I'm not upset that people call me ignorant,hilarious,insensitive,and non-caring.
My main point has been that we DON"T know if the contract was broken. It is entirely his word. No one questions that,they just assume Mr Cussler is right. I enjoy Mr Cussler's books very much and I was just disappointed at the way he was acting about this. In my opinion,if he had respect for the fans like he claims and wants the movies to be more like book form then why didn't he wait for the movie to be released and then gauge the fan's reaction,just like he would if he released a book.You don't know until people sample the product. But he jumped on it before it got out of the gate,which,to me, indicates he doesn't care what anyone thinks and there was some other issue about this that put a wild hair up his nose(the lost Kitty Mannock scene perhaps). And on top of that, a man I thought who was not one to waste resources and loved to spend his time finding lost ships is willing to waste the resources and time of LA superior court for two months for something that is immensly unpopular. Mr Cussler,as Frank Hopper says to Gen. Kazim in the movie version,"should put the money to better use."

How about we just let it go. There are other things to talk about. w:

I am all ears,darling !!!!!!

I don't think you know me well enough to call me darling. :lol:

No need to be so patronizing mate

And you wonder why we get our backs up at you

Thank You Rob, Maybe Movies for the big screen are not the way Dr. Cussler's books can be presented in their best light. Stephen King has had many movies done in Mini-Series format for television. Even in my opionon "The Stand" as his best work didn't follow the book but was done as close as it could be and turned out an excllent story. The cost basis and time restrictions may not be as restricting in this format. Just my 2cents. :)

I think the idea of a mini-series is excellent and one I never would have thought of.One reason I think it would work is because the Dirk Pitt novels are so long and with a mini-series, time would not be a serious issue.

The thing I like most about mini-series is that they allow for much more character development, something most movies skimp on becuase of the timeframe they typically stick to.

Great idea, Loren.



Matt

Well,the idea of a mini-series is fine,but you will run into the same problems. The cost for such an undertaking will still be enormous,especially if it is a long one. The set pieces for the action sequences are VERY costly and you can't avoid them in order to tell the story. They are adventures,after all,with action. And not just typical action,either. Mr. Cussler loves to put an interesting spin on his chase scenes. It would be better for character development, no doubt.
But unless the two are finely balanced,can you really tell a Cussler story properly??
The most important part will be--who will do it?? Any Dirk Pitt,Kurt Austen,or Oregon Files project
all have the stigma of the Cussler factor. No one is going to touch a Cussler story or even think about it until this current mess is cleared up. The ramifacations of this lawsuit are going to be felt for years to come and will greatly affect anyone's interest in thinking that they are the ones who can satisfy Mr Cussler.

Let's not forget how bad they botched Stephen King's book "It", what a waste of mini-series time. That is just my 2 cents.

They did a terrible job on "It" but I don't think it was one of his better books either. Just my thought. There have been others that worked out very well. Only time will tell the future of Dirk and company on the silver screen.

I never watch mini-series on TV. However, I am much more likely to get hooked on a season long TV drama or something along the vein of LOST or 24.

A Dirk Pitt adventure T.V. Show. That would be cool. Bring it on. :lol:

Wouldn't you watch a DP mini- series. Erik?

As long as Clive's around,none of that will EVER happen !!!!!! Mr Cussler would rather be dragged over broken glass then allow a Dirk Pitt TV show !!