Based on Clive Cussler’s Dirk Pitt novel. Dirk and Al are off the coast of Africa on a NUMA (National Underwater and Marine Association when they meet up with Eva, a World Health Organization doctor investigating a spreading disease. She’s being attacked by some bad guys, and Dirk steps in and saves her life.

Then Dirk is given a gold coin, a Confederate gold piece found in Mali. He’s suspected for a long time that there’s a Civil War ironclad somewhere in Africa, and this coin prompts him to go look for it. It turns out Eva’s headed for Mali too, and she hitches a ride. On the way, traveling up the Niger River, they’re attacked by gunboats and pull of an incredible escape. Arriving in Mali, the groups split up. Dirk and Al look for the boat while Eva and her team look for the disease. The find it, but are attacked by a warlord. Eva’s teammates are killed, but Dirk and Al show up in time to save Eva.

They meet up with Tuareg’s a wild tribe fighting the warlord. The chief gives them supplies but doesn’t want to fight. By this time, Dirk and Al have figured out that the disease is being spread by a buried river in the desert, so if they find the ironclad, they’ll find the river and the source of the problem. They also find a plant that uses solar power to destroy toxic waste. This is why the warlord his fighting — to protect his investment. Eva is captured. Al and Dirk go in. The owner of the plant takes off and tries to destroy it which will release all the toxic waste into the river and then into the ocean. Al defuses the bomb. Dirk rescues Eva again. They head off across the desert, chased by the warlord. They find the ironclad and use one of its cannon’s to down the warlord’s helicopter. The warlord’s army surrenders to the Tuaregs who show up just in time.

It was exciting, with tons of totally implausible adventures and escapes, but it had a lot of funny lines, a rocking sound track and a fast pace. It’s one to watch again sometime because it will be fun again because it was unmemorable.

For any of you who read Cussler's Dirk Pitt novels — Sally and I saw this at the theater the day it came out. It wasn't great art, but it was a lot of fun — exciting and funny — and totally unbelievable, just like the books.

I've quit reading Cussler's books because they all stick so closely to the formula that they've become boring. The movie followed the same formula, but the actors were well cast and the scenery was impressive, although the pacing and cuts were pretty hectic in places. I'll watch it again when it comes out on DVD and probably several more times over the years. I suspect it will become as familiar as one of the old James Bond movies that you can start watching at any point and know exactly what's going on and even switch channels for a while and come back for the good parts. Sally and I both gave it an 8.