I saw this movie before reading any reviews, and I thought it was very funny. I was very surprised to see the overwhelmingly negative reviews this film received from critics.

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

This is one of my favorite movies from the 80s. I love the entire plot. It has adventure and romance. I love Lambert Wilson in his role. He is so sexy. Gosh I just watched it tonight and I still love to look at him in the film. I know the movie was panned by the critics, but for the time period and for now I still think it is a great movie. Brooke Shields looks so beautiful as well. She played the role well. Cannot wait to find it on DVD to add to my collection.

I saw this film (sic) recently, and by modern production techniques it is awful. By production techniques of the time I guess it is less than average. Continuity, story logic, 'special' effects, and editing are worse than woeful. On paper, I think it a reasonable story; in actuality it is ham-fisted, over-acted, wooden (yes, the two together) and laughable. You can see how the film was edited, how it was shot; it is almost like watching how a film was made. Brooke Shields gained fame for her looks, not her talent, as she became older she became a capable actress - and lost her looks. Take your pick; talentless babe, or competent worker. Either way, do not bother with Sahara - it makes Xanadu and Ishtar (yes, that dates me) look cool.

The TV was on while I was busy with a household chore, so I missed some of the beginning. Then the story started to catch my attention and boy am I glad to have discovered Lambert Wilson. Someone else already said it... his eyes, his lips, his sheik's stature. He was mesmerizing and had great chemistry with Brooke. Her acting was better than I've seen her in later films. She handled the character role rather well, except for the boy/moustache sequence. Definitely a cheesy movie, yet I couldn't stop watching. The fantasy story drew me in and swept me away... yes, kind of like a Harlequin romance. Did I mention that Lambert Wilson is breathtakingly handsome? As soon as the credits rolled and I caught his name, I ran to google the web. He's French?! Mais certainement!

I enjoyed this movie very much. It was set in a period where women had limitations. Dale (Shield) was raised so it seems by a father who allowed her more freedom, yet she was very naive. As love stories go, I thought it was true to form. In fact, I recently bought a copy of this film and watched it again today. I enjoyed it just as much today as I had years ago. As I was watching it I could not help thinking that I had seen Jaffar (Lambert) in some other films. The person he reminded me of was the brother and Frenchman in Timeline. Later, my daughter signed on to this site and looked Mr. Lambert up. I was right. I think he is a very good actor.