The script did truly sucked. The only thing the movie had to do with the book was a General Kazim, Dirk Pitt, Al Giordino (who in the books is a 5'4" italian bull of a man, not Steve Zahn) the raising of a Egyptian tomb, and a French business man poisoning the world's water supply with red tide. I would say as a comparison, the movie stays about 15% true to the book. The movie even left out two huge storylines. Very dissapointing.
Plus, McConaughey as Pitt, COME ON! Cussler actually wanted Hugh Jackman, but I guess "Creative Control" was just a title. I would love to see him get the money, but I would also like to see the Dirk Pitt series revived into actually good movies that stay between 90-100% true to the books.