Isn't the trope really about desert crossings and not necessarily about the desert as a setting? Take the Star Wars films, where there really are no examples of desert crossings, where the characters are in danger of dehydration or overexposure. The desert is just a backdrop or referred to as a harsh place, and not necessarily illustrated as one.
Desert crossings are almost formulaic in film. There is almost always a direct shot at the sun, fading into closeups of the characters sweating, breathing with their mouths open, talking about how they need water, etc.
Think of Aladdin. I mean the guy is marooned in the desert but there's no desert crossing or "thirsty desert" trope because he has a freakin' genie who can get him out.
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This trope isn't about Crossing the Desert, although those two go hand in hand a lot. Crossing the Desert is a plot, Thirsty Desert is the setting - namely, a boiling hot Death World full of pony-sized spiders chasing after you.
But I don't think if you minimize the threat, it takes away the trope. The trope itself loses its teeth when you throw in a genie, sure, but Aladdin is still in the desert.
Edited by 97.114.86.220
Does the desert in question necessarily have to be desolate and devoid of life, or can it just be a scorched Death World in which Everything Trying to Kill You is in full effect?
Note that just because a desert can be a Death World full of nasty, nasty creatures doesn't automatically mean it's not teeming with life. It just so happens to be a biome rife with extremely tough survivalist plants and animals (maybe even people).
Edited by 97.114.86.220
Dry Paratroopa
Why was the trope renamed to be after the Pikmin 3 area if it's not even an example? The real Thirsty Desert has water in it.
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The Flightofthe Phoenix 2004 Movie applies here. They crash into the Gobi Desert, smack dab in the middle of it, which is explicitly mentioned as "2 weeks of walking in any direction" and "If the Sun or the Sandstorms don't kill you, the Bedouins will". Of course all of these things will try to kill them, when they are not at each other's throats.
Since they are an oil driller crew, they have all the tools to "rebuild" the airplane, including welding torches and general tools.
Edited by Gonemad