Kabul Express (2006)

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

I think that Kabul Express is the best Bollywood film of 2006. I still feel the effects of this film a week after watching it. The performances by the actors were great. Especially the actor who was playing the Taliban. The movie does a great job of educating the audience in regards to life in Afghanistan, and that not all Taliban soldiers are inhuman monsters. The scenes of the Afghan country are wonderfully shown. There are a lot of emotional scenes, especially during the end when we are not sure about the fate of the Taliban soldier as he try's to get to the border. The movie is realistic and it does not contain any song and dance sequences. The main reason why it is a great film is that it will make certain people realize how fortunate they are to grow up in a country without war. As well, that they should try to find ways to help people in other countries who are less fortunate. Finally the film does a great job of portraying the spirit of the Afghan people. The Afghan people have the spirit to survive turmoil in their country, and they will survive to bring their country back on its feet and make their country great again. This film is definitely one of a kind.

Nothing is as simple as stereotypes are. Those who don't want to shoot can kill, those who kill can save, Americans don't drink ***cola, even evil people have daughters and somebody's wish may be never fulfilled. You can think, than all what this people came through was in vain, but is it really in vain?Why press gave only 2 points for this film? Well, because there were no romance between handsome reporter (any of them) and flower from a desert ;-) ? No easy sex which is what some audience is used to. To give answer to "haw it all finished?" you have to think and interpret on your own.John Abraham was... well... he just was in this film. He showed his look and that is all. His character is so simple that he had no opportunity to show his talent (if he has). All the rest was OK, especially Arshad Warsi whose Jai was very colourfull person than draw attention."Of course" there must had been some reference to India-Pakistan conflict. (Well, maybe give them Madhuri Dixit). But as unforgettable Kapuscinski who died two days ago always tried to explain: there is no black/white people problem or Indian/Pakinstani. It is about people. Some are good some are bad no matter on which side they stand.Yes, it is typical story from the road, but I joined their odyssey with pleasure.

I remember many, many years ago, someone said to me, "I don't think Andy's coming - do you want his place?" Before even the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, before the middle east became a constant war-ground, a number of my friends would follow the 'hippy trail' - overland to India through the strange and wonderful lands on the way like Afghanistan. I didn't go. I often dreamt of the strange civilisations of Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, lands of jinn, ancient cultures, strange customs. Today, visiting Afghanistan for a Westerner is almost unthinkable - travelling there overland probably suicidal. Understanding the country through anything but a western political lens almost impossible.How refreshing to see a film made there with care and attention to authenticity. A film that is half thriller, half comedy. And one that conveys some of the complex attitudes of a warring people for whom it is the only home they ever know or want.Indian director Kabir Khan, although with considerable security, is able to come and go much easier than any Westerner could. I can't imagine even Mel Gibson going out to Kabul to make a motion picture right now. Khan's actors are all cast according to their nationality.Two Indian rookie reporters make the strangest roadtrip ever - trying to get an exclusive story on the Taliban following 9/11. They meet up with an Afghan driver, a gorgeous American Reuters photographer, and a Pakistani 'Talib' who by turns holds them hostage or doesn't. They are waylaid by police, bandits and mujahedin as they make a treacherous trip across a vivid no-man's-land through breathtaking scenery to the border. On the way they discover much about the complexities underlying Afghanistan as well as about themselves and each other.Kabul Express is the first feature film to be shot extensively in Kabul after the official end of the Taliban's reign and demonstrates the director's love of the country and its people, as well as an incredible sense of humour that both accurately portrays and caricatures all the various races involved.The film seems to have no particular political agenda, and if the Taliban and Pakistan probably come off a bit worse than anybody else, the locals who reinstate fairly barbaric time-honoured sports and customs are not a picture of civilised thinking either. The different reactions of our travellers to a game involving tearing an animal to bits, or beating a couple of Talibs to death with bare hands, speak volumes.In one particularly moving scene, the extremely resourceful Taliban fighter is re-united with his daughter. I found the moment where she only lifts her burka (veil) secretly watching him depart particularly heart-wrenching.Kabul Express is a film made by an Indian company and not totally divorced of bias - there's no love lost between India and the Taliban over Kashmir, for instance - but as it's not the bias we are used to in the West it is nevertheless a invigorating look into a country that has become almost unintelligible. It may be uncomfortable or even disjointed viewing for anyone emotionally locked into a politicised and over-simplified picture of Afghanistan, but if you can put that aside for an hour or so it is truly an eye-opener.While not exactly a blockbuster, the film comes across as warm, genuine, exciting and displays a range of humour I've rarely come across. I am also indebted to several Indian members of the audience without whose laughter I would have missed several subtle and very Indian-type jokes.Kabul Express is a rare film experience and I strongly recommend it.

At one hand you have constraints of a fictional approach towards story telling, to be packed with requisite drama and emotions required for a commercial product. On the other hand, you have a subject that requires a mature, realistic treatment showing harsh realities, political issues plus much more. Now when one has to strike a right balance between the two, quite often the film-maker stumbles, making it look like a half-baked product or half-hearted effort. But fortunately, and surprisingly, even if this coming from hard-core commercial pot-boiler banner Yashraj films, débutant writer-director Kabir Khan this time manages to strike a right balance between the two without going much overboard. The result-a sensitive, sensible, fresh path-breaking cinema, which not only covers issues both social as well as political related to a war but keeps the narrative interesting with subtle humor thrown in between. Here we have a fictional account of two TV journalists at War-ravaged Afghanistan in post-Taliban times, trying to get interview of a taliban soldier in hiding, interspersed with film-maker's real life experiences. Though one shortcoming is that most of the narrative comes across from the interaction between the five main characters but it is to the credit of taut screenplay and witty dialogs that breaks the monotony of the situation. Direction, Performances (Not just Arshad, John but other three foreigners too), Cinematography, Sound design, Background score, everything is apt, in place, and save it from becoming a routine documentary stuff. Even the emotional situations are handled with panache. Film has no songs and has a length of about 110 mins all of which complemented to the narrative. All in all, it is a welcome relief amidst all those escapist fantasies and is definitely one of the best films of this year. Well done!