Kabul Express (2006)

If you want to know about Afghanistan and Taliban then you must watch this film. This film has approximately everything about Afghanistan. If you see this film you'll feel like you're there in Afghanistan. The acting and story is great with well written script. All the facts about Taliban in Afghanistan are well pictured. The best thing is that film was shot in Afghanistan. The direction of the movie is same as any Hollywood movie direction. Yash Raj's Kabir Khan have showed his direction skills in this movie. This movie must be released in Afghanistan also. I just missed one thing in this movie and that is American force inclusion and Afghan people's views about NATO forces. It's a worth watching movie.

The thing that intrigued me while viewing this was that I'm seeing a movie showcasing a journey made by 5 people from different cultures all in one car. An American, An Afgan, A Pakistani and 2 Indians; now how often is that seen in Hindi films? I'm not trying to say the film sends a message of humanity but I do feel that it provides entertainment in innovative ways.I saw that in Kabir Khan's New York as well. Taht's why his Ek Tha Tiger disappointed me a whole lot. Back to Kabul Express, if you haven't seen this treat to the eyes, go for it. I'll elaborate after the summary.It is November 2001, post the deadly 9/11 attacks. Jai and Sohail are journalists from India and have traveled to Kabul to interview the few remaining Taliban activists in Afganistan. In midst of reaching these terrorists - they meet a Pakistani army officer trying to escape to his home, an American reporter and an Afgan driver. What happens next is Kabul Express.Thoroughly crisp, well edited and engaging is how I define Kabul Express. I do want to add that the film educates the viewer about the beautiful country of Afganistan.There are times when the film keeps the viewer in intensity and then there also enjoyable moments between Arshad and the Pakistani actor. Not to forget the Coke-Pepsi scene.One moment that made me smile was a subtle scene that said a thousand things. The scene when the actors are listening to a famous 1960's Hindi song by Rafi saab is worth mentioning. It makes you think how music can bring so many together. Lovely scene.The background score is great. No useless songs, thank God for that.The writing is crisp and dialogue is fresh. Screenplay is engaging.Every performance is top-notch. John Abraham is first rate. Arshad Warsi is a scene stealer. Salman Shahid is brilliant. The Afgan actor is also terrific. The American actress is competent.Overall, an entertainer that educates and sends a small, nice message.

The moral of the story seems to be Imran Khan Afridi's transition to a friendly old man from an aggressive old fart, showing how we assume even good people to be bad sometimes just based on stereotypes. Another parallel moral seemed to be that reporters can do nothing in war torn situations. That was quite a learning for me.I will take the first moral of the film and apply it to my film watching the next time. Even a relatively decent sounding movie can be the equivalent of silent suffering. The only surprising part of the movie experience was how the uncle next to me who was wreaking of cheap whiskey managed to stay up through the duration of the movie. My friend, who hadn't had a drink certainly couldn't.My rating: 2.5 on 10 More on: http://daily-humor.blogspot.com/2006/12/journey-on-kabul-express.html

Kabul Express has been in news for some time & people have been waiting for it. At least it is not worth the wait. Its a nice movie actually shot extensively in Afghanistan showing 2 rookies on their journey to newly liberated Afghan country. They have an Afghan guide with them. Its a journey where they discover the truth about humanity, the truth which is common to all the humans.They meet a Taliban commander and he travels forces them to take him to Pakistan border. Pakistan govt has already decided not to let anyone enter in Pakistan (they say that no Pakistani is in Afghanistan, in spite of the fact that lots of them are there with Taliban). The Pakistani Taliban commander is running for his life from Afghan Army, not knowing that his own people are not ready to accept him.There are a lots of nice moment in the movie during their journey. People from 3 countries fighting for their pride (war of words between Indian, Pakistani & Afghan). There is also an American journalist who's looking for some spice & news. Then there's Taliban's daughter who doesn't wants to meet his father.Lots of content lots of emotions however movie seems week at the point of execution. It does looks quite real in some terms (as the location and lots of people are real) but seems like a documentary at places. Arshad has done a good job & so has Salman Shahid in the role of Taliban Commander.Only if the movie could have been made in a more appealing way it could have strike a chord with masses too...