All Kabul Express Reviews- Here Only! - Page 4

aww man,.i soo cant wait to watch this movie...it looks perfect... John is an excellent actor..

is the film anti pakistan

Originally posted by: goody2shoes

is the film anti pakistan

i heard it is against pakistan.

Movie Review: Kaabul Express



Director : Kabir Khan
Music : Raghav Sachar
Lyrics : Aditya Dhar
Starring : John Abraham, Arshad Warsi, Salman Shahid, Hanif Hum Ghum, Linda Arsenio

By Sameer Wadekar, Bollywood Trade News Network



There's a scene in KABUL EXPRESS in the beginning when Jai and Suhel, the two Indian journalists are having a chat while Suhel is doing a little push-up to straighten out a bit. There's a little boy who watches them from nearby. The two guys call him over and that little kid, (we come to know then) has lost his leg and holding his clutch by his side he looks at them with a smile on his face. This scene makes you numb.



Director Kabir Khan's film KABUL EXPRESS is filled with quite a few such situations will leave you numb, sometimes even cold. Because the film is almost like a diary wherein you find numerous such occasions and you go on reading them turning the pages over and over. And this is exactly what makes the KABUL EXPRESS a difficult film to review because it's not your usual Bollywood film.

Director Kabir Khan makes his feature film debut here, this being his first narrative movie. And he has done a commendable job. What he has done best is that he has maintained a humorous rhythm for this film despite the fact that it's a serious subject. In doing so he makes sure that he does not drift away from the essence and the real grain of the film. He creams the movie with constant splurges of humor and good befitting comedy making the movie look less grim. It almost turns out to be an adventure ride which is both hard-hitting and entertaining.



And what a splendid job by cinematographer Anshuman Mahaley. The rough terrains and the desolate mountains of Afghanistan become a character in the movie. Mahaley captures the location in all its melancholy and despair instead of making it look scenic and charming. This was very important taking into account the mood and atmosphere of the film. Mahaley makes it appear like a mute witness to the proceedings and all the anguish and sufferings it has undergone over the years. And the background score elevates the feel further, complementing the movie thoroughly.

The movie has no precise story. It's a docu-drama or treated like a docu-drama. It's about five individuals Jai, Suhel, Jessica (who are journalists), Khyber (their Afghan guide) and Imran Khan Afridi (Talibani). The director wants the audience to witness their journey, their experiences, the fear, the hate, the trauma they undergo and still try to hold their nerves in that war-ravaged territory. It all culminates into a strange bond which is quite indefinable.



The director has done his research deftly and that shows. He has worked hard on the script and has done his best to make a film that is thoughtful as well as thought-provoking. Kabir Khan's background as a documentary filmmaker has come in handy and he has utilized his experiences to the hilt. Not that the movie is without flaws or errors but that is negligible. What is important is the spirit of the film which should be kept a little far from dissection. The actors too have done a brilliant job playing their respective roles sincerely.

The film reminded me of that Hollywood classic THREE KINGS. That movie too was set against the ambience of the Gulf War and took a realistic stab on the consequences of the conflict. There the director did so by ingraining it with lots of humor but keeping the real core of the film intact. This is a tough job to do, mind you.



KABUL EXPRESS too works in a similar vein. It is clear-cut, straight and touching. Kabir Khan has said that he has jotted all his experiences in this film while he was in Afghanistan during his documentary days. One should feel glad that he decided to share it through this film which should surely remain unique experience for many of you as well.

http://glamsham.com/movies/reviews/kabul_express.asp

Movie Review: Kaabul Express



Critics Rating: (3.5/5)
Language: HINDI
Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller, War
Director: Kabir Khan
Producer: Aditya Chopra
Cast: Arshad Warsi, John Abraham,Salman Shahid,Hanif Humghum, Linda Arsenio
Music: Raghav Sachar, Julius Packiam
Lyrics: Aditya Dhar, Swaratmika Mishra, Vijay Kumar

By Arpana

First thing first - director Kabir Khan's directorial debut will not appeal to those looking for candyfloss kind of entertainment. But one should see it for its absorbing intricacies and intelligent narration. It is a thought-provoking film.

"Kabul Express" is a socio-political comment on the post 9/11 war ravaged Afghanistan. The director has deftly used his experience and expertise to put out the tragic situation in the country abandoned by its staunch supporter Pakistan after the attack on the US.

As the film progresses one can see a beautiful country reduced to ruins, disappearing human civilisation and vegetation and haunting silence, which is often disturbed by gunshots.

One needs courage to make a hard-hitting film like this and kudos to Kabir for treading an untrodden path.

The film is about the journey of two Indian journalists - Jai Kapoor (Arshad Warsi) and Suhel Khan (John Abraham) - in war-torn Afghanistan for an exclusive interview with a Taliban.

Just few days after landing in the disturbed terrains of Afghanistan they are taken hostage by Imran Khan (Salman Shahid), a Taliban, who is trying to escape to Pakistan to save his life. Imran is a Pakistani soldier, who becomes a victim of the political nexus between his native country and the US.

On their way Jai and Suhel bump into an American photojournalist Jessica Beckham (Linda Arsenio), who also becomes Imran's captive! And Khyber, an Afghan, who is Jai and Suhel's guide and translator, drives all of them to Pakistan border in his Toyota jeep called Kabul Express.

But Khyber and Imran cannot see eye to eye on the Taliban phenomenon, and through their views the director brings forth the controversies surrounding the formation of the Taliban and its effect on the country.

The film takes a critical look at the Islamist fundamentalist movement, which ruled most of Afghanistan from 1996 until 2001, and faulty US policies exploiting developing nations.

Most shocking revelation in the film was the Taliban's treatment of women. Most of them are widows. Taliban does not permit women to work and, therefore, all the widows are forced to beg for food and shelter.

The film, however, has lighter moments too. The conversations among Jai, Suhel, Imraan and Khyber (Hanif Hum Ghum) make one laugh heartily. Their rigid views on cricketers Kapil Dev and Imran Khan, actress Madhuri Dixit, and Uncle Sam's country are quite amusing. Jai and Imran's one-liners are hilarious.

The director has full control over the narration and not even once he deviates.

However, there is one flaw in the film. Despite all the violence and prejudices and intolerance, "Kabul Express" turns out to be a soft film focusing mainly on emotions. Kabir stresses on the fact that it is the socio-political situations that force people to pick up arm and turn into terrorists.

Performance wise, Arshad is the show stealer. He effortlessly slips under his character. Hanif and Salman are impeccable and often moving.

John is a misfit and looks out of sync and Linda Arsenio does not have much to do. But her presence certainly adds glamour to an otherwise dry drama.

Some of the scenes are gripping. For instance when Imran goes to meet his daughter but cultural restrictions forbid him from expressing his emotions for his daughter. Also when he reaches the Pakistan border to escape death but ironically is shot down by his own countrymen.

"Kabul Express" interweaves stories of different individuals put together by unfavourable circumstances into a relationship, which is moving as well as revealing.

A must watch.

http://www.nowrunning.com/film/review1.asp?movieNo=3068&r=98 3

Kabul Express: Film Review

By Sonia Chopra
15 December 2006, 06:04 PM

Kabul Express



Producer: Yah Raj Films

Director: Kabir Khan

Cast: John Abraham, Arshad Warsi, Hanif Hum Ghum, Salim Shahid, Linda Arsenio

Rating: 2.5/5

Kabul Express is not a good film gone bad; but it's definitely a great film gone mediocre. The premise is new, story fresh, treatment not run-of-the-mill; still, the film is just not that riveting.

So when television reporter Suhel (John Abraham) and photographer Jai (Arshad Warsi) land at "post 9/11 Afghanistan" to cover the big story of their lives, they meet with one incident after the other, staccato style. Rookies, when it comes to covering war, they meet pretty (aren't they always) American journalist Jessica (Linda Arsenio) who joins them on their journey, hoping to meet with a Taliban member, so they can get their exclusive story and go back home.

They befriend an Afghani driver Khyber (Hanif Hum Ghum) who's truly a marvelous actor with his superbly lined face and wrinkled eyes. They are taken hostage by a Taliban member Imran (Salim Shahid), who wants to use them and their vehicle called Kabul Express to go to the Pakistani border. The story follows what happens, as the four, especially Khyber, try and outdo the Talib (local, for a Taliban member), amidst inane and long conversations about Imran Khan vs. Kapil Dev and Coke vs. Pepsi.

Some strange sub-plots like Imran leering at Jessica get us anxious. But since he turns out to be not such a bad guy after all, what was the point there? Was it a manipulation by the filmmaker just to add some edginess to the script? For a premise like that, which should have you on the edge of the seat, the film is quite thanda. And this is largely due to the strange pace which is too slow or too fast at times, streeeettching of scenes, and John and Arshad's expressions, who look about as worried as a couple of guys who've lost their way in a crowded street in Mumbai. So since they don't look very nervous, we aren't that worried for them either. It's like -- ok, they're in some kind of trouble, but they're making jokes all the time, so I guess the director will make sure they're gonna be alright.

There are subtle ironies that director Kabir Khan has insinuated, but they've been told like a great joke told flatly. Like the delicious dialogue where Khyber says – 'Buzkashi (sport where two teams fight for a goat's carcass), has been banned by the Taliban because they feel it's too bloody and violent.' Or the scene where conversation is normal at an open restaurant, against 'What a Wonderful World', playing in the background.

This was a great opportunity to show conflicts both internal and external in the troubled country -- between the Taliban and local Afghanis, American intervention and the changed stance of the Pakistani army. These issues are all touched upon, but not earnestly enough. Baring for Khyber, who's the voice of the local Afghani in the film, there's nothing else that makes you really feel for the war-ravaged country, and that's a wasted opportunity.

The camerawork (Anshuman Mahaley) is interesting, with the handheld camerawork very effective in some scenes, plus some beautiful shots of the arid desert against the setting sun. Director Kabir Khan, who has been inspired by his own experiences in Afghanistan makes a clean first effort, considering that this could not have been an easy one to shoot. He shows flashes of great potential and his second film will definitely be one to look out for.

The film is entertaining enough while it lasts, but doesn't leave much of an impact afterward. You may not come out of the theatre, full of conversation about war, world politics or even Afghanistan; but yes, you might like to discuss your favourite Arshad Warsi joke.

http://www.businessofcinema.com/index.php?file=story&id=2118

AS "Kabul Express" hits the screen on December 15, it will mark a significant turn in the history of mainstream cinema. There are several firsts about "Kabul Express", the foremost one being that it is a contemporary story turned into a movie. "Kabul Express" joins movies like "Tora Tora Tora", "Towering Inferno", "Pelican Brief", "Day of the Jackal", which were based on true stories.

However, Indian cinema never gave much importance to the "true story" genre. On the contrary, it used the silver screen as a canvas of flowery imagination, though films like "Chandni Bar", "Corporate", "Satya" or "Company" dealt with the world of flesh trade, dancing bars, corporate and the human face of the underworld. Though the makers grounded these films in reality, they cannot be categorised as true stories.

The most striking difference in "Kabul Express" is that it's largely based on the director's experiences. In an interview, Kabir Khan confessed, "I wanted the characters to be natural. I think that comes from my background in documentary filmmaking". Thus, "Kabul Express" is a result of a realistic expression on film largely built on personal preferences to unravel the truth of a conflict-ridden country.

Focus on Afghanistan

Apart from director Kabir's experiences, "Kabul Express" is also a take off on the media's interest in Afghanistan's post-Taliban regime. That Afghanistan became a melting pot of global news is hardcore news in itself; the global media recorded every moment of Afghanistan. "Kabul Express" therefore will become a significant landmark in promoting flicks that have substantially been indebted to the news media.

What needs to be tested is how the crosscurrents of real politics, media and human interest work in the film. The director, in fact, had looked objectively into the role of an all-pervasive media with little empathy towards the glorified Afghan. But that is not the sole point of discussion.

The crucial factor that has significantly worked in the film's favour is the banner that produced it. Yashraj Films is one of the most important producers in the country and has over the years churned out commercially successful and elegant films on the man-woman relationship. In the last two decades, the banner has enthralled audiences with films that epitomise romance. Even if social reality and conflict had a role, they were merely backdrops as in "Fanna". "Kabul Express", therefore, would be an important film for the banner. Though Yash Chopra directed films like "Dhool ka Phool", "Dharamputra", "Aadmi aur Insaan", "Kala Patthar", "Mashaal", which had strong socio-cultural biases, the banner never deviated from its niche of romantic films from the first film it produced "Yeh Dillagi" in 1994.

Marking a change

From Yash Chopra to Yashraj films, it's been several parallel discourses. Today when Hindi cinema is getting a boost at international festivals, "Kabul Express" is definitely a striking film for Yashraj. For the local media and producers, it may be an "out of the box" idea that clicked but, for the director and aspiring filmmakers, the association between Yashraj and a story that delves on an international political crisis is of utmost importance. Many may see light at the end of the tunnel and the producers may receive several expressions of interest from aspiring directors for whom the move to the large screen has always been a matter of struggle.

With Yashraj now in support of movies that work globally, with content that is pro-journalistic, the distribution and marketing of similar films may be less difficult.

Last but not the least as "Kabul Express" begins its tour of the global festival circuit, it enhances the possibility of a big hit at the international film events. Who knows, may be "Kabul Express" will hit the star-studded Kodak Theatre Hall in the spring of 2007.

After all sensitive filmmaking is all about bonding between an intense filmmaker (Kabir Khan) and a daring producer (Aditya Chopra) willing to give each other a chance.