Kabul Express (2006)

Regisseur:

Kabir Khan

Drehbuchautoren:

Kabir Khan (written by)
Sandeep Srivastava (additional dialogue)

Premierendatum:

15. Dezember 2006 (UK)

Genre:

Action | Komödie | Drama | Thriller

Werbezeile:

Two Indians, an American, one Afghan and a Pakistani on a journey together

Plot:

The attention of the world is focused, after the terrorist attacks in U.S.A. of 11Sep01, on Afghanistan...

Plot Keywords:

Satire | Afghanistan | Hostage | Helicopter | Journalist

Nutzerkommentare:

Different and Worth a Watch

Besetzung

John Abraham	...	Suhel Khan
Arshad Warsi	...	Jai Kapoor
Salman Shahid	...	Imran 'Talib' Khan Afridi / Subedar Major Jan Mohammed
Hanif Hum Ghum	...	Khyber
Linda Arsenio	...	Jessica Beckham
Wali-o Qhab	...	Mujahidin at pick-up truck
Khader Arya	...	Mujahidin at pick-up truck
Haji Gul Asir	...	Mujahidin at pick-up truck
Abdul Basir Mujahid	...	Mujahidin at pick-up truck
Saeed Meeran Farhad	...	Mujahidin at pick-up truck
Raziq Zargar	...	Mujahidin at pick-up truck
Farooq Baraki	...	Mujahidin commander
Anjamuddin	...	Crippled boy
Hashmatullah Fanai	...	Kibabchi at kibabchani
Sunil Godse	...	Pakistani soldier

Länge:

UK:104 Min | Canada:106 Min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Produktionsland:

India

Sprache:

Dari | Englisch | Hindi

Farbe:

Farbe

Seitenverhältnis:

2.35 : 1

Altersfreigabe:

Singapore:PG | Ireland:15A | India:UA | UK:15

Firma:

Yash Raj Films

Dies und das:

The "buzkashi" game was the largest setup in the film, needing 25 of the best "buzkash" (horsemen) in Kabul and about 2000 spectators. A week before it was shot, the Afghan Intelligence Service was tipped off that Taliban militants were to strike at the shooting of the game. Thus, over 100 Intelligence officers were mingled into the crowd of spectators.

Dialogzitate:

Khyber: You needn't worry, though. they've pulled this scam so many times, there're no donkeys alive now
Imran Khan Afridi: [deadpan, looking straight at Khyber] Some of them are. They're now drivers.

Soundtrack:

Banjar (Lounge Mix)

Different and Worth a Watch

Different… Humorous… Poignant … that's what this ride called 'Kabul Express,' is about and a good experimental effort by the production house of Adi Chopra known more for his romantic tear-jerker's. This time he breaks away from the regular mould and delivers something that is more realistic.

It has it flaws, like two reporters Suhel (John) and Jai (Arshad) who have gone to Afghanistan on their rookie assignment but seem to be surprised at the scenario and way of life there. Come on guys, didn't anyone back at office brief you on what's happening in a war torn country or don't you watch the news. Any Johnny today knows from the news and literature available how life in Afghanistan stands. Knows enough than to be taken aback by a kid without a leg or a hotel in ruins.

John at times seems a bit out of sorts but Arshad makes hay while the Afghan sun shines and draws a chuckle from the audience. With his spontaneity and natural comic timing he delivers his dialogues to maximum effect :) Linda Arsenio as a Reuter's reporter is quite wasted. Anyone could have done that role which requires a bare minimum display of acting talents. But she sure does serve her purpose of eye candy amidst the dilapidated Afghan countryside.

The cinematography of the barren landscape and rugged terrain is quite breathtaking and so is the background music. Comes as a relief that there are no song and dance items included which have no place in the script from the beginning.

A few more slickly edited action sequences would have added positively to the 'thriller,' element in the movie cause at times it leaves you with an empty feeling with nothing to look forward to in the next scene. Towards the end of it one could sum this one up as a drama with comic relief moments.

And for some reason I am quite confused about the message the movie tried to deliver. Was it about Indo-Afghan friendship, or the difference between Indian and Pakistani mindset. Perhaps it's about drawing parallels across a cross section of culturally different nations.

Feel free to draw your own conclusion but after you have seen this one……… cause its different and worth a watch.