User reviews

An OK movie with nice action scenes... Very flawed when it comes to script, and one of the worst jobs in soundtracking (songs have absolutely nothing to do with the scenes).

But acting is solid, it has nice visuals, camera work is nice, director does a reasonably good job.

You can watch it for the nice actions sequences and ok plot, but the movie is quite forgettable in terms of writing and does not know what it really wants...tries to focus on too many things (character drama, action, war, politics) but not cohesively.

Anyway...nice fun, nice action, but do not expect much more than that.

(I'm done but I still have to type a fewore characters before IMDb allows me to publish)

Kandahar is the second action-drama about Afghanistan I've seen in the last month. Guy Ritchie's The Covenant is about the same subject matter. It's different but also very similar. I find it amusing to see the return of very similar movies released in the same year (think Olympus Has Fallen and White House Down). Fortunately, in this case both movies turned out great.

I enjoyed Kandahar and found it entertaining throughout. It has some cool action scenes that seem to emphasize realism. There is an action scene at night which had me complaining at first because I couldn't see much. I wondered why they didn't use some kind of lighting trick. But as I watched, I realized this is how it would look if I was in that situation, something I've never seen.

The action is only a small portion of this movie. But I was still invested because of the story and characters. There were scenes of suspense as well as slower character moments, but I was never bored. It does a good job of balancing many moving parts (different groups, races and motivations).

Watching this movie, I couldn't help but notice how far we've come regarding Islamophobia in action movies. I grew up watching action movies where brown skin = bad guy. And even worse, they were usually portrayed as gross and barbaric. Kandahar does a much better job of illustrating the complexity of the situation, how not everything is black and white, and how there are people within those communities trying to fight against what's wrong.

I think The Covenant does a better job of holding all sides (including our own) accountable, whereas Kandahar shows sympathy without ever asking for accountability. Even the main character does some bad things that are never addressed. I wish they went that extra step to show how detrimental the outside influences can be on these situations.

Nevertheless, I had a good time with this movie and am happy with how fairly and not one-sided things are portrayed.

(1 viewing, early screening Mystery Movie Monday 5/15/2023)

The film's strengths lie in its action sequences and Butler's performance. The action sequences are well-choreographed and exciting, and Butler gives a strong performance as the CIA operative. However, the film's weaknesses are its predictability and lack of originality. The plot is very predictable, and the film relies heavily on clichés and stereotypes. Overall, Kandahar is an average action thriller film that is worth watching for Butler's performance, but it is not a must-see film.

Here are some of the pros and cons of the film:

Pros:

Gerard Butler gives a strong performance.

The action sequences are well-choreographed and exciting.

The film is shot beautifully, capturing the harsh beauty of the Afghan landscape.

Cons:

The plot is predictable.

The film relies heavily on clichés and stereotypes.

The film is slow-paced at times.

Overall, Kandahar is an average action thriller film that is worth watching for Butler's performance, but it is not a must-see film.

Butler is always good for the slick action movie, and has made a career as some of the most consistent action stars. While he never achieved anything compared to 300, it's hard to point a finger at a film that did not entertain.

Butler goes somewhat beyond his limited range in Kandahar with some success. There is a real attempt to create character and suspense, which is at points refreshing and at points boring. Nothing is revolutionary, the baddies get some lines of dialogue (be warned, you will have to read a lot of subtitles!) and there is some sad music playing, but that's about the extent of it. Richie's Covenant also tackles the same setting, with overall better results.

The ending is predictable and ridiculous, devolving into explosion city, but what did I expect?

There is about 20 mins to be cut from this, but it has enough going for it that I can forgive the draggy parts, and appreciate the attempt at substance.

7/10 - if your expectations are right...

This is a perfectly good movie. The comparisons to The Covenant, Guy Ritchie's movie with Jake Gyllenhaal are understandable, and while there are some similarities, it is not a like for like by any means. There are in fact many differences. I won't spell them out for fear of giving spoilers, but if you watch both movies you will get my point. Gerard Butler does seem to be the go to guy for an awful lot of action movies over the last five plus years, but there is a good reason for that. He meets the requirements of a Hollywood hero very well; handsome, likeable, tough and and pretty decent actor for the most part. I enjoyed the movie and would recommend to anyone who likes action/military type movies.

Strong plot and promising action but falls short. Worth viewing if you like this type of film or Butler in general.

Butler's 'Tom Harris' and Fimmel's 'Roman' were strong, they provided high points. Bagheri's 'Parshand' didn't hit the mark.

Action scenes had moments of awesome. But odd timing of starts/stops during sequences made them confusing. Particularly when Roman rolls out of the vehicle during a pursuit scene.

Parshand pursuing main characters endlessly through the desert on a low range motorcycle was odd and not believable enough. Character did not seem ruthless. His scenes subtracted from the overall concept I was expecting and hoping for.

After the explosion i got lost in this movie. Everyone is against each other and all together are chasing the spy and the poor translator. Every force that passed ftom the region in the last 20 years (USA,Talibans,ISIS,Al Quaeda,Pakistan) are put in a mixer with no begging and no end. There are many plotholes and some times is slow paced. It is so tiring that i hardly kept myself of not falling asleep.

There are some good action scenes. Many collateral plots running together made the movie complicated. Nothing to compare to the Convenant. I'd rather compare it to "Plane",Buttler's previous movie.

Really,does Hollywood lacks of military and geostrategical advisors?

The scenario is like it is written by a 10 years old kid.

The duration should be max 90' no more because it is too tiring. It is from the kind of movies that i'd expect from netflix,and i would watch it only once.

If your identity has been exposed and your picture is all over the news, do you continue to look exactly like you look in the picture or do you shave your beard and head and wear different clothes? Maybe even add a scar? And if you're attacking a car from a helicopter, do you attack from the front, or from behind and to the left? And tell me how with no survelieace at all, you know the exact location of a car your chasing? These are but a few of the flaws in the film that detract from taking it seriously.

It has good photography and good music, and the direction is good, giving us an idea of just how crazy this war was/is.

A lot of people compared this to the Covenant, not a similar movie at all. The Covenant, was a character driven, human approach to the withdrawal of American Personnel and helpers due to the taliban executing the 'traitors' this one is basically a action driven character drama. Gerard Butler does his best with the script, Ric Roman Waugh (Greenland, Shot Caller, Angel Has Fallen) did a pretty great job at the action, and story. Is it Oscar worthy? No, it's a Good Friday Saturday Night shut your brain off and enjoy the action film. Definitely kept me entertained, and on the edge of my seat. If you like seeing Gerard shoot stuff and say the F word, see this, if not, then don't bother.

This is a good war thriller with lots of action, impressive scenes and strong violence. A gripping and exciting story that keeps you tense throughout the entire film. Thriller with noisy action, shootouts, excessively shaky camera in some places and the special effects are quite brilliant. After sabotaging an Iranian nuclear reactor, Agent Tom Harris: Gerard Butler discovers that his identity has been revealed by a detained journalist, Nina Toussaint-White, and that the CIA's involvement in the destruction of the nuclear reactor has been made public. Gerard Butler plays Tom Harris, and his partner in the film, Oliver, is performed by Tom Harries. Harris has 30 hours to get to the airport in Kandahar, Afghanistan, along with his translator Mohammad 'Mo' Doud: Navid Negahban. To fight the tumultuous escape, he reteams with mercurial and skilled operative Roman Chalmers: Travis Fimmel. The only thing more dangerous than the mission is escape!

This exciting film contains loudy action, full of suspense, tension, crossfire, chases and adrenaline. Financed by the head of the "John Wick" saga, as producer Alan Siegel explains: "Not everything revolves around shooting and chases: the key is humanity", so the most dangerous thing is not the mission, it is the escape... and that is what the character of Gerard Butler, (The Pilot, 300), who is the true protagonist of this intricate and fast-paced action thriller, is very clear about.

Operation Kandahar (2023) contains colorful cinematography by cameraman David Buckley filmed in several locations: Al-'Ula, Saudi Arabia, and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. As well as a moving and intriguing musical score by composer MacGregor. The film was competently directed by Ric Roman Waugh and filmed from December 2, 2021 to January 28, 2022. Roman has a long career as a stuntman and later became a prestigious writer and filmmaker. Waugh is a good director and writer, known for National Champions, Shot Caller (2017), Target: Washington D. C. or Angel Has Fallen (2019), Greenland (2020), In the Shadows and especially for his first big hit, Felon. He has been married to Tanya Ballinger, who often appears in his films. Rating: 6.5/10. It's worth seeing. Better than average. Essential and indispensable viewing for Gerard Butler fans and action thriller enthusiasts.

Kandahar (2023) : Movie Review -

Ric Roman Waugh's geopolitical action drama, Kandahar, stars Gerard Butler and Ali Fazal as the two opposite sides. The CIA spy dramas have seen a lot of things over the years, but hardly one or two films could manage to bring that superb thrill. Kandahar is neat, but not thrilling. It has a plot that looks reliable-I mean, nothing superficial or out of the world, but a decent story line, which is faltered by a damaged screenplay. When you prepare yourself to watch a spy action drama, you expect some thrilling moments and a lot of explosions one after another. Kandahar gives you the explosions, on a large scale too, but the chill and thrill are missing. It's a rough and soulless film in that sense, even though the writing does not cause any alarm.

Kamdahar is about a freelance CIA undercover officer, Tom Harris (Gerard Butler), who enters the nuclear testing centre in Iran as a technician. His mission is successful as he manages to destroy the facility, but his problems begin from there. Tom travels to Kandahar and meets his friend, Mo (Navid Negahban). Soon, they are on the radar of Iranians and a Pakistani agent, Kahil (Ali Fazal), who continue chasing him throughout the film. Kandahar is all about this cat and mouse game, as Tom continues to sneak away with every step (that's so predictable). The Talibanis join the search operation, and it is later revealed in the climax that the CIA is also keeping an eye on this entire operation. Will he be able to get away from these dangerous people?

Kandahar rides on the reliability of global affairs, which are quite well known nowadays. But as a film, it is extremely tedious. Despite a standard runtime of two hours, the film throws you into a snooze fest. The action isn't exciting, the thrill disappears sooner than expected, the emotional entanglement isn't quite good, and the entire plot is put down by a sloppy screenplay. Kandahar could have been an engaging affair with a story like this, but maybe the outrageous use of cinematic liberty has filled our minds with such things that we can't really digest a slow burner in an action zone. The same film in a non-action zone would have felt better, I guess. Look at other spy thrillers of recent times; they have so many twists and turns that even a new one seems like an old one. Kandahar just didn't try anything on that front so that you could have a nice nap during the watch.

Gerard Butler is quite a busy man nowadays, as he is acting in films and also producing them. His dedication to projects is indeed commendable. I just wish he would try something out of the box, be it his looks, character, or transformation. That wow factor is always missing in the roles he plays. Tom might be a little boring, but he is a steady man. Ali Fazal springs a nice surprise as an ISI agent. It's not because I am an Indian, but it's good to see an Indian actor getting such a powerful role in an American film. Ali is decent, but the character and screen space are indeed surprising. Navid Negahban has impressed me with Aladdin, and I was thinking about that while watching Kandahar. He has that gritty look, which suits the character he plays. Navid as Mo Doud is a perfect fit for an Afghani character. The supporting cast of Bahador Foladi, Mark Arnold, Nina Toussaint-White, Vassilis Koukalani, Corey Johnson, and Tom Rhys Harries has done justice to the characters, even though the characters haven't done justice to their acting skills.

Kandahar's cinematography has been fine throughout the film, in spite of those pallor pauses. Most of the film is shot in deserts, and those long shots do look gorgeous. Sadly, I couldn't see them on the big screen. Overall, Miguel Olasa's camerawork is satisfying, but seriously, I hated those long cuts of driving cars. Colby Parker Jr.'s editing is at fault here. Kandahar, being a two-hour film, should have been a busy film, but is it even half of what one would expect? The answer is no. The background music and sound design didn't hurt my ears a bit, and so I thank them. From a stuntman to a film director, Ric Roman Waugh, has come a long way. But I am surprised to see that he did not give us enough action stunts in this film. Except for a tedious narrative, Kandahar lacks nothing big, but I believe such a globally important topic could have had a little more depth and soul. As a whole, a promising flick destroyed by clueless storytelling.

RATING - 4/10*

This is an interesting movie, the storyline is pretty normal, CIA operative is exposed and must make it to friendly lines while being hunted by a bunch of evil people.

Its Afghanistan so there are more twists and turns than a roller coaster ride. The usual explosions, killings and destruction you would expect from a thriller movie.

Gerard Butler gives an awesome gritty performance and manages to pull out an otherwise predictable movie and provide the same determination of the "... Has Fallen" movies.

It displays the multiple players in that area of the country. And shows the various players in what is a very complicated part of the world.

I also found Kandahar to be more in-depth and realistic in its technical depictions. Finally, a movie about this sort of stuff shows night in a believable way. One of my pet peeves is over-lighting night activities, and they strike a suitable balance here, particularly when white phosphorous NODs were used. You also got to see the use of thermal imaging chips on that unit here, and the advantage afforded by it versus the adversaries' old green phosphorous with no TI. I was disappointed, though, that the CIA handler friend didn't later show up with a mk1 IVAS goggle for daytime ops to conceal and see through smoke during the compound assault. The gun fire was also appropriately dynamic, being probably closest to the film Heat, but in contrast correctly lacking urban reverberation. There was also a wonderful balance and humanity on display how they dealt with all the various operatives acting on behalf of their own nations' self-interests, making this film one of the more mature depictions that has been done.

On the pro side, the photography was beautiful. There were some gorgeous desert shots, fly-overs of the cars that were enjoyable in their own right. Fight scenes were realistic enough to feel the sense of danger. Even the music was good and kept me wanting to feel empathy for the characters, but here's were the problem was. I couldn't tell if I was supposed to be rooting for the main characters or disappointed that they were making the same mistakes of their past. The whistle-blower reporter, was she a heroine or an ignorant meddler? Did the black-ops group do something bad or good? The medley of Iranian operatives, ISIS, Talaban, and a host of others all had their vague "bad-ness" about them, trying to kill the main character, but then they were just being used as well, so maybe I was supposed to feel badly for them. Am I supposed to feel bad about being the US forces attacking Afganistan? Our calamity of a withdrawal? Or am I just supposed feel like war is a mess of conflicting allegiances and there are no more clear answers any more?

Filmography/editing got this a 6/10 instead of the 5/10 that the writing deserved.

3 out of 5 stars.

Kandahar is a fair espionage action thriller film about a CIA operative whos cover is blown. And he and his translator need to escape the country. Plot is okay. The script lacks in building the character and story. The script tries to follow different characters with there story but never pulls through completely. Leaving it feeling shallow. The action sequences are okay. Nothing too exciting or thrilling. Gerard Butler is great. But the direction just felt shallow with its story. The pacing is also slow for the first half. When the action does pick up it doesnt help capture any interest. Overall, it is an okay film that could have been better.

I have to quote part of the reviewer drjgardener5' comments first to point out how badly this movie was executed, then some more:

"Couldn't afford a military adviser?

Drjgardner5 June 2023

If your identity has been exposed and your picture is all over the news, do you continue to look exactly like you look in the picture or do you shave your beard and head and wear different clothes? Maybe even add a scar? And if you're attacking a car from a helicopter, do you attack from the front, or from behind and to the left? And tell me how with no surveillance at all, you know the exact location of a car you're chasing? These are but a few of the flaws in the film that detract from taking it seriously."

Scenes from the very beginning that would put my I. Q. to test: You think that the Iranian regime now would allow the white westerners to service their most critical and important telecom system? Would allow the guy to use his cellphone when he did the repair works? Are the Iranian government so stupid and so naive to allow two foreigners manhandled their telecommunication systems? Would you believe that the Wi-Fi signals in the Iranian desert, in the middle of nowhere, maybe the strongest and most advanced?

And how long an American spy satellite could stay in the orbit exactly stay over Iran and exactly pinpoint the location where all the scenes that we saw on the screen. Or is it an American drone, a stealth one, that could permanently hover over the scenes that we saw? So far, an armed drone can only carry two bombs and dropping them by remote controllers far away from Iran. Yet what we saw in this frigging stupid movie, bombs dropped like rain from the sky in clustered formation and every one of them dropped on the Iranian military armor trucks like smart bombs. Furthermore, you think the Iranians would be so stupid and blind, allowing American drones to stay over its airspace without even knowing, and their air defense is nothing but a joke?

I've already lost my patience to watch the absurd and slow-going of the movie from the early on and the later absurdities. I would think "The Covenant" is a more believable thriller, except the cardboard acting of the guy who played the Afghanistan interpreter.

The collaboration between director Ric Roman Waugh and actor Gerard Butler continues in this high-on-action, low-on-emotion film. The plot is awfully similar to Guy Ritchie's The Covenant which released almost a month before. Here, an undercover operative and his Afghan translator are trying to head to an extraction point after their covers get blown. The first hour, especially, is emotionally flat though the action is solidly executed.

The only scene where the leading duo showcase their acting chops happens after a big, dimly lit set-piece in the desert (it's shot in Saudi Arabia). It's where the protagonists talk about what they miss the most in life, while treating their hard-boiled jobs as a means of "escape". Aside from that one scene, the screenplay is fully focused on being action-heavy, delivering chases and explosions in style. The overall impact, however, is not as much as Ritchie's & Gyllenhaal's flick.

Escape from Kandahar is an action-packed thriller that takes viewers on a high-stakes journey through the treacherous landscape of Afghanistan. Directed by John Smith, the movie follows CIA operative Tom Harris (played by [actor's name]) as he desperately tries to survive and escape from the clutches of his pursuers.

The film starts off with a thrilling opening sequence, showcasing Tom's failed mission and subsequent exposure. From this point on, the tension is palpable as Tom becomes the target of the best mercenaries in the world and the elite special forces of the enemy. The relentless pursuit forms the backbone of the plot, keeping the audience engaged and on the edge of their seats throughout.

One of the film's strongest aspects is its portrayal of the Afghan landscape. The cinematography captures the harsh and unforgiving environment, effectively immersing the audience in the protagonist's predicament. The vast deserts, rugged mountains, and war-torn towns serve as formidable obstacles for Tom, adding an extra layer of realism to the narrative.

The lead performance is commendable, as he convincingly portrays the determination and resourcefulness of Tom Harris. His character's vulnerability and resilience shine through, making him a relatable hero worth rooting for. However, the supporting characters lack depth and development, feeling somewhat one-dimensional and underutilized.

The action sequences in Escape from Kandahar are intense and well-executed. From high-speed chases to intense shootouts, the film delivers on adrenaline and keeps the audience engaged. The suspense is elevated by the constant threat of danger, with the enemy's pursuit always lurking in the shadows.

Though the film excels in its action and suspense, it falls short in terms of its overall narrative depth. The plot feels somewhat predictable, following a tried-and-tested formula of a lone hero trying to escape against all odds. Additionally, the dialogue and character interactions could have been more nuanced, adding greater emotional depth to the story.

Escape from Kandahar benefits from its realistic portrayal of the setting and its thrilling action sequences. However, it lacks the narrative originality and character development needed to truly set it apart. Nonetheless, for fans of adrenaline-fueled espionage thrillers, this movie offers an entertaining and fast-paced ride.

Man infils for secret dangerous mission, has family problems, runs into trouble on the mission and things go awry. Where it's different is how it shows how war destroys families on all sides of a conflict. This movie humanizes all involved and that's simply something you don't see from many action movies. I really appreciated showing the humanity and the reasons all sides were fighting. I found it quite beautiful. Otherwise this is just another generic action movie that goes pewpew. These next few sentences are to meet this ridiculous 600 word minimum characters. Nckelsmxnfoalsmr fkdlemsmdlrml.

Kandahar is the weakest collaboration so far between Gerard Butler and Ric Roman Waugh, plus it definitely doesn't help that the superior version of this film came out the same year with Guy Ritchie's The Covenant. However, this is still a solid action thriller thanks to how good it is at all the nuts & bolts stuff which makes up for the bloated run time (90 minutes would've been ideal) and slow start.

Gerard Butler comfortably stays in his lane with this one, playing gruff and reserved in a way he knows all too well to ensure his B-movie renaissance continues. Doing exactly what he did in 12 Strong, Navid Negahban is once again the best aspect of this film with a performance rife with humanity and the bond that he forms with Butler is all the better for mostly staying reserved.

Ric Roman Waugh's direction is at its strongest in any of the action set pieces that are pretty small in scale but specialise in an up close intensity helped by car chases that have some serious speed to them and a couple of really impressive explosions that are wisely saved for last. The soundtrack is surprisingly prominent in a way that cements this film's dad movie status proudly.