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Blu-ray Review: KANDAHAR

Home » Blu-ray Review: KANDAHAR

Jul 30, 2023 Posted by in DVD/Blu-ray, Reviews | Comments

Iran has recently abandoned nuclear negotiations with the western powers, causing both Britain and the U.S. to send elite forces into the country to assassinate Iranian targets. Undercover CIA operative Tom Harris (Gerard Butler) is in Qom, working a black ops mission posing as a telephone company worker in order to gain access to the network feeding an Iranian nuclear facility to cause a meltdown. After the job, Harris is about to head back home when his handler, Roman Chalmers (Travis Fimmel, Vikings), offers him another quick but dangerous 3-day mission, which would completely decimate Iran’s nuclear program. Harris would be inserted in the Afghan side of Iran in Herat, which is heavily controlled by the Taliban. However, he would pretty much be on his own, with no cover story, and just a translator to assist him. Mohammad ‘Mo’ Doud (Navid Negahban, Homeland) had left Afghanistan years ago for his safety, but has returned so that he can look for his wife’s sister who has gone missing. He agreed to be a translator, but was unaware of the extent of the mission he signed up for.

Things quickly go awry when an American journalist, working with a Langley whistleblower, discovers the truth about the CIA operation in Qom. Thanks to this breach at the Pentagon, Harris’ photo and alias are exposed, and his new mission is aborted. However, Harris and Mo are now stuck behind enemy lines, with 400 miles between them and the only possible flight out there, in Kandahar. In-between lies all kinds of militia and other forces looking to find them and cash in. Some of those in pursuit are Farzad Asadi (Bahador Foladi, Tehran), a colonel in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard corps, Jerusalem Force, who intercepted the intel received by the journalist; Kahil Nasir (Ali Fazal, Victoria & Abdul) of the Pakistan Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), who is sent by his government to find Harris before the Iranians, so they can sell him on the open market; and Rasoul (Hakeem Jomah), the head of a local Taliban army Nasir reluctantly hires to assist him. What follows is a tense, sometimes emotional, action-packed race across the desert and struggle for survival.

Gerard Butler is no stranger to this kind of action movie, and Kandahar is another solid performance for the actor. He has a commanding presence as this special ops solider who has to constantly think on his feet, as he tries to stay two steps ahead of the various parties that are coming at him from every direction, while also in a very hostile and unforgiving environment. The film does a nice job of amping up the tension and action as Harris and Mo find themselves on the run, and in constant pursuit, not knowing exactly who they can trust. There are several twists and turns along the way that have you questioning loyalties, and if they are even going to make it.

While the premise is rather simple, the filmmakers have done a nice job of exploring and expanding the backstories of the various characters to flesh them out and give them real motivations, rather than just be one-dimensional heroes and villains. Tom Harris is a man who’s separated from his wife and about to finalize his divorce. He is eager to get home for his young daughter’s graduation, but his family. Mo also has a troubled past. He lost his son to the Taliban, and wishes every day that it had been him instead. He came back to the country he fled in order to try to find his missing sister-in-law and help rescue her, but being around the Taliban again causes old rage and thoughts of revenge to resurface. Meanwhile, Iranian Farzad Asadi also has a family of his own, and would do anything to protect them, even if it means torturing and making public examples of those who threaten his country and its security. Finally, ISI agent Kahil Nasir is a modern young man who was trying to enjoy a weekend vacation with his date when he’s called in, resembling the Terminator as he dons dark sunglasses and speeds through the desert on his motorcycle as he hunts down Harris and Mo. He doesn’t like the old, brutal methods of the Taliban, and looks down upon Rasoul and his army, but he knows he needs their cooperation if he’s going to get the job done.

The film finds a nice balance between the more action-packed moments and the character moments to provide a story that is not only tense and exciting, but also allows you to connect with the characters in a more memorable way.

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has only released Kandahar on Blu-ray & DVD, but it is also available in 4K via Digital. I was sent the Blu-ray for review. The picture quality is excellent, with a clean and clear picture throughout, even during some of the darker nighttime and night vision sequences. There is also a solid level of detail, especially in close-ups. The audio track provides clear dialogue, and often utilizes the surround channel to provide a more immersive experience. This is especially noticeable during some helicopter sequences, and when Harris and Mo make their way into a busy market.

The Blu-ray release includes both a Blu-ray and a DVD, placed on either side of a standard HD keepcase, which is covered by a glossy cardboard slipcover. An insert provides instructions on how to redeem an HD digital copy of the film. Unfortunately, the release is barebones, and doesn’t include any bonus material, not even the film’s trailer.


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Film: (1:59:46)

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