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.

It's hilarious how so many in here are getting all triggered (isn't that what the kiddies say?) about this film not getting this exactly right, or that exactly right, or the politics, or the bombs, or whatever, it's a movie, just a movie, and back in the 80s where Stallone or Arnie was going in and blowing stuff up and shooting hundreds of baddies we didn't give a hoot whether things didn't ring the truth (or anywhere near it) but I guess that's the petty little social media addicted world now, where everyone is out to virtue signal (more kiddy talk) or cancel stuff (hey, am I doing well today?) whereas me, I had fun with this, and that's all that matters.

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...