Encontro Fatal

Me so gullible, actually thought this a real documentary.

Stark Afghan locales are very real, but alas the story ain't so much.

Contrived story and amateur acting give it away. But . . . still tense, involving, ultimately moving. Be sure to check out "Behind the Scenes" in DVD's Special Features: the true tale of filming a feature -- illegally -- in this war-torn faraway unknown pocket is almost as fascinating as the fictional story.

The "money shot" here is every scene captured in the forbidden netherworld of the former Taliban. Apparently, this is the first -- and only -- feature film ever shot here, and you will definitely feel yourself visiting a world unknown.

I couldn't help to be blown away from this little movie. I see the obvious comparisons to Blair Witch, but films that choose to tell their story through the device of fabricated documentary have few options in which to work. I think that the characters were original and the acting was so good that I kept forgetting that I wasn't watching a documentary. Towards the end of the film I could really feel the actors' terror. I think that the film dealt with some touchy political issues and did it without being too prescriptive or heavy-handed. The main character was a little foolhardy at times, but he needed to be for the film to work... I would strongly recommend this movie, and I often do at the video store I manage.

The interactions, particularly in Kabul are outstanding. This is definitely an area that is new to almost everybody because the major media has ignored it. When the more main stream TV correspondents go out and interview, they have a ton of equipment and plenty of armed guards. This had a much more face to face with reality feel to it. Wherever parts of it were filmed and however it was done, it projected a sense of constant danger which I suspect comes far closer to the reality of the situation than many are ready to admit.

People who like to ask the question of "why haven't we caught Bin Laden?" ought to get a sense of what we are up against after seeing this movie. And have a lot more respect for our small unit special forces who have fought and lived in this environment for years now.

Who is friend? Who is foe? Who knows exactly what is going on? The whole point of the movie is that all this is not laid out as simply as most Hollywood productions. And that point ought to be well taken.

None of the characters were particularly likable (although the cameraman comes close). But I think that was part of the point. This was not Rambo, nor was it Mother Theresa goes to save the world. The environment overshadows the individuals. Get it? Finally as far as the rather far fetched plot (certainly the ending is a stretch -- I hope that's vague enough not to be a spoiler), it's almost incidental to what the rest of the film conveys. It would have been a rather short movie if it were realistic and all three protagonists were killed in the first five minutes of the film.

People are so critical. Yeah, it reeks of Blair Witch but so what? I actually thought it was a real documentary until about 3/4 of the way through. I had heard nothing about this film and picked it up on a whim. Try to remove yourself from any political bias and try to enjoy it for what it is... a nice piece of entertainment on a low budget that does not have the standard Hollywood trappings.

I noticed one user commented that this film was the worst he had seen in a year. That is the most ridiculous statement I have ever heard. How about The Grudge? Make some sense out of that mess.

At least this film is topical and gives some insight into a part of the world most people would just as soon forget about.

I watched this movie last night, thanks God is was a free screen preview, so I didn't pay to see the movie. At least I didn't waste my money. I just hope that they will say later that it was all fake, because I don't think that nobody believes that was real. The journalist in the movie looks like an American hero in the middle of Afganisthan, and since the beginning of the movie is not clear what is the objective of the film, this was the most stupid movie that I have ever seen. If you support Bush you are going to love this movie, if you liked Michael Moore please do not see this movie.