User reviews

This war film packs large-scale blow-up , thrilling plot , and lots of action for the most part , but also contains thought-provoking issues about courage , bravery , and fight for life on some soldiers under Spanish command division in Afghanistan. The Afghan conflict and the ruthless Taliban serve as thrilling backdrop for this nice Wartime picture . It's a good mix of action-packed , adventure , thriller and warfare genre , dealing with the medical crew of Spanish troopers being sent behind enemy/Taliban line to a dangerous assignment . Then , on rout their destination the medical helicopter suffering an accident when helping a joint force of USA and United Nations troops . As they are assigned a risked mission , but what seems to be a routine task beyond enemy lines goes awry , as their military vehicle landing destroys the rotor . Later on , things go wrong once they receive the order to rescue the helicopter Chinook as well . Shortly after , they are spotted by the Taliban and the team is ambushed . Things only get worse when during the night a large concentration of Talibans start surrounding them. And the besieged Spanish military asking for help the Apache helicopters.

This fine movie contains overwhelming action , noisy adventure , impressive battles and drama in which a Spanish squadron has only one night to organize the rescue of the crew and injured , as the main premise results to be if the stranded military to be rescued in time and along the way all of them become involved in in the hell of the Afghan war . Including an interesting script from Luis Arranz , Andrés M. Koppel based on an idea by Antonio Saura , though clichés run through-out , the enjoyable tale is enhanced for attractive incidents developed among main characters , especially on their intense relationship , and the upsettings moments when the Talibans raid the extremely sieged and attacked position taking place breathtaking and nail-biting actoin set pieces .The film producers thanks giving to Spanish Army and particularly the Spanish Legion , in fact the Spanish army lent support for the spectacular realization and the interpreters received military training . As helicopter AS332 "Superpuma" and other vehicles that appear in the movie are the real ones , belonging to the Spanish Airforce . Other chief excitements about the picture , will be in the intervention of a good plethora of Spanish actors and young secondaries who realize professionally competent interpretations , being a choral film appearing the following ones: Ariadna Gil , Raúl Mérida, Roberto Álamo, Antonio Garrido, Ingrid García Jonsson, Jacobo Dicenta , Nasser Saleh , Ruth Gabriel , Ismael Martínez , among others.

It packs a thrilling and moving musical score by Roque Baños . As well as colorful and evocative cinematography by Alfredo Mayo . Shot on location in Tenerife , Canary Islands, and Desierto de Tabernas, Almería, Andalucía, Spain. This traditional story and stirring film was lavishly produced by important producer Gerardo Herrero . Gerardo is a famous producer as well as filmmaker . He was President of the Spanish Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (1994-1994) . Great producer of big hits , being especially known for The Secret of your ears (2009) , Sin Retorno (2010) , Balada Triste de Trompeta (2010) , Crimenes De Oxford (2008) and El Hijo De La Novia (2001) . He also directed some good films, such as ¨Silencio En Nieve¨ , ¨Corredor Nocturno¨ , ¨Principio Arquímedes¨ , ¨Crimen Galindez¨ , ¨Frontera Sur¨, ¨Territorio Comanche¨ , ¨Desvio a Paraíso¨ , ¨Al Acecho¨ and ¨Heroína . This is another superbly powerful Warfare movie being compellingly directed Adolfo Martínez Pérez , giving a deep realism , that's why the vehicles that show up in the movie are the real ones and action scenes are very well made . It had several nominations as Cinema Writers Circle Awards, Spain 2018 Nominee CEC Award Best Score : Roque Baños , Best New Director Adolfo Martínez Pérez ; Goya Awards 2018, Nominee Goya Best Original Song : Roque Baños for the song "En zona hostil" , Best Special Effects : Reyes Abades.

In Afghanistan a joint Spanish American patrol is ambushed. A rescue helicopter crashlands at the site. Back at base the commanding officer decides not to destroy the helicopter on the grounds that it could be used in a propaganda coup by the Taliban so tells the patrol commander to sit tight and set up a perimeter at the crash site where the grounded helicopter and patrol will all be evacuated the next day. As it turns out the Taliban are preparing to over run the perimeter and by morning there may be no one left alive to evacuate

I had RESCUE UNDER FIRE down as some sort of feminist girly type of movie since we're quickly introduced to a couple of female characters. This isn't really how the film plays out. Instead we have a rather traditional type of tale similar in some ways to how LONE SURVIVOR played out with a small team of Western soldiers trapped by the Taliban or to make a further allusion a bunch of homesteaders surrounded by Injuns . You've no doubt seen all this before but what the film does do well is draw you in to the action and create tension. It also helps that being a Spanish film with a Spanish cast the faces were unknown to me so I could easily buy in to these being real people in a real conflict with Jacobo Dicenta totally convincing as Sgt Agullar

Just in case you're wondering why NATO didn't just extract the troops , bomb the copter and have a press conference sinking any Taliban claims that it was shot down by the Taliban I wonder why they didn't do that either . Same I'm puzzled why NATO didn't have constant press conferences saying they're delivering medical aid to countless civilians while the Taliban were raping boys and throwing acid in the face of unveiled women .

I have to admit, I had no idea going into this film it was a foreign production and subtitled.

At first I was "oh no, I hate seeing subtitled films" and had partially given up 15 minutes in, but still gave it a chance. I'm glad I did! It really elevates the senses once the conflicts start.

This 'based on true events' film was executed quite well. The directing was excellent, the cinematography and editing on point, the set locations amazing and the acting was very convincing.

It was even interesting that the AS332 Superpuma helicopter used for the film is the same helicopter that actually crashed in Afghanistan.

It would have been nice if it was dubbed in English so I wouldn't have to look down to read the subtitles and either miss the scenery or the action, but nevertheless, overall it was an intense film that I thoroughly enjoyed.

A well deserved 9/10 from me

The story is boring and poorly developed, the characters are flat, the acting is nonexistent, the photography falls short, and there is a total lack of action that makes the whole experience unbearable. One of the worst war movies I've ever seen! I good metaphor of the film is the reason why the chopper in the story got stock on the ground: a botched job!!!!!

This movie plays in the same league as Hawsack Ridge,Zero Dark Thirty, The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, Michael Bay, o Lone survivor. With a mastery use of suspense and cinematic tempo, Spanish director Adolfo Martínez uses all elements of the story, based on real facts. 90 minutes that traps the audience, you do not get a pause, everything is in crescendo.. The narrative is rich and varied; from the military and the role of the doctor, to the enemies that surge from dark and the use of dust as an innovative cinematic element, not mere decorative. A film not to be missed.

Just to save a crappy chopper, they decided to risk the lives of many soldiers? This is unreal!!

No much to say. Last night we started watching at a friend's house. We couldn't finish it. Flat and boring, totally uninteresting.

I read the other reviews and mostly agree with them, excepting in one thing. One guy (or girl) cannot understand why NATO did not rescue the crew and bounded (with a lot of firing power, I assume) and bombed the crashed helicopter. Other is claiming how bad is to be with the Spanish army, based on similar arguments.

To both of you, beloved American friends: This is the way we Spaniards do things. We have NOT unlimited power on the ground, but rather very limited. And this was a UN mission: your losses are yours, and you come back to your base with them. This is what you haven't understood of this history. Only a couple of Tigers, one of them uncharged, to send. And the idea of recovering the crashed helicopter doesn't come from the officials; it is a field sergeant who brings it about. Why? - Because he knows for sure how much things cost and that he would have to come back with a missing unit for a long time ...

An okay Spanish entry to the war on terror in Afghanistan movies. Decent production value and acting + some good ol' action going on. No new Apocalypse Now and not as strong (action and story wise) as e.g. Lone Survivor, but good enough to give you some entertaining time. The greatest cons: the action scenes are in no way "realistic" (why no use of drones, the attacks of the Taliban are just too stupid and so on). Last but not least, the story does tell us nothing really nu and here and there we get too much "kitsch", also the soldier's characters are more or less copied right out of the most secret book (only known to script writers) called How to Compose Characters in Three or Less Steps, entry: soldiers.

Classical "we are trapped behind enemy lines" movie, well played. Right mix of story/drama and action. I was well entertained.

I gave this movie 4 stars bcz i respect the soldiers

there is nothing more to say, if you wanna see some stupid combat tactics from both sides and what not to do in a similar situation give this movie a go

ps: since when the talibans are using frontal attacks with soviet waves tactics? Talibans are using guerrilla tactics in real live, right?

Wth is happening with the air support for the Spaniards? Does anybody in this movie use cover?

This pos made me very angry.

That doesn't always work now does it? Especially in war territory. If you are trapped somewhere and help cannot come easily ... you may be more in need of it, than the ones you came to rescue.

Really well done war movie/effort, where you may not get behind every soldiers motivation and the enemy overall seems quite paper thin when it comes to motivation (kill), but still is tension filled enough so you won't get bored ... not for the squeamish or easily offended obviously, but everyone else will have ... well "fun"

Only who have served in the Armed Forces can enjoy this movie because they are the ones who have faced the enemy in a real battle. Very realistic action scenes and superb performance by the actors. Will bring back a lot of memories with adrenaline rush especially to Afghan vets.

Rescue Under Fire isn't going to bother the big studio war films, it's easily well enough told to make it worth passing ninety minutes of your time with.