Movie Review: The Kite Runner

There is a bit of the kite runner in all immigrants I think. So no wonder the book in particular was a big hit in the US, the land of immigrants.

I enjoyed the movie very much, and am told the book is even more enjoyable because it goes into greater depth than a movie ever could.

I'll be surprised if this film doesn't end up in my 'Five Best' of 2008 as it surely will. I found it so powerful both in execution as well as in addressing the subjects raised and it's made me even more determined to read the book. Quite stunning.

I have read the book but have not had the chance to watch the movie till yet. However your review is so good i wanna watch it tonight!!!

........... i did not like the second half of the film - the adult actors, with the exception of the father, were mediocre ...... the book was much better - it is hard to capture all the details in 2 hours .........

...... his second book, "a thousand splendid suns",is an excellent read ....... my fifteeen year old finished it in two days and thinks it is better than the 'kite runner' ...... i am half way through and it took me only four trips to the library (mrs hamidm has always worried about my bowel movements and i do have a patent on a la-zy boy toilet)

....... if you like musicals, "sweeny todd" is a great movie (you just can't go wrong with johnny depp) ....... stay away from atonement even if you are an ian mcewan fan - we were the youngest couple in a packed theater and everyone took a nice nap, some even snored ......... i cried over the price of popcorn .......

I disliked the overplaying of the pashtuns as all taliban and bad people stereotype that Husseni implies in the book and movie.

I read The Kite Runner a while back and I was really disappointed that it was going to be transformed on the screen. I honestly do not recall Hosseini overplaying the Pashtuns as all Taliban in the book Zakkk. Perhaps I should look at that again.

Thank you Ras, for the review.

And hamidm, I finally did watch Sweeney Todd after not wanting to because of the violence. Very very good movie.

What fascinated me about Kite Runner the most were:

the unbreakable loyalty bond and tolerance the servants kid had.

do not know why the hero hid the watch under the mattress.

the pride the servants family had, and they left even when the master wanted all forgotten.

Right from the beginning I sensed the guilt in the master, as he showed compassion toward's the kid.

Finally, I loved the part when the boy comes over, and the roles swtiched - boy was flying and the hero holding the churkhi.

Wonderful movie.

This Review was previously published in Dawn Images Magazine

There is a lesson for many readers here in this movie who

often get hit by the nostalgia that is the baggage of all

immigrants.

There were problems during our childhood too. But there

was also the Patang or Guddi. I remember running after

kites myself in the streets of Karachi & Rawalpindi and

on my visits to Lahore.

There is something about those memories..

Like Jagjit Singh singing Kaghaz Ki Kashti.

Life is rich in sentiment. Damn the politics...

Ras

Re: # 7

anil,

..... you should read 'a thousand splendid suns" - you and your girls will really like it ...... i thought the guy who played the father did a great job; i have seen him in a couple of iranian movies - he is a great actor ..... check out some iranian films - inspite of the al-lah damned mullahs they still manage to make some good movies ........


ras, it would have been much much better if they had made the film in afghanistan or pakistan ..... for those of us who are intimately familiar with the area, it was painfully obvious that it was not afghanistan - it looked like, well, china .............but, i guess infidel filmakers are chicken who, unlike the true believers, fear death

Hamidm sahib:

This movie was a treat from my younger daughter. She is reading A Thousand Splendid Sun. I will be next in line. Right now I am reading "The Suicide of Reason", and "The Valley Boy". My eldest daughter studied Persian and Arabic and is into Persian movies. I have to find out more from her. At one time she was talking about an Iranian director.

Re: # 9 hamidm2

"i thought the guy who played the father did a great job; "

indeed. What a marvelous job. I hope he wins an award for it. Hopefully a significant American award :)

Re: # 11

Hurricane (ji) or (sahib):

I think this movie will get Oscar in 2008.

Anil Sahib,

there is absolutely no chance that this film will get an Oscar. I can wager a lot on that.

This was an okay movie...the kite scenes could have been better. The story worked really well in the novel, but in the movie, it didn't work so well.

The only redeeming quality of the movie was the actor who played the father. He is a Persian Jeremy Irons.

Re: # 13

Hurricane Sahib:

I know this movie lacked the professionalism and showmanship of Hollywood / Bollywood.

In the documentary, foreign films categories these seem to be discounted. And 2008 being an election year, this being a politically correct movie etc. etc. , I would say a lot is riding in its favor to pursuade Liberal Oscar types to conservative rights. Please think about these factors.

Anil sahib,

since this is no documentary, it has to duke it out with "No Country for Old Men" and "There will be blood"...it does'nt stand a chance.

Re: # 15

hurricane mian,

...... you are right - this movie won't be nominated or win any awards ..... with a beter director it could have ..... the guy who played the father is an awsome actor - hopefully hollywood will 'discover' him .....

..... 'no country for old men' .... now that is a winner! ..... will try and catch 'blood' this weekend - it sounds promising ......