The Kite RunnerMovie Reviews

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Must Go!
Written December 14, 2007
Kite...Takes Flight

by gasparm

I am so happy that I went to see The Kite Runner, having never read the bestseller on which it was based, I did'nt have a clue as to what it was about. I originally thought it was a children's picture. It was one of the best films I have seen in 2007. I have't shed a tear in a movie since Terms of Endearment. This is a supurb film that should be seen by all filmlovers, as it embodies human emotions and serious subject matter in every scene. The acting, cimematography, screen adaptation and direction are all outstanding. I highly recommend this film to all theatregoers 13 and up to 93....really an excellent achievement.
- 44 out of 51 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written February 14, 2008
The Kite Runner

by jcloizides

I have seen all the Oscar nominated films this year....No Country For Old Men will probably win..but if my heart and soul were voting i would choose this film as the best i've seen in a very long time....maybe it is emotionally manipulative and perhaps it is a subject matter that viewers would not care to see because it involves Afghanistan and the Taliban, but nonetheless, it is an important story with an emphasis on friendship, cowardice and redemption....the acting is superb, the tale is heartbreaking and the children are unforgettable....
- 18 out of 29 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written January 16, 2008
Phenomenal!

by peachyolives

This movie was a very good rendition of the book, which I read right before going to see the movie. It really brought the book to life, and the fact that at least half of the movie was in Farsi made it even more realistic. My boyfriend is from Afghanistan and lived more than half of his life there, and he said it was a very realistic portrayal of conditions and events in the country, which I take as a very good review, even better than just a good movie. Definitely go to see this movie.
- 9 out of 12 found this review helpful.
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Written December 27, 2007
Movie vs. Novel

by jnettes13

I had read the book a couple of years ago and when I heard about the movie I didn't really want to see it. The book was really good and, well, you know how the movie versions always turn out. But I was pleasantly surprised! Although the book was more descriptive and was more chronological, the parts that were in the movie was true to the book. The book did go into the Afghan culture more than the movie, which I found fascinating! I didn't expect that much subtitle in the film, but the story was easy to follow. The child actors were superb also! If you haven't read the book and watch the movie, it will impact you more than those that read the book. But if you read the book prior to watching the movie, the movie doesn't do the book justice. This film depicts relationships between friends, parent/child, husband/wife. So if you can relate with these, you will "feel" this movie regardless of your culture.
- 10 out of 14 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written December 15, 2007
The Kite Runner

by barkleybear

Very well acted, followed book as well as any book to movie we have seen
- 8 out of 11 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written December 15, 2007
A Thousand Tmes Over

by Vocalise59

This is truly one of the most touching movies I have ever seen. The choice of characters was absolutely superb (how could you not be moved to tears by little Hasan?). Unlike many recent movie versions of famous books, the story and the drama of the book are very well rendered in this motion picture. It is missing what I consider to be one of the most crucial "scenes" towards the end of the book, involviong Hassan's son, and this leaves us with a sense of unfinished business, unticlimatic ending of the story.
I look forward to thne movie version of A Thousand Splendid Suns.
- 9 out of 13 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written January 18, 2008
The Kite Runner Sustains Its Power

by phoebegirl

Some movies make us reexamine our lives by illuminating the darker forces embedded in human relations. Callousness, shame and regret are among these. Only the unwise person can claim no such experiences; too often, however, we are not given the opportunity to make amends for our regrettable actions. "The Kite Runner" exposes these destructive forces and then demonstrates that our redemptive powers can undo the harm done. It is arrestingly beautiful and raw as it upends our notions of entitlement and suffering. Because its story is framed within Afghan culture and recent history it is one that needs to be viewed now. I loved "The Kite Runner" and am saddened by the cultural mechanisms that forced its young actors to flee their homes.
- 9 out of 13 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written December 29, 2007
Redemption

by clarelouise44

The film is study of the relationship between two boys in Afghanistan and also of the class divisions in this culture, but it also can be viewed more broadly as a study of sin and redemption. The older, Amir, belonging to a wealthy, high class family fails to defend his loyal, brave friend Hassan from humiliation and injury after Hassan has rescued him a number of times. Even worse, since Amir now feels guilty seeing Hassan around, he plots to accuse him of a crime.
The rest of the film shows the deteriation of the country and the effects on their families and lives.... A haunting, powerful film which everyone should see
- 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written December 31, 2007
Kiterunner a must

by MickInVA

Kiterunner is a must see for most of us who have not read and followed all that has gone on in Afganistan over the past 30+ years. It is difficult to watch some of the scenes, but the scenes are views of things we all need to see and know about to help understand much of what is going on over there. Only then can we begin to develop an understanding of the complexities of what the people there must live through.
It is a movie for high schoolers and above, but not for younger children, except maybe for children who may have come from that environment.
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written December 30, 2007
Appropriate; ties in story

by twinsrus

Followed the book extremely well. No disappointments as the movie was equal to the book, (almost), which is unusual and welcomed.
The acting was very good and I believe this movie is one of the best of 2007.
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written December 30, 2007
i'm still crying....

by needmorecowbell

Powerful! As soon as I saw Hassan I started to cry and really never stopped throughout the rest of the movie. I'm not sure how much someone who did not read the book would enjoy it though? There is a lot of emotion that I am not sure you would get had you not read the book. The book and movie will stay with me for many many years.
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written December 29, 2007
Captured all the way through!

by mahjongg8

The Kite Runner is a must see, especially for those who read the book. I was not expecting subtitles, but it made the movie so realistic. Given I read the book a few years ago, when it first came out, I did not remember much. As the movie continued, it started bringing the book to life for me.
The plot itself is so moving, and given the talents of the cast, it is so easy to get caught up into the story.
My husband did not read the book. He was a little restless at first, but after the first 20 minutes, he was entertained. Even though he did enjoy the movie, I believe he would have connected more if he had read the book.
I recommend this movie for teens & older.
- 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written February 10, 2008
The most important story

by Babzuptown

I was somehow unprepared for the power of this movie. I was caught up, like a kite, in the magnitude of the humanity. While I watched much of the film with angst on my face or tears running off my cheeks, my mind and my heart were just captivated by the truths here.

Yes, transported into a culture I know a little something about (way cool) and the history... But the truths transfer into every culture. Like My Big Fat Greek Wedding only...perhaps the most important story ever told. Simply amazing. How terribly brave of the author to tell this story. I hope they are showing this in Afghantastan.
- 14 out of 24 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written January 23, 2008
Amazing

by Shantell

It was a wonderful movie! Portrayed the book extremely well, and even my husband teared up at the end! My sister (who hasn't read the book) loved the movie as well. They made a movie that was accessible to those who haven't read the book, and was amazing for those who have to feel emotionally connected to the characters. There is some rather interesting cinematography during the kite flying scenes, and knowing that the film was actually filmed in China near the border made it amazing how they created some of the sets.
- 8 out of 12 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written January 9, 2008
Top shelf

by Movie_mogul_not

I have not read the book, but will. An amazing storyline with equally fantastic performances, particularly by young Hassan. Incredible cinematography...superb footage of kite battles...useful documentation of the painful existence in the Afghan region of the world.
Go see it.
- 4 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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