Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

* This review is for people who want to see how the film compares to the novel, though I've tried not to include spoilers.*

 The Kite Runner is an excellent adaption of the novel of the same name by Khaled Hosseini. Overall, the acting is excellent, with one of the finest performances by a child actor I've ever seen. The story is also fast paced, though it does not really gloss over important parts of the novel, as some other adaptions do.
  Here is the basic premise: Amir is the son of a rich Afghan man. When he witnesses a tragic event involving his servant and best friend Hassan, he does nothing to help. He then goes through life feeling guilty about this until one day he is forced to make a decision that could potentially alleviate this guilt, or make it even worse.

  Though I was impressed overall by the film, I noticed a few issues in the film that puzzled me and probably did the same to readers of the novel. Since the novel is written in first person, readers gain an understanding of the the main character, Amir's actions through his thoughts. As this essentially is not attainable in film, perceptions of Amir throughout the story  may be different when watching the film than when reading the book. This is seen especially in the first half of the film when Amir does things that are really dishonorable. In the novel, we see how he regrets these actions and how these regrets lead to his later actions. In the film, though, it is much more difficult to pick up on Amir's feelings, and many people who watch this film may view Amir in a negative light due to his actions.
  The other issue that I had with this film is that it skipped one very important part of the novel, near the end of the story. This tragic event was important because it explained why Amir's nephew, Sohrab, acted the way he did at the end dof the story.
  All negatives aside, though, this film is not one to be missed. One thing I especially loved about this film is that most of the dialogue was spoken in Dari, rather than English. This gave the film a more authentic feel. Also, as mentioned before, the child actor who played the role of Hassan, Amir's friend, did a superb job in acting out the tragic events that occur near the beginning of the story. Also mentioned before, the story is told in a more fast-paced fashion than the book. So for those who had a hard time focusing while reading the book, the film tells the story in a more straightforward fashion.
  For the most part, the film adaption of The Kite Runner was everything I hoped it would be. Though it is a little different than the book, the general message of the story can still be found in the film. Most readers of the novel will definetly be satisfied by this film. Do not hesitate to watch it.

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older