THE KITE RUNNER
RYAN: Based on one of Oprah Winfrey’s most popular books, “The Kite Runner” is now a movie. You saw it without me… so how was it?
CAROLINE: I totally read this book when it first came out. I bought the hype and I remember really liking it, so I kind of knew what to expect with this film. But I have to say, I didn’t love it.
RYAN: Why not?
CAROLINE: Well, it’s a sweeping epic, and it’s well made but a little boring. I really liked the first part that takes place in Afghanistan in the ‘70s. The kid actors were great. And to say they were nobodies before doing this movie is an understatement; none of them had even one minute of acting experience. Obviously this movie has been very controversial due to a disturbing scene of sexual assault, and now they’ve shuttled the kids out of Afghanistan into the United Arab Emirates. It’s all very dramatic.
RYAN: Based on the trailer I was not interested in this film at all. I didn’t read the book though, so maybe that’s part of it. But is the film version compelling and entertaining?
CAROLINE: It reminded me of “The Namesake” in the sense that it’s a sweeping family drama. But just when I thought the movie over, there was another half an hour, and I started to get a little bored. I guess I didn’t remember the book as well as I thought I had. And the end is a little pat.
RYAN: Meaning it wraps up a little too neatly?
CAROLINE: Yeah, exactly. It’s like, this one bad thing happens and now it’s his chance to remedy it all, and he does. And by the end, I was over it. I wanted to feel swept up in the emotion of it all, but I wasn’t.
RYAN: So what’s your bottom line? Is it a must see?
CAROLINE: I really wanted to love this movie, but I couldn’t. And for the record, a good chunk of it is in foreign languages, so if that annoys you, you’ll be bummed. But if you loved the book, and are dying to see this movie, then do. I just think there are better movies out right now. And don’t be looking for any famous people in this movie. The biggest star is Khalid Abdalla who played one of the terrorists in “United 93.”
RYAN: Even without some of the world’s most famous actors, was this movie better than “Lions for Lambs”?
CAROLINE: Definitely.