Review of The Kite Runner (2007) by Philip Z — 16 Oct 2013

In a strange almost unrelated way, this film got me thinking about Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket. Now that I've got you scratching your head, wondering how the hell I came to such a radical connection, let me explain.

I feel that the best part of Full Metal Jacket was the opening forty-five minutes in the boot camp. Likewise, I think that the best material in this film is during the first forty-five minutes detailing Amir's childhood in Afghanistan.

In Full Metal Jacket, when boot camp ends, we're thrown along with the troop into Vietnam, and not once during the next hour or so do I feel that it comes close to matching that masterful first act.

In The Kite Runner, the same feeling washed over me. The first act was masterful and I would have happily seen more of Amir and Hassan's childhood in Afghanistan. The following hour and change involving the grown Amir is just okay.

Now, that you've endured this strange and unlikely comparison, I'd like to sum up my review by saying that The Kite Runner is one-thirds greatness with two or three-thirds goodness. Alright, I'm done.