Categories: cinema
Date: 19 January 2008 05:28:12
It is an emotional rollercoaster, and there are some brutal scenes of inhumanity [mercifully short], but if you can stomach that I say go and see it. A superbly filmed and acted movie [the acting in particular from the young boys playing Amir and Hassan -- they have a bright acting future in front of them]. The kite-flying scenes have to be seen to be believed, and the themes of friendship, family, honour and redemption make this an amazing story. The music is also wonderful. The book passed me by [I do have trouble keeping up with fiction releases as I have mentioned previously], but I am going to look for it. And have a box of tissues handy as well.
A bit of real-life drama during the screening too: the fire alarm went off. As one would expect from laid-back Aussies, we stayed in the theatre. A few people got up and left, but most stayed. Until the alarm changed to the "Woop Woop" signal: the film stopped and we all made our way out. The firies arrived, gave the all-clear, and we went back in and continued the film.
Another movie I saw recently was The Darjeeling Limited: I loved it, through two friends who saw it disliked it quite a bit -- I believe they were expecting a laugh-a-minute film only. I thought it an enjoyable romp, though with a great deal of emotional ups and downs also -- and the fact it was filmed on the actual train added an extra sense of "Wow". Recommended also, but if your budget only stretches to one film I would say The Kite Runner should be it.