 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Kite Runner
- Review Date: March 24, 2008
- PG-13
- Genre: Drama
- 2007
Common Sense Media says
Best seller-based drama has harrowing moments.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that although this often-harrowing drama set primarily in Afghanistan focuses on children's experiences, the themes are mature. Children are repeatedly in peril, and there's a disturbing, though not explicit, scene in which a young boy is raped by older boys (close-ups of faces and a belt being unbuckled indicate what's going on). Several scenes show warfare (explosions, gunfire, bloody bodies) during the Soviet invasion; others depict Taliban oppression (a public stoning, beatings, taunting of civilians). One hanged body is visible on the street. A brief tirade features several uses of "f--k" in a row; other language includes "hell" and "damn."
What's the story?
Based on Khaled Hosseini's bestseller, THE KITE RUNNER opens in 2000 in San Francisco, where an adult Amir (Khalid Abdalla) has lived for years. Having left Afghanistan as a boy, Amir is still haunted by memories of Kabul. His distress is only enhanced when his father's friend calls to say that Amir should come home, since "there's a way to be good again." Amir goes, seeking redemption for a past the film illustrates in flashbacks to 1978, when he was a champion kite flyer. In these scenes, Amir lives a life of privilege but also some confusion, never quite pleasing his father and resenting his own best friend, Hassan (Ahmad Khan Mahmidzada), a superb kite runner from a lower social class. When Hassan is raped by a trio of local bullies who deride his ethnicity and underclass status, Amir runs away instead of standing up for his friend. When the Soviets invade, Amir and his father escape to America. But Hassan remains behind, an emblem of Amir's lost innocence, homeland, and capacity to "be good." When Amir returns to Kabul as an adult, he seeks redemption by finding Hassan's son, reportedly captured by the Taliban.
Is it any good?
Like the source novel by Khaled Hosseini, Marc Forster's film is frequently contrived and melodramatic. Yet it also focuses attention on the terrible consequences of war and tyranny. The film's brutal villains -- once someone's children, their "colors" filled in or not -- are stereotypical, at once homophobic and unhesitating to use homosexual rape as a weapon. But they're aided by essentially decent bystanders, who do nothing in the face of even the most personal instances of cruelty and abuse.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about why part of the story is told as a flashback, from a child's point of view. How does that change the impact of the story? Also, the young actors had to leave Afghanistan after making this film because of the homosexual rape scene. What do your kids think about what it means to take risks for art?
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AGE
Extraordinary
A story filled with loyalty and cruelty, love and respect. A story of Amir, the young narrator and the protagonist, who lives through the losses of pride and identity, tells a story of the turbulent and passionate times in Afghanistan and San Francisco after World War Two. Khaled Hosseini illustrates how family relationships, between father and son, and between brother and brother, can deal with guilt and forgiveness. Amir recalls his past, his childhood, the jolly times with his hazara, Hassan, until one day Amir’s whole world wipes around when his best friend Hassan progresses in another direction. And now during his adulthood, Amir must learn from his past and adjust his new life not in Afghanistan but in the United States.
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AGE
An Inexcusable Cash In Using Notoriety
A cynical cash in of a book that was written, cynically, to cash in on certain notoriety, by a man in a already excellently paid profession. Inappropriately rated as PG-13 in the US & just as inappropriately rated as 12A in the UK...The people responsible for this should either get their heads examined or stop taking bribes imo. Let's make one thing clear: The rape scene is just that. A Rape Scene. It does NOT classify as "implied" on any level. A bit of a look & the touch of a belt buckle is "implied rape" - this movie goes WELL beyond that (the director actually wanted it to be MORE graphic still). There is NOTHING worthy of learning from watching this movie that can't be learned from a less offensive and more balanced source. Do yourself a fav & don't garner this junk with your attention. If you want to discuss rape with your offspring then, by all means, do so...don't leave half the job to these bozos! Rape is a horrific thing and (though, thankfully, I've not experienced it first hand), it is my feeling, that in order to convey the level of horror it brings with it to the youth, depicting it visually is not the way to go. Imo, the info should be put across verbally & it should be left to the mind to process...the mind can imagine & fill in the horror of it infinitely better than any film. I, personally, find the existence of this movie to be an insult to any poor 12 year old who might have gone thru this type of terrible experience. An awful movie.
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AGE
Powerful film....
This movie was remarkable. While difficult to watch at times, it gave a searingly honest picture of friendship...including blinding loyalty, joy, betrayal and ultimately forgiveness and redemption. My two sons, 14 and 17, both thought the movie was 'very good' but haunting. Lots to discuss afterward. I would recommend it to a mature 14 year old and up with a parent watching as well. If unsure, what it yourself first and then decide. The subtitles can be difficult to see on a regular sized TV so be prepared to pause (why the 4 stars, otherwise 5) Excellent filmmaking.
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AGE
Bring yo' Kleenex. . . .
This is a very powerful brilliant movie.
Besides some implied rape and swearing, I think it would be good for 13 plus.
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AGE
Perfect for 10+
Im 11 i watched it last night on netflix amir shouldv'e helped his friend lol he was mean to him after and that's just sad great movie!
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AGE
The movie was not that great. I wept over the book, I was thrilled to find that they made a movie. When I saw it it was like "this is IT??" I was highly disappointed in the lack of emotions in this film.
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AGE
Not a Dry in the Theatre
By far the best movie I have seen in years. Story of courage, honor and redemption told by superlative acting.
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AGE
Powerfull, complex, and violent. Older teens and up.
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| Studio: | Paramount Vantage |
| Director: | Marc Forster |
| Cast: | Homayoun Ershadi, Khalid Abdalla, Zekeria Ebrahimi |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 122 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | December 13, 2007 |
| DVD release date: | March 24, 2008 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | strong thematic material including the rape of a child, violence and brief strong language. |
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