The Kite Runner (Marc Forster, 2007)

Region 1 Paramount (USA)
NTSC, 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen
127 minutes
Audio: DD 5.1, DD 5.1 French, DD 5.1 Spanish
Subtitles: Optional English, French, Spanish
Extras: audio commentary with Marc Forster, Khaled Hosseini, and David Benioff; Words From The Kite Runner; Images From The Kite Runner; trailer; previews for other movies

Released: 24 March 2008
keepcase
16 chapters

The Kite Runner is based on the acclaimed novel by Khaled Hosseini. I have not read the book, but based on my good friend John Puccio’s plot synopsis, I feel confident in opining that the movie probably improves the narrative flow by jettisoning much of Hosseini’s protracted final act. Alas, the movie still has a preposterous ending, with a retiring novelist and a young boy springing into action and successfully running away from heavily-armed Taliban soldiers.

The movie begins with two boys, Amir and Hassan, enjoying carefree times in Kabul, Afghanistan during the 1970s. The Soviets had not yet invaded their country, and Islamic fundamentalists had not yet terrorized their own people. However, neighborhood bullies rape Hassan, and Amir silently witnesses the act without telling anyone about it. Ashamed and disgusted with himself, Amir tries various ploys to force Hassan from his life.

On the surface, Amir seems like any other unreasonable jerk, but the movie does a great job of showing how guilt can turn into mis-directed anger. The Kite Runner is a moving, even powerful, character study for two thirds of its running time. However, its conclusion is so contrived that it basically lost all credibility with me.

Amir goes back to Afghanistan in order to rescue Hassan’s son. It turns out that Hassan was his half-brother. This half-assed “rescue” involves little more than the clean-shaven Amir pasting a fake beard on his face and walking up to dangerous Taliban officials in order to demand meetings. Amir and his nephew manage to escape from a Taliban compound deep inside Afghanistan without a whole contingent of Taliban fighters chasing them to the border with Pakistan.

I usually eschew plot summaries because one can discern the plot for oneself without another person’s regurgitation. However, The Kite Runner’s final third is poorly-conceived and undermines the rest of the movie’s effectiveness.

Video:
In general, this disc offers a pleasing 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen video transfer. The image is sometimes a bit soft, though this is probably attributable to standard definition’s inherent lack of resolution (or to the lack of computing power for visual effects during the kite duels). Colors are naturalistic and strong, even when they are meant to be worn and faded. This is in contrast to old movies that have not been preserved well, where even colors that are meant to bloom look tired and muddy.

Audio:
This isn’t an action extravaganza, but the primary DD 5.1 audio track is frequently a lively affair due to a jaunty music score and creative mixing during the kite duels. Stereo separation is very wide across the front, and the surrounds offer plenty of discrete wind whooshes. The subwoofer kicks in a few times during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and when the Taliban shoot their AK-47s.

You can also watch the movie with DD 5.1 French and DD 5.1 Spanish dubs. Optional English, French, and Spanish subtitles as well as optional English closed captions support the audio.

Extras:
Upon loading, the disc plays previews for other movies.

Before the movie begins, you get a “Public Service Announcement With Khaled Hosseini”, who provides information about NGOs helping to rebuild Afghanistan.

Next up is an audio commentary with director Marc Forster, novelist Khaled Hosseini, and screenwriter David Benioff. Mainly, the three fellas compliment each other or talk about narrative in general terms.

“Words From The Kite Runner” is a brief featurette about how the principal filmmakers developed the book into a movie. “Images From The Kite Runner” shows behind-the-scenes footage of the production as well as various post-production activities (such as creating the music score).

Finally, you get the theatrical trailer as well as previews for other movies.

--Miscellaneous--
As with other canceled Paramount HD DVDs such as Bee Movie and The Jack Ryan Collection, it’s possible that the HD DVD version of The Kite Runner was prepped and ready to ship before Paramount abandoned the format.