This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

The acting in this movie is really good.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

I expected to see something like that. I think that people never should read the book first, then watch the movie. I don't know for others, but this movie completely ruined a book. It didn't express not even 10% of feelings which we may feel while reading this amazing book ( one of my favorite ). It is very disappointing for me.

If you had any questions lingering after all this time about what life in the Middle East is like, look no more--Afghanistan is a shitehole and the only reason we could be there still must be either drugs or oil. The antique culture hasn't grown up in centuries. The men are still pigs. The children are abused and abusive. It's very painful to watch people who insist on living in mud huts in the desert and murdering each other for fun and profit. What the little boy does to his friend is unforgivable. That he becomes an author and still acts like a little spoiled prince is typical of macho cultures and heterosexuals in general. (BTW the actor chosen to play the 'sensitive' writer should restrict his roles to closet cases or gay men! He's just not credible in this part.) The children are the better actors throughout. The other actors would be better suited to doing soaps on TV. Good idea but failure to launch. You can see all of this on the news or read about it daily as it still goes on. It's masochistic to watch a bully culture. An oppressive film about an oppressive society made by an oppressive Hollywood machine.

I just read the novel and it was incredible and fascinating. I read it in one day. It was so addictive. The movie was a disappointment. The biggest reason was the lack of emotions. The novel was so deep but I didn't find that in this movie. The movie doesn't achieve viewer's motions - at least not mine. I don't recognize the main characters at all. They are very shallow in here. Not at all like in the novel. The movie doesn't explain the characters at all, like who are Ali and Hassan, what are the relationships between Ali and the father, or Ali and Amir. What is the problem between Amir and his father and what really cause those problems. How the father and his long time friend differs in their point of views and in their relationships with Amir. What is their relationship with Islam and how it develops. The movie shows what breaks Amir's and Ali's relationship, but doesn't tell how it affected to them. How their relationship changed. It doesn't show Amir's continuous fight with himself and with guilt. These things are the core of the movie, but the viewer doesn't reach these issues. The movie feels shallow. Some good points as well, because the movie wasn't all bad. I didn't know what the life was in Afganistan before Talebans. I didn't know what the houses are like and how the interiors were so similar in 70's than in western countries. I was very nice to see these. I liked also the nature - so bare and kind of peaceful.Btw, were Adidas' Superstars sneakers already existing in 70's?? :DSo, I recommend to pass this movie and to read the book, if you have time. But sure, watch the movie, if you don't have time to read, but watch it few time to find the real message and the real characters and relations in it.

For my Reading class, I had to read the novel and the film and I would have to say that the film was better because I was able to see all the things in the novel on a screen with graphics. I believe when you see things in action, it's way more better and inspirational. All the characters did a phenomenal job and it was so touching. Although the movie did not point over everything in the novel, it was still a great watch! The sexual scene with Assef, his friends, and Hassan was so touching. It made me want to jump in the TV screen and beat Amir for just watching. I hope people learn from this movie and film. No friend should be treated like this! You are a great writer Khalid!