The Kite Runner (2007)

A dramatic adaption that is based on The Kite Runner, a novel, written by Afghan-American author Khaled Hosseini, an account of an Afghan emigrant turned Californian novelist, Amir (Khalid Abdalla.) Moments after opening a box that contains a freshly printed debut novel by Amir himself, a tender, proud moment spent with his wife Soraya (Atossa Leoni,) he receives a phone call from a voice (Shaun Toub) of the past that theatrically tells him "how he can be good again."

How? you ask, well by saving Sohrab, the son of his childhood companion Hassan. Hassan and his wife have been killed by the Taliban and there is reason to believe that Sohrab (Ali Danish Bakhty Ari) is still alive and salvageable (despite that fact that the Taliban took him and that Sohrab is of Hazara descent), and that Amir (who, ironically, betrayed Hassan to protect himself from the pain of his own cowardice as children) is the only one that can save him. Amir seeks redemption and steps up to plate, travels back to Afghanistan, and endures several obstacles along the way. Laspes of time are conveniently placed where the potential for the most sophisticated of conflicts might occur, the result is a suspension of disbelief that snaps into apathy and occasional frustration.

Furthermore, Amir's shortcomings do not make for an interesting protagonist. His sappy, "season's greetings" like dialogue, and lack of a sincere, internal drive leave the audience bored. Baba (Homayoun Ershadi,) his quick-witted, personable father, remained a more likeable, interesting character both before Amir's sacrificial quest and after. Even the rock-starish Taliban leader and childhood foe was more intriguing to watch. Amir's ability to challenge hostile savages of this calibre also seemed questionable due to his lack of "warrior" credentials. For a film that highlights the pre-war Taliban regime - a time seeping with tragedy and unspeakable atrocities - it somehow manages to fall flat.

Directed by Marc Foster.

Juno (2007)

Juno, the character (Ellen Page), makes teenage pregnancy almost seem fun which complements the film’s overwhelming potential of becoming a preachy “cautionary whale.” Juno is a somewhat precocious junior who becomes pregnant from what is implied as her one and only sexual experience shared with the athletic Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera) who has had more experience on the track than on the field. After numerous pregnancy tests, she finally deems herself “unholy.” Rollo (Rainn Wilson), an aging yet articulate convenience store clerk, is the first to know, and perhaps the easiest to tell. What follows is a seemingly endless stream of difficult decisions and awkward situations "way beyond her maturity level."

At first, Juno is optimistic, but as the pregnancy progresses, it impedes her ability to cope. The Loring couple (sought out by Juno through a Pennysaver ad) end up complicating things for Juno - the reverse of what she was originally hoping for. Mark (Jason Bateman) is a bit green in the papa department while Vanessa Loring (Jennifer Garner) seems strangely cold and alien yet simultaneously eager and ready for motherhood. They opted for adoption due to fertility issues.

Juno displays the familiar view that women suffer more than men from the perils of sex by merely contrasting physique. As the months pass by, Juno’s stomach protrudes while Paulie continues jogging. Juno withstands judgments from the Ultrasound Technician (Kaaren de Zilva) (hilariously rebutted by her step-mother and nail technician Bren MacGuff (Allison Janney)) while Paulie considers dating Katrina “stinkeye” De Voort. The film successfully makes us not hate Paulie who isn’t being a douche, but a totally confused sixteen year-old boy.

The dialogue is sort of a clever vernacular of its own, peppered with quotable lines such as "He is the cheese to my macaroni," or "it makes his junk smell like pie," and let's not forget the formidable "fingernail" references first coined by Su-Chin (Valerie Tian.) This is definitely one of the best flicks of '07.

Directed by Jason Reitman