The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Release Date: November 28th, 2008

Genre: Drama

Stars: Asa Butterfield, David Thulis, Rupert Friend

Synopsis: An eight year old boy is the son of a higher up in the Nazi military who is transferred to oversee a concentration camp and begins an unlikely friendship with a young detainee.

AltAss Ratings (On a scale of 1 to 5 asses)

Plot:                                     

The idea to study a German family of this nature during the holocaust and especially how such prejudice was explained to children is fabulous.  The twist that makes up the ending of this film is quite masterful and for the most part well executed.

Writing:                        

The two boy's friendship was not developed enough to convey their emotional attatchment to each other or to the viewer.  I also doubt that a film about the holocaust can reach the potential of its effectiveness with a PG-13 rating.  

Acting:                             

Not the cream of the crop as far as child actors go, but it wasn't atrocious either.  The adults in the film were quite capable, especially the woman who plays the mother.  

Originality:                   

Based on a book of the same name but a decidedly unique approach for a holocaust story.

Overall:                           

Made me want to read the book to see how the film measures up because the plot is excellent but everything else was very average.  The ending alone should warrant a look by most interested parties and the rest isn't heinous, just painfully average.