The second half of the movie is like that because the second BOOK is like that, you dingus.

I disagree -- in the second half, I felt like the book kept Marji's status as an outsider in the forefront, while in the movie, she could be any young woman in any country. More importantly, the "Eye of the Tiger" bit is restricted to a single panel in the book, while in the movie it becomes it's own (embarrassing) thing. But thanks for commenting.

I wouldn't say her status as an outsider was at the FOREFRONT-I think that, like in the movie, it was just brushed by occasionally, brought up every once in a while. And I thought that the part where it took her back to Iran redeemed her "outsider" status by keeping the commentary on how she couldn't live on either side of the world.

Also, even though I was feeling sort of embarrassed for her, I thought the "Eye Of The Tiger" bit was funny in the same way that watching your drunk friend dive through the table is funny.

I'll admit "forefront" is probably too strong -- I think the difference is the first person narration that we're used to in comics, the emphasis on not just pictures but words as well, is why that, uh, "outsiderness" (sorry, it's late here) stayed with me. And the movie eliminates those words by both nature and design. (It's a remarkably quiet movie.)

"funny in the same way that watching your drunk friend dive through the table is funny."

Well, no argument there!