Movie Review: The Notebook

Ugh, I cried. I said I wouldn't and didn't want to see this movie but I did and it happened. But I am getting ahead of myself.

WARNING: THERE ARE SPOILERS (though this movie is so old, you should know that by now. Darth Vader is Luke's father too).

Josie told me that the movie, The Notebook was a movie we had to see together. I relented. Now, this was going to be tough. It was not on Netflix and it was an older film so it was not going to be is Redbox. I also did not want to buy the DVD (What? Is this the 90s?). So I bought a digital download. I spent a little extra to get the HD version.

The movie was released in 2004. It is based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks with the screenplay written by Jeremy Leven. It stars Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands and James Gardner. It was directed by Nick Cassavetes.

The movie started with an old man (Gardner) talking to an old woman with Alzeimer's disease (Rowlands). She is having a bad day and he decides to cure her ills by telling her the story of Noah (Gosling) and Allie (McAdams). It is a story that spans for years. Noah is a poor, hard working man while Allie is from a rich family. Right off the bat, their relationship faces hardship from her family. But they do have a torrid love affair for the summer. But then the relationship falls apart when she goes to college and he goes to war.

But Noah never stopped loving her. He bought his dream home, one he promised that he and Allie would grow old in. He did not have any serious relationship. He, more or less, became a hermit. But he built the house beautifully. So much so, I he was interviewed for the newspaper. The newly engaged Allie sees the newspaper article and that rekindles feelings for her old love.

Though I will not give anything away, they live happily ever after until the die at a ripe old age.

The movie is a typical "chick flick". The story was interesting though, knowing nothing about the movie, I was able to figure out who the old people were and why it was called The Notebook. The dialog was a tad corny at times. The filmography was beautiful and I really made Josie and I want to move to the country. The story was also engaging. The conflicts the two went through (though a little too close to Romeo and Juliet) made the movie engaging.

Now, I said earlier, I cried. Not because of the movie's story but because of the memories of my grandfather and his Alzeimer's disease. It really hit a nerve. I remember the moments of clarity he had and the pain of him not remembering who I was. I was also struck by the love Noah had for Allie through that difficult time, never leaving her side, even when encouraged to do so by his children.

I thought this was a good movie though I would never watch it on my own and I will never watch it again. There are some sexual moments so it is not for children (we had to stop it once when Josie's daughter walked in. Her timing is spectacular). I give it a 4 out of 5 stars. I will not lie: I think Josie would leave me if I rated it any less.

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