A Film Whose Story and Principles Rise Far Above Its Flaws

Rating: Null/10 (15 April 2002)

A couple more words on A Walk to Remember and I'm off my soapbox.
1). It's nice to see a movie that isn't afraid of faith, doesn't mock it, doesn't trivialize it, and doesn't criminalize it. Like The Apostle, it dares to be spiritual without being overtly religious.
2). It's also nice to see a movie that dares to portray teenagers as thoughtful, intelligent human beings who think about things other than sex and weed and saying "dude" all the time. In fact, it is a stunningly honest portrayal of adolescence as West's character screams to the world "I'm a rebel, screw you all" but turns right around and says through Moore's character, "that act may work with your friends, but when you're all alone, you know that being aloof isn't really all that fulfilling." Like many teens, Landon knows that but doesn't dare say it out loud... not right away...
3). Is it possible to show the transformation of his character without using "Flood" by Jars of Clay? Jars is an awesome band, but that song was big 5 years ago, and I am the only human on the planet who still listens to that album (though it WAS their best). The kids are listening to Creed and Lifehouse and Sixpence and dc Talk and Plus One now, to say nothing of the harder stuff pouring out of my local station. Christian pop music may have started with Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant, and flourished through Jars and dc Talk and the Newsboys, but the industry has grown up in recent years. The record companies recognized good music when they heard it; it's time Hollywood stopped treating Christians like we spend all our time at Gaither reunions. There's plenty of good modern rock out there, and easily found.
That last bit was a long rant for a 20-second section of the movie, but as a musician it didn't escape my attention. Don't let one nitpick stop you from taking in what is an excellent story, and fairly well told through the actors.