9/10 stars - A great film to remember

Rating: 10/10 (20 February 2003)

***USUAL DISCLAIMER - MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS***
This film had more good than bad. First, the bad. The acting suffered somewhat. West did well but Moore could've been better. Her quiet distemper in the film perhaps hid this fact to other viewers which, in reality, is good. Hannah looked horrible, though Im no fan of hers, but my belief is that she was supposed to. If this is true, it was a full blown success. The glossing over of Dr. Carter's relationship with his son was a bad idea. More overall depth to the film could've been added, had it been explored a little further.
That said, now the good. It was a good moral story. The old Hollywood cliche that Christians are inherently evil was not a factor in this film lending it more truth in the real world. A message that the world should hear. The plot was held well. Many look at the film and feel that its main focus was a `delinquent' boy falls for a sweet dying girl. This is, IMHO, a misconception. It was so much more than that. Jamie's faith forced a change in Landon. A very positive life long change. It was more than the loss of his delinquency. It was the power of love, faith, forgiveness, and most important of all, peace. Peace within ourselves. The understanding that life isn't perfect. Bad things happen to good people but resentment keeps wounds fresh and in the end, the wounds will not heal.
Another tiresome Hollywood cliche, thankfully left out, was sex. The abstinence lent the film a freshness that few films can achieve.
Overall, it was a film I will not forget. I give it 9 stars out of 10. The -1 star is for the lack of direction in the acting.