Great Movie!!

Rating: Null/10 (11 September 2002)

I picked this movie at random from the rental shelf, not knowing anything about it. I loved it, went out and bought the movie, the soundtrack, and the book. Over the next week I watched the movie three more times and read the book eight times. I suppose there were flaws in the acting and the filming, but as far as I was concerned they didn't distract from the movie. Some of the criticisms I've read seem wierd...such as the punishment Landon received didn't match his offense. I honestly didn't think about it one way or the other. I didn't know who Mandy Moore was except that she was Lana in Princess Diaries, so I wasn't expecting anything one way or the other there. I thought she did fine as Jamie. I thought it was an uplifting movie. I did think the book would have made a better movie by following the book more closely...same time period, same reason for the play, etc. I recommend all three...the book, the soundtrack, and the movie. See the movie before reading the book, though.