A Beautiful Story that Pulls your Heartstrings

Rating: 10/10 (15 March 2015)

The Notebook is a movie that is eye caching because it is a fantasy of love that many couples certainly dream about. The love story of Noah and Allie is not altered by difference between social classes, remains a strong love even when challenged by an incurable disease, in this case Alzheimer's. The acting is realistic causing the audience to almost feel the chemistry between the two lovers. Ryan Gosling acts as Noah and Rachel McAdams acts as Allie; both of them became actors to look out for in the future after such performances in that movie. Appealing to the audience of teens and young adults, it won many awards at the Teens' Choice Awards the year after the movie was released. Some examples of the awards the movie won were Teen Choice Award for Best Movie Love Scene (2005), Teen Choice Award for Choice Date Movie (2005), and many more. The Notebook is a great movie because of the quality of acting, unique plot, emotions of the story, scenery, and runtime with no way to improve on it. The story may seem like a cliché story of two young lovers who fall in love and belong to different social classes, yet the thing that adds a twist to the story making it unique is the addition of Alzheimer's. One of the lovers begins to forget their relationship, but the other to help his sweetheart remember, writes a notebook to remind her of their story, remaining with her till their death. It is a story that can move some to tears since it appeals to emotion. Noah always being there, waiting for seven years for her, and building the house that Allie always dreamed off causes the audience to fall in love with his character. To him that house meant that there was still a chance for them to be reunited, even when the odds were against him, showing an undefeated hope. Later, Noah's love is challenged again, and James Garner did an amazing job portraying senior Noah. They are defied, and James portrays beautifully the emotions of a man that is not willing to give up, even to an illness that has no cure and everyday becomes worse. His wife losing her memory and forgetting even the love she has for him, to fight this he wrote in a notebook their story, and read their story to her to help her remember. His acting is so realistic, making the audience wonder why do they have to suffer again. Gena Rowlands, acting as senior Allie, was a wonderful performance that seems as if she is exactly like her character, a person who is nice and struggling to keep those special moments in her memory. The scenery helps the movie, adding to that romantic atmosphere. There are some sceneries that are common, such as parts of the movie in front of the beach, the waves splashing, and many birds fly through the air where the couple acts playfully in the water. One of the scenes that by itself makes the atmosphere dreamy is when Noah and Allie are in a canoe floating on the middle of a lake that is surrounded by trees. The water is being moved gently by the white ducks swimming in many directions, the light of the sun gently hitting the surface of the water, and a breeze moving their hair softly. Other places become romantic because of the actors. For example, when Allie and Noah are walking on the street at night and by doing little things, such as dancing under the stars in some street, there is no need for anything complex. A street and them humming a song while dancing is enough to create a moment that would be normal into one that becomes a special moment that would be enough to sweep some women off their feet. The runtime of 120 minutes does not matter that is long since every moment there is a momentum builder, making the viewer wonder how everything would be settled. Allie's development of Alzheimer's condition builds anticipation of the outcome. A movie that does not only show the sweet side of love where everything works out, the characters feel butterflies in their stomachs and romantic moments are shown. This film also shows the time where there are challenges, and the other person is there to support them, no matter what may be the result. The main characters struggle. Noah is strong when Allie's condition becomes worse to the point that she does not even remembers her grandchildren. A first love that will not die no matter how big the challenge is. There is never a dull moment since the actions of their love are harmoniously shown throughout the entire movie. This movie is characterized by a matchless plot because of that twist creates curiosity in the viewers. The acting is exceptional, draws audience into the story making the viewer see the main protagonists' power of will and love that is eternal. Emotions that are so powerful that seem to flow from the screen and be transmitted to the audience. Sentiment that make the audience sigh, smile and even move some of the viewers to tears. Those beautiful sceneries create moments that are almost magical. The run time is flawless, since the moments that normally would be simple, were transformed into opportunities to show how this couple with little things showed their love for each other. Also there was anticipation build up on how their destiny would turn out to be. The story of these lovers gives hope to young couples; proving that even when a relationship may face different types of problems, if they are both willing to work hard for that relationship, then their love will be able to defeat all those challenges. A movie worth the time of the audience for how wonderfully it was put together.