Stunningly Emotional

Rating: 10/10 (24 October 2006)

Many movies or TV shows have made me cry because of the absolutely hear breaking scenes within them, but none whatsoever (in my opinion of those movies that i have seen) can even hold a candle to 'The Notebook'. When you realise the circumstances and truth behind why the old gentleman is reading to the old woman it breaks you heart. What we first see is an old man by the name of Duke who comes to the nursing home to read a story about two young lovers to an old lady.
The story of the young lovers Noah & Annie itself is beautiful, passionate, tense and SO emotional and the characters of the young lovers are outstandingly played by Rachael McAdams and Ryan Gosling (who are a couple in real life now after meeting on the set of 'The Notebook' - i feel this makes the whole romance between them so much more believable and intense). It's the classic 'poor worker boy meets rich girl, they fall madly in love but it can't last' story, but is SO much more. It was heartbreaking to watch them have a massive argument because they thought that breaking up would be easier on them both and then realising they loved each other but they couldn't find each other in time before Annie left.
Throughout the story we see Duke reading to the old lady and she tells him she thinks she remembers this story.
Noah (Ryan's character) wrote to Annie (Rachael's character) every day for a year but never received a reply (it turned out that her mother kept all the letters)
(to her mother)"You watched me cry myself to sleep for months and months and you never said anything. How could you do that?"
For me, the moment that was most shocking and began the onslaught of tears that could have filled the Atlantic, was when we found out that Duke was actually Noah and the old lady was Annie. Annie developed senile dementia and doesn't remember Noah or her life with him (or their children), but all the while he reads to her the story of their life hoping that she will remember.
It physically hurt when Annie remembered who she was and says to Noah; Annie: What happened to me? Noah: Nothing. You just went away for a little while. Annie: How much time do we have? Noah: I'm not sure. Last time it was no more than five minutes.
The fact that he knew Annie would come back to him but they only have a matter of minutes till she will forget again was so emotional. The moment when they are dancing and without warning she suddenly asks "why did you call me Darling? I don't know you" and becomes panicked, the nurses rush in and Noah breaks down on the bed crying.
The final scene when they are lying in bed together and she remembers who she is... my GOD i was having trouble breathing... it was such a powerful scene and i defy anyone not to cry at that final moment when we see the shot of the birds flying away.
Noah sticks by Annie no matter what, even though she doesn't remember who she is he stays by her side. "I'll be here. I'll never leave you" and to me, this is why this story is the most epic love story i have ever seen.