The Notebook [2004] - DVD (Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands - Dir: Nick Cassavetes)

When you consider that old-fashioned tearjerkers are an endangered species in Hollywood, a movie like The Notebook can be embraced without apology. Yes, it's syrupy sweet and clogged with clichés, and one can only marvel at the irony of Nick Cassavetes directing a weeper that his late father John--whose own films were devoid of saccharine sentiment--would have sneered at. Still, this touchingly impassioned and great-looking adaptation of the popular Nicholas Sparks novel has much to recommend, including appealing young costars (Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams) and appealing old costars (James Garner and Gena Rowlands, the director's mother) playing the same loving couple in (respectively) early 1940s and present-day North Carolina. He was poor, she was rich, and you can guess the rest; decades later, he's unabashedly devoted, and she's drifting into the memory-loss of senile dementia. How their love endured is the story preserved in the titular notebook that he reads to her in their twilight years. The movie's open to ridicule, but as a delicate tearjerker it works just fine. Message in a Bottle and A Walk to Remember were also based on Sparks novels, suggesting a triple-feature that hopeless romantics will cherish. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews of The Notebook [2004]

Heads or tails.
Scotland
7th January 2009

A love that cannot be parted...against all odds.
I watched this film many a years ago on New Years Eve, when I was too young to drink and go out...my parents found my friends and I at the bells in tears. I recently purchased the movie and found myself once again an emotional wreck at the end. It is very strange how strongly a film can move you, but this film certainly does.

A must see.

juliekathryn

22nd November 2008

absolutely beautiful film
I bought this dvd about three years ago having never heard of it at all before. It is the most wonderful film i have seen in a long time - deep, moving a stunning love story how and much, much better than most of the "blockbuster" films far more widely available. Buy it NOW!!

Valentine
Plymouth, England, UK
9th November 2008

OMG So Emotical
My friend at work said "Watch this tonight on the TV" and I did, I was captured immedietly, this is an emotional rollercoaster then going into the past and present. At the end you will end up crying even if you are a boy or girl granted.

This is a DVD to buy and can be watched again and again
Amazing movie one of the greatest romantic movies of the twenty-first century.

PlasticPingu

13th October 2008

Not for me.
I know this is a controversial opinion, but I really didn't like 'The Notebook'. Unfortunately I bought the film based on reviews, having not seen it before. It's proof to me that everyone is different in their tastes.

I found this film boring and obtuse. The lead characters were unengaging, and I found myself really not caring what happened to them at all.

All in all, the film just didn't work for me, and I couldn't see what all the fuss was about.

Ms. Claire Finlayson
UK
28th September 2008

A tearjerker.....
I loved this film. I had heard of it before, but never bothered to watch it as didn't think it would be my thing. One day, I was bored and decided to watch it. From start to finish I was captivated by this film. And when it ended, I was sad. Really sad. What I loved most is how realistic it made it, you could almost feel the chemistry between the two and although I always wanted her to end up with Noah, you kind of like understand why it doesn't fit. But then it does. It shows how enduring love can be over all other forces, and really inspires people to show more love to their loved ones.

In all, it is the kind of love everyone dreams about. I loved this film, great pressie for anyone and a great watch if you want that sort of thing.