Young love is quite possibly the most enchanting, adrenaline-rushing, unforgettable feeling that anyone could go through in a lifetime. With that being said, it’s incredibly difficult to capture that important aspect on film. The Notebook, a 2004 romantic film directed by Nick Cassavetes, surely captures the enticing, passionate love that young Allie and Noah share. The film depicts the love that these characters long for, love that they settle for, and sharing the love with who they were meant for. Both socially different, the two lovers are challenged by life’s hardships, but are substantially destined to find their way back to one another. Based on the original novel written by Nicolas Sparks, the author himself is remembered for the significant, heart-felt quotes that connect directly to the viewers. Today, this movie is still remembered as the greatest love story of all time, which it why it can never be forgotten.
The story begins with young country boy Noah Calhoun (Actor Ryan Gosling), who falls in love with a beautiful, rich woman Allie Hamilton (Actress Rachel McAdams). As these two young lovers evoke on their passionate summer together, they are soon separated by social differences. Upon her parent’s dismay, Allie is forced to leave Noah and return to home in Charleston. Noah writes a letter to Allie for each day of the year, explaining his love for her and hoping that she would return to him one day. In Charleston, Allie’s mother hides all of Noah’s letters from her daughter, hoping that Allie would move on to finding a more suitable, wealthy man.
Receiving no word from the other, the two lovers find different paths. Noah joins for the army in World War II, and Allie volunteers as a nurse in which she meets Lon Hammond, Jr. (Actor James Marsden). Eventually, Allie moves on with Lon, who later proposes to her. A few days before the wedding, Allie finds Noah’s house selling in the newspaper and decides to pay him a visit. In the end, Allie chooses to leave Lon and marries Noah. As they grow old together, Allie is caught with Alzheimer disease, suffering significant phases of memory loss. She writes about their love story in a notebook with instructions “Read to me and I will come back to you.” Noah continues to read the notebook each day to Allie, until their very last breath together.
The setting takes place in Seabrook Island, South Carolina during the 1940s. The location was absolutely beautiful, showcasing the country-side with green fields, gorgeous white houses, and natural rivers and lakes. The film greatly embodies the 1940s by the use of the many props, including the antique car mobiles, black-and-white television sets, and old fashion burlesque theaters. The cinematography is also spectacular, noting the perfect camera angles and lighting for each scene. The music of the film includes rhythm, blues, and gospel music of the 1940s. The cast embodies the fashion significantly well, showcasing the old Hollywood glamorous vintage hairstyles, leather vintage shoes, and women rocking the bright, red-hot lipstick. The film portrays women wearing the fashionable 1940s clothing, including stockings, garter belts, corsets, lacy undergarments, high-waisted shorts, polka dot dresses, and the highest of heels. The men are seen wearing clean tailored suits with suspenders, occasionally wearing a fedora or beret. In the film, Noah is shown as a local country boy, so he is wearing casual blue overalls, grey beret, and vintage shoes. Meanwhile, Allie is known for being a rich woman so she is always dressed fashionably in the most beautiful dresses, rocking the old Hollywood vintage hairstyles and shoes. This movie definitely makes the audience feel like they are going back to the oldies, and recycling the fashion trend back to life.
Of course, it would not be a best-seller movie if it weren’t for the talented cast. Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling, who portray the main characters Allie Hamilton and Noah Calhoun, are the perfect cast for this film. Immediately at the beginning of the movie, Gosling emphasizes Noah’s charming, youthful, and somewhat creepy fanatic love-struck teenager personality. Moreover, McAdams is not so different from Gosling; she embodies Allie’s character by her passionate, daring, and alluring personality. Both characters incorporate their lines with such passion and drama, making each scene so realistic, breath taking, and memorable. I also watched their audition tapes prior to the film and their chemistry was immediate. Hence, I can’t picture anyone else who could play this part as great as these two. I truly believe that these actors brought the love story to life, and without them, The Notebook could not have been a successful hit.
The film opens with a significant famous quotation from Noah, “I am no one special, just a common man with common thoughts. I've led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me, and my name will soon be forgotten. But in one respect, I've succeeded as gloriously as anyone who ever lived. I've loved another with all my heart and soul, and for me, that has always been enough." Noah spoke these lines with so much passion, enunciating each word carefully, and hesitating at some words to emphasize his deep, true emotions. The touching words hits home to the heart for anyone who has ever pictured the ideal story of the young love. Even from the beginning, this quote allures the audience into seeking the rest of the film.
Another important, memorable dialogue is featured during the climax of the film. This is the point where Allie must choose to stay between Noah and Lon. Noah states, “So it's not gonna be easy. It's gonna be really hard. We're gonna have to work at this every day, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, for ever, you and me, every day.” As I was watching this scene, I couldn’t help but think, “Why can’t a man like Noah actually exist in real life?” I swear that these lines are probably the words that every woman would want to hear from their significant other. Every woman wants a man that fights for true love and Noah shows that very well in this scene. The only thing that I would change about this part is having Noah show more emotion physically; he could’ve pounded on the car door or used his hands to emphasize more of his words and emotions. Allie rebuttals, “What easy way? There is no easy way, no matter what I do, somebody gets hurt.” I would’ve liked for Allie to have more lines because I felt that her lines were too short for an argument. This was the turning point of the film and I felt that this scene could’ve been more dramatic; instead of during the day time, the director could’ve placed this scene in the nighttime, with casting winds and shadowing clouds to add more drama. However, I still felt that the characters were believable and the dialogue was suitable for the scene.
Overall, the plot, cast, and props have all contributed to creating this amazing storyline. Beyond the smooching, heart-felt tears, and memorable quotes, The Notebook brings the dramatic story line of grasping onto true young love, making it indeed the best romantic movie of all times.
The story begins with young country boy Noah Calhoun (Actor Ryan Gosling), who falls in love with a beautiful, rich woman Allie Hamilton (Actress Rachel McAdams). As these two young lovers evoke on their passionate summer together, they are soon separated by social differences. Upon her parent’s dismay, Allie is forced to leave Noah and return to home in Charleston. Noah writes a letter to Allie for each day of the year, explaining his love for her and hoping that she would return to him one day. In Charleston, Allie’s mother hides all of Noah’s letters from her daughter, hoping that Allie would move on to finding a more suitable, wealthy man.
Receiving no word from the other, the two lovers find different paths. Noah joins for the army in World War II, and Allie volunteers as a nurse in which she meets Lon Hammond, Jr. (Actor James Marsden). Eventually, Allie moves on with Lon, who later proposes to her. A few days before the wedding, Allie finds Noah’s house selling in the newspaper and decides to pay him a visit. In the end, Allie chooses to leave Lon and marries Noah. As they grow old together, Allie is caught with Alzheimer disease, suffering significant phases of memory loss. She writes about their love story in a notebook with instructions “Read to me and I will come back to you.” Noah continues to read the notebook each day to Allie, until their very last breath together.
The setting takes place in Seabrook Island, South Carolina during the 1940s. The location was absolutely beautiful, showcasing the country-side with green fields, gorgeous white houses, and natural rivers and lakes. The film greatly embodies the 1940s by the use of the many props, including the antique car mobiles, black-and-white television sets, and old fashion burlesque theaters. The cinematography is also spectacular, noting the perfect camera angles and lighting for each scene. The music of the film includes rhythm, blues, and gospel music of the 1940s. The cast embodies the fashion significantly well, showcasing the old Hollywood glamorous vintage hairstyles, leather vintage shoes, and women rocking the bright, red-hot lipstick. The film portrays women wearing the fashionable 1940s clothing, including stockings, garter belts, corsets, lacy undergarments, high-waisted shorts, polka dot dresses, and the highest of heels. The men are seen wearing clean tailored suits with suspenders, occasionally wearing a fedora or beret. In the film, Noah is shown as a local country boy, so he is wearing casual blue overalls, grey beret, and vintage shoes. Meanwhile, Allie is known for being a rich woman so she is always dressed fashionably in the most beautiful dresses, rocking the old Hollywood vintage hairstyles and shoes. This movie definitely makes the audience feel like they are going back to the oldies, and recycling the fashion trend back to life.
Of course, it would not be a best-seller movie if it weren’t for the talented cast. Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling, who portray the main characters Allie Hamilton and Noah Calhoun, are the perfect cast for this film. Immediately at the beginning of the movie, Gosling emphasizes Noah’s charming, youthful, and somewhat creepy fanatic love-struck teenager personality. Moreover, McAdams is not so different from Gosling; she embodies Allie’s character by her passionate, daring, and alluring personality. Both characters incorporate their lines with such passion and drama, making each scene so realistic, breath taking, and memorable. I also watched their audition tapes prior to the film and their chemistry was immediate. Hence, I can’t picture anyone else who could play this part as great as these two. I truly believe that these actors brought the love story to life, and without them, The Notebook could not have been a successful hit.
The film opens with a significant famous quotation from Noah, “I am no one special, just a common man with common thoughts. I've led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me, and my name will soon be forgotten. But in one respect, I've succeeded as gloriously as anyone who ever lived. I've loved another with all my heart and soul, and for me, that has always been enough." Noah spoke these lines with so much passion, enunciating each word carefully, and hesitating at some words to emphasize his deep, true emotions. The touching words hits home to the heart for anyone who has ever pictured the ideal story of the young love. Even from the beginning, this quote allures the audience into seeking the rest of the film.
Another important, memorable dialogue is featured during the climax of the film. This is the point where Allie must choose to stay between Noah and Lon. Noah states, “So it's not gonna be easy. It's gonna be really hard. We're gonna have to work at this every day, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, for ever, you and me, every day.” As I was watching this scene, I couldn’t help but think, “Why can’t a man like Noah actually exist in real life?” I swear that these lines are probably the words that every woman would want to hear from their significant other. Every woman wants a man that fights for true love and Noah shows that very well in this scene. The only thing that I would change about this part is having Noah show more emotion physically; he could’ve pounded on the car door or used his hands to emphasize more of his words and emotions. Allie rebuttals, “What easy way? There is no easy way, no matter what I do, somebody gets hurt.” I would’ve liked for Allie to have more lines because I felt that her lines were too short for an argument. This was the turning point of the film and I felt that this scene could’ve been more dramatic; instead of during the day time, the director could’ve placed this scene in the nighttime, with casting winds and shadowing clouds to add more drama. However, I still felt that the characters were believable and the dialogue was suitable for the scene.
Overall, the plot, cast, and props have all contributed to creating this amazing storyline. Beyond the smooching, heart-felt tears, and memorable quotes, The Notebook brings the dramatic story line of grasping onto true young love, making it indeed the best romantic movie of all times.
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