A wonderful love story, based on the novel "The Notebook". (The Notebook (DVD))

Member Name: Jcapulet

Product:	The Notebook (DVD)
Date:	04/12/08 (235 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Wonderful cast and acting. A heartwarming and touching story.

Disadvantages: The scientists amongst you will probably dislike the inaccuracy of Allie's condition.

How much do I love this film ? Let me count the ways !! Oh my, this is just one of the best romantic films ever and the chemistry between Noah ( played by Ryan Gosling ) and Allie ( played by Rachel McAdams ) is just amazing and makes the film what it is in my opinion. My Mother read the book before she watched the film and was disappointed with the film as a result, so if you're one to compare efforts then be warned that it's different. However, as a stand alone film I love it regardless.

The film begins with an older Noah ( played by James Garner ) who spends times with an older Allie ( played by Gena Rowlands, although the viewer is unaware of this point at first ) and reads to her from a book, the story of their love. We soon learn that Allie suffers from senile dementia and Noah has told her this story more than this one time. ( We finally learn that Allie herself wrote the book before her dementia really took hold and asked that Noah would read to her to remind her of their love and bring her 'back' to him. (One of my friend's only criticism of the film is Allie's appearance during her suffering at the nursing home. As the daughter of a woman who suffered the same fate, she thought Allie's physical appearance i.e perfect hair, makeup and clothes etc were not very realistic. However, we do see how fast Allie deteriorates without Noah there when he is rushed to hospital, so in that regard it is hinted that Noah plays a big part in Allie's day to day life at the nursing home. )

On this one day, we learn of their past love story through this notebook as well as their post notebook life with their children and grandchildren who visit the nursing home, although Allie is unaware that they are related to her in any way. We learn that for Noah it was pretty much love at first sight and he chased it until she finally gave in to him. From then on they were pretty much inseparable and it's only when Allie's parents finally put their foot down to end their relationship, due to Noah's lack of social standing, that they part and Allie is taken back home many miles away. Noah writes to Allie every day for 365 days, but unbeknownst to Allie, Allie's mother kept the letters and Allie was none the wiser.
Years later, Noah joins the army and Allie becomes a nurse, this is where she meets her new husband to be Lon ( played by James Marsden. ) After the war Noah returns home to work on his dream house and hoped that if he fulfilled his promise to Allie about how he rebuilt the house, then she would come to him. However, during a legal housing requirement meeting in the city he spots Allie with Lon and he's heart broken that she has met someone else. Noah finally finishes the house and a photographer comes around from the newspaper to take a picture of the event, whilst Allie is preparing for her nuptuals. It's only when Allie sees the picture in the paper does her need to put-to-bed her first-love be fulfilled and she goes to see Noah. Predictably they eventally move on from where they left off after Noah tells her of his 365 letters. Allie's Mother and Lon turn up looking for Allie and Allie's mother admits to taking the letters and it's only when Allie's mother hands the letters over to Allie and she needs to make a decision between Lon and Noah, does Allie read Noah's final letter to her. This, along with her love for Noah, is enough to bring them back together for good.

Just at the older Noah is coming to an end of reading the notebook, Allie remembers but for just a few minutes before she deteriorates rapidy again and becomes scared and confused. Noah is later rushed to hospital and although Allie no longer remembers again she knows that something or someone is missing. It's only when Noah is released from hospital and comes to visit Allie in her room, that she remembers ( some will think this highly unlikely and scientifically impossible, but the point of the story is that their love is not just your average love, but one that is powerful enough to allow this to happen, so forget the laws and limits of science and be swept up in the 'love story'.) There and then they make a pact to allow their love to take them away together and the next morning the nurse finds them wrapped in each others arms having passed away.

So, if you can view this as a love story that is capable of defying science then you'll love it. However, if you can't get past that you may spend your time scoffing at the inaccuracy of Allie's condition. It's not meant to belittle the condition or report false hope, it's merely a story about two people whose love can overcome anything. It's not real life, it's a romantic story and it should be viewed that way or the cynic in you won't enjoy it !!

Summary: If you can view this as simply a love story, then you'll just love it !!