The Notebook 2004

The movie focuses on an old man reading a story to an old woman in a nursing home. The story he reads follows two young lovers named Allie Hamilton and Noah Calhoun who meet one evening at a carnival. But they are separated by Allies parents who disapprove of Noahs unwealthy family and move Allie away. After waiting for Noah to write her for several years Allie meets and gets engaged to a handsome young soldier named Lon. Allie then with her love for Noah still alive stops by Noahs 200yearold home that he restored for her to see if hes okay. It is evident that they still have feelings for each other and Allie has to choose between her fianc and her first love.

Review

This movie seems to be postcard perfect a lesson straight out of the directors guide to romantic movies. Boy meets girl at a carnival love from the other side of the tracks a date by the water etc. And yet the wonderful thing about this movie is that it takes what seems like a story youve heard already (at least in bits and pieces) and still moves you deeply. It really speaks about love in a way that most romantic movies miss by speaking in cliché or over shoot by adding in numerous complications to dramatize things. There have been other great movies to comment on love in recent years (Eternal Sunshine Lost In Translation jump to mind) but this movie fills a need that those other movies miss the need for a straight sweep you off your feet romance. Too bad there cant be movies like this every year...