28 June 2004

The Notebook (old review)


The Notebook

Went to see The Notebook yesterday with Shel and here is what I think of it:

It starts out kind of crappy, since the beginning credits seem to take forever and the ducks seem quite computer-generated. Even the sunset looks kind of fake. And then it goes into the conventional voice-over of an old guy who claims he's "nothing special", when it's clear by the end of the movie that he is (or at least that's what you're supposed to think).

Anyway, then it goes back in time to go over this couple's summer romance. It's the typical "he's a poor country boy and she's a rich city girl". It's very sappy, but I couldn't help but feel that most of their conversations, even if just at the beginning, seemed realistic. There's a conversation between the two of them (Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams) on the street and both of them seem really nervous.
Then, of course, her parents bascially forbid them to see each other because he's "trash, trash, trash!!" and they blubber away. Then she goes home and, seven years later, *gasp*, gets engaged to someone who ISN'T RYAN GOSLING! that tramp. Meanwhile, he's joined the army and fought in the war, where he loses his best friend right in front of his eyes (though they don't bother to go into the certain emotional trauma he would have experienced because of this). He goes home and decides to rebuild a house in a vain attempt to draw Rachel McAdams back to him (must be the constant drinking that makes him think this). But, wait a second!, who's that in the driveway?? oh, how utterly cliche.
I don't care. I still loved it. It was predictable, sappy and most people in the theatre were bawling by the end of it. It's worth going to see simply for Ryan Gosling...

I was impressed by both Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams' acting. I already knew he was a good actor, but I was surprised by her, since the only movie I had seen her in was Mean Girls, which isn't exactly the most intellectually challenging movie.

I enjoyed it, even though the ending was incredibly stupid, simply because it was a chick flick, and every so often, you need a great chick flick to reassure you that you're not going to be alone forever and that you *can* get Ryan Gosling if you try hard enough... bwa hahaha

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

this movie sucked for all the reasons you mentioned. i like the occasional chickflick, but this was too much