Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #143 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-02-07
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Formats: PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 123 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
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

Synopsis
Based on the celebrated novel by Nicholas Sparks, THE NOTEBOOK tells the story of a young couple who overcome insurmountable odds to experience the true power of love. In a modern-day nursing home, a kindhearted man (James Garner) reads a tender story to another patient (Gena Rowlands). The story begins during one glorious summer in small-town South Carolina in the early 1940s. Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling) is a blue-collar log mill worker who courts the wealthy and sheltered Allie Nelson (Rachel McAdams). Before long, sparks are flying and the pair is in love. But eventually Allie's snobby parents force their separation, and when World War II arrives, Noah heads overseas to serve his country. In the meantime, Allie becomes a nurse and falls for another man (James Marsden), to Noah's dismay. Nonetheless, he buys and fixes up the mansion he promised Allie he would one day restore, and when he and Allie reunite just before her wedding, their love blossoms once again. Decades later, in the nursing home, the story reaches its heartfelt conclusion. Directed with extreme sensitivity by Nick Cassavetes (son of co-star Gena Rowlands), THE NOTEBOOK is aided immensely by the naturalistic performances of Gosling and McAdams, whose chemistry is palpable.

Customer Reviews

Pass me a tissue please
I bought this DVD not because I am a die hard romantic and love slushy sentimentality, but simply because it was selling cheap in a local supermarket. I usually love watching action films and thrillers, so as you can imagine romance is not big on my 'must see films' list. After a rubbish Saturday night TV I decided to pop 'The Notebook' on thinking it would be a pleasant way to pass a couple of hours before bed, not imagining that this film would affect me so deeply. I was hooked right from the start. The sets and the costumes are fabulous, and the main characters are played amazingly by Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling. There was so much chemistry between them and they played the process of falling in love perfectly. I suppose the film is a little predictable but I think in quite a subtle way. After all, if it were that predictable they could have re-met when she was working as a nurse but they meet again simply because she goes looking for him. I did think that the ending was quite a stretch of the imagination, but I can't think of any other way that it could have ended that would have satisfied the audience. Right then, now for the crying! I felt quite emotional thoughout the film, but the last 15 minutes or so really got to me. I sometimes get a lump in my throat or slight tears in my eyes when I watch something sad, but I was actually sobbing out loud during the last scenes of this film. I am so glad I was alone in the house during this film!!! To sum up, Rachel McAdams is amazing as Ali, and Ryan Gosling is not only incredibly gorgeous but he also makes you long for a man like him. Go buy this film now because it is absolutely amazing.

The Notebook (a must see)
I was given this film as a christmas present and as i had never heard of it, it ended up underneath all of the presents which u get but would never use. After finding a free moment and having exhausted my film collection i decided to watch this film, and i found it to be an absolute treat it has everything one wants in a film, love, politics, and obstacles for the heroes to overcome. The striking quality in this film is that the hero and heroine are not an actual perfect match making their relaitionship far more explosive and thus more interesting to watch. Overall i would say it is a must see, and afterwards you will most likely feel emotionally drained but you will be essentially satisfied with the bittersweet outcome and both Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams grace this film with two superb perfomances which compliment N. Sparks novel exceedingly well.

The most charming, heartfelt and romantic movie in an age.
This movie is one of the most captivating, romantic and simply heart wrenching peices of film I've seen in a long time. From a flawless story line to a phenomenal cast, this movie is sure you have you laughing, crying and begging for mercy by the final scene.

It starts of with a charming summer romance between two teenagers experiencing true love for the first time. In true romantic form a twist of fate tears them apart ending their innocent, beautiful and passionate romance.

The movies goes on and tells their story of how they meet again once their lives have moved on.

It isn't big budget. It isn't sci-fi or high tech. It's a timeless romance that leaves you in tears and hope that there is some faith to be had in true love.

The actors are unbelievably talented and draw you in to their character right away. You become engrossed with their story and intrigued with what will happen next.

I haven't cried like that in a long time, and I don't cry very often. This movie represents love in its most simple, charming and true form and for me it will always be a cherished watch in my collection.

"I believe our love can let us do anything we want."