Movie of the Week: "A Walk To Remember"
A Walk to
Remember- 2002- PG- “She
didn’t belong. She was misunderstood.
And she would change him forever.”
Like most people, I hate
being asked the question: what is your favorite movie? Because, really, the
movies you consider your favorites may change from time to time. A new film is
being created every day and why should we have to limit ourselves to loving
only one the most?
BUT… when asked, I always
supply the same answer: A Walk to
Remember.
I love this movie for
several reasons. For one, I love Nicholas Sparks. I own nearly every book he’s
ever written and they always seem to make me cry. Who doesn’t love a good cry? (See
upcoming blog Nicholas Sparks: Books to
Remember)
A Walk to Remember is actually the only NS
book-to-film movie I saw before reading the novel it was based on. Maybe this
is why I liked it so much. In most cases the book is better and the movie
disappoints. I don’t know why we even go into movies based on novels anymore
expecting not to be a little disappointed. They can’t fit 300 pages into 2
hours people! But we all still do it.
However, in the case of
this particular film, I didn’t have much knowledge of Nicholas Sparks at the
time of its release and had read zero of his novels. And when I did get around
to reading it, I still loved the movie.
It has romance, it has
sadness, it has really awesome songs that get stuck in your head… And Shane
West is just adorable.
Synopsis: The movie begins
with Landon Carter (West) and his band of misfit friends committing crimes and
accidentally injuring poor unsuspecting blonde dudes. Since his friends are so
super awesome, they run, leaving injured guy. Landon stays behind a little
longer to help him, an act which gets him caught by the popo.
As punishment, he is
forced to do community service, which turns out to be mopping up floors for the
space club and tutoring underprivileged kids. Oh, and also he has to take part
in the school play. Sounds like strange punishment, but hey, it’s helping him
become a better man.
Who else happens to be
involved in all of these activities? Why Jamie Sullivan (Mandy Moore) of
course. Here’s what we know about her (or what Landon knows): “You’re Jamie
Sullivan. You sit at lunch table 7, which isn’t exactly the reject table but is
definitely in self-exile territory. You have exactly one sweater. You like to
look at your feet when you walk. Oh, oh, and yeah, for fun, you like to tutor
kids on the weekends and hang out with the cool kids from Stars and Planets.”
Jamie is also the town
reverend’s daughter and doesn’t give a rip what people think of her. Take that,
Mr. Carter. When Landon asks for help with his lines for the play, she agrees
on one condition: he has to promise not to fall in love with her. No problem,
Landon thinks.
As the movie progresses;
however, Landon realizes he enjoys spending time with Jamie. And he is, in
fact, falling in love with her. ‘Dang it!’ says Jamie. ‘You said you wouldn’t!’
Okay, not really but you get the idea.
So with permission from
her father, they begin dating. The very sweetest part of the movie is Jamie’s
bucket list. She casually tells Landon in one of their first conversations a
few things on her list: witness a miracle, be in two places at once, get a
tattoo. But she will not tell him number one. Not at first. He manages to help
her check off items on her list even on their first date and that left me all
“awwwwwww” and “marry me, Shane West.”
Partway through the movie,
we receive devastating news. Jamie has cancer. We watch as Landon copes with
this news and strives to make all of her dreams come true before it’s too late.
A tearjerker movie, for
sure, but what Nicholas Sparks work isn’t? I never get tired of this movie even
though I can just about quote the whole thing. That’s gotta be a sign, right?
Best line: “Her Bible
hugging, crucifix wearing, honk if you love Jesus people.”
Best song: Only Hope (Cry is a close second.)
So, at least for now, A Walk to Remember still holds the title
of being my favorite movie. If you haven’t seen it, now is the time.
~Mallory
Comments
Post a Comment