In this blog, I'm going to be reviewing most of my DVD collection, eventually, and any films I happen to see. I picked the first randomly:
DVD Review: The Notebook.
I often try to see films at the cinema. Any film, most of the ones that interest me anyway, and the rest I try and pick up on DVD. I only see a film twice if it really, really catches my interest and I enjoy it enough...
...I saw The Notebook three times. Yes, I paid my nine dollars three times to see The Notebook on the big screen. And to tell you the truth, I can't exactly tell you why. Yeah, I'm a great reviewer, aren't I?
The story of Noah and Allie's, (spelling? Can't be bothered. IMDb later), romance is directed by Nick Cassavetes and was released in 2004.
The main things I liked about this film:
1. It didn't announce itself. It didn't use grand sweeping musical themes and shots to convince the audience of the obvious. It was a calm film. Slow piano pieces play over lengthy shots of sunrises, etc. Long takes of the couple walking down the street. The film has lots of room to breathe, and as a result, can deal with these complex themes in a subtle, yet equally impacting, manner.
2. Performances. I really was not looking forward to the Notebook after I heard Rachel McAdams would be in it - mind you, I had only seen her in Mean Girls and was not aware of the talent she possesses. I was, indeed, mistaken. I think Ms McAdams is the best thing about this film. The rest of the perforamances are equally as powerful. In my opinion, Ryan Gosling's delivery of his lines could have been a little different in some shots, but that's more an editing choice than anything else.
3. Related to no. 1 - cinematography. Again, long, length takes. They don't manipulate the viewer, they just show. Nice work.
4. The editing was nice and adaquete. Good for the film itself. Just told the story has it folded out, with nothing too fancy.
Now, problems.
Firstly, the film was about 15 minutes too long. I don't feel the story needed to be told through flashback at all. Yes, it provided depth to characterisation and story. However, if you take it out, you miss nothing. All you needed to add is a "...and they lived happily ever after" shot or something like that, although I'm sure Cassavetes would have made it less sappy than that.
The voice-overs got annoying. But maybe that's just me, I'm not a huge fan of voice-overs ALL the time. Titanic pushed it for me...but I can excuse that. I guess the voice-overs in this film were to remind the viewer that the story was actually from a notebook, but still...yuch.
And really, those are my MAJOR gripes with it.
I particularly liked the sequence with Noah and Allie dancing in the street.
I give it 4/5. A good romance, but not the typical example of the genre.
Oh, and I know this isn't a review in the typical sense of the word, but you'll get over it.
DVD Review: The Notebook.
I often try to see films at the cinema. Any film, most of the ones that interest me anyway, and the rest I try and pick up on DVD. I only see a film twice if it really, really catches my interest and I enjoy it enough...
...I saw The Notebook three times. Yes, I paid my nine dollars three times to see The Notebook on the big screen. And to tell you the truth, I can't exactly tell you why. Yeah, I'm a great reviewer, aren't I?
The story of Noah and Allie's, (spelling? Can't be bothered. IMDb later), romance is directed by Nick Cassavetes and was released in 2004.
The main things I liked about this film:
1. It didn't announce itself. It didn't use grand sweeping musical themes and shots to convince the audience of the obvious. It was a calm film. Slow piano pieces play over lengthy shots of sunrises, etc. Long takes of the couple walking down the street. The film has lots of room to breathe, and as a result, can deal with these complex themes in a subtle, yet equally impacting, manner.
2. Performances. I really was not looking forward to the Notebook after I heard Rachel McAdams would be in it - mind you, I had only seen her in Mean Girls and was not aware of the talent she possesses. I was, indeed, mistaken. I think Ms McAdams is the best thing about this film. The rest of the perforamances are equally as powerful. In my opinion, Ryan Gosling's delivery of his lines could have been a little different in some shots, but that's more an editing choice than anything else.
3. Related to no. 1 - cinematography. Again, long, length takes. They don't manipulate the viewer, they just show. Nice work.
4. The editing was nice and adaquete. Good for the film itself. Just told the story has it folded out, with nothing too fancy.
Now, problems.
Firstly, the film was about 15 minutes too long. I don't feel the story needed to be told through flashback at all. Yes, it provided depth to characterisation and story. However, if you take it out, you miss nothing. All you needed to add is a "...and they lived happily ever after" shot or something like that, although I'm sure Cassavetes would have made it less sappy than that.
The voice-overs got annoying. But maybe that's just me, I'm not a huge fan of voice-overs ALL the time. Titanic pushed it for me...but I can excuse that. I guess the voice-overs in this film were to remind the viewer that the story was actually from a notebook, but still...yuch.
And really, those are my MAJOR gripes with it.
I particularly liked the sequence with Noah and Allie dancing in the street.
I give it 4/5. A good romance, but not the typical example of the genre.
Oh, and I know this isn't a review in the typical sense of the word, but you'll get over it.
posted by CelestialScribe | 6:41 PM
1 Comments:
Yeah, I've got msn. Don't exactly want to put my email address on here though...
Liked your review of the Notebook. You considered many aspects which some reviews wouldn't. I'll look out for those things if I watch the film again...
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