3/5 An Incredible movie stunted by the score ...
  by Steffan Piper (Palm Desert, CA)

Films that succeed beyond understanding in their brilliance are few and far between and there are many films that come pretty close. The Notebook is such a movie.

Ryan Gosling's acting in this movie is outstanding and is convincing as a period actor and someone who can hold your attention and emote real feelings. I was expecting most of the actors to have looks on their faces as if they just stepped out of the mall like in so many other modern films, whether they be period costume drama, or no.

The downfall of The Notebook was the abysmal score that not only seemed absent but improperly planted `hit' music along the way. I was blown away by how bad the music was in this film that I quickly realized that it was harming the viewing experience. The music in films like this is absolutely important and keeps the brain fully engaged at all the right moments so that those profound moments don't get lost in a `let down'. Ryan Gosling's speech to Rachel McAdams at the car towards the end about `Do me a favour, just picture your life forty years from now ...' is magnificent but is chopped at the knees by any real emotional pull that the music is supposed to deliver.

This is a minor point to some, but if you're a person, like me, who pays a great deal of attention to music in all films, it's not such a small thing by any means. Casablanca is burned into the minds of most of us because of `As Time Goes By', and it's just a fact. Nico Muhly's scoring on the more modern `The Reader', tells us that these ideas about music and film being deeply connected still hold true and should be respected.

Whoever was responsible for the score here, and according to IMDb it's someone named Aaron Zigman, I don't think I'd ever hire this person to work on any film, nor would I look forward to anything he's involved in either. You can also add Paul Broucek's name to that list as he was the Producer that gave the go ahead for these decisions. Just absolutely depressing without doubt. How sad.

Minus two for the lack of musical direction. Brilliant writing and fine acting.

...

5/5 Product review for 'The Notebook' Block 3
  by Ms. Nuhfer
Cassandra Aminto
Block 3

"If your a bird, then I'm a bird"-Noah, The Notebook. The Notebook is a story of how true love has it's up's and down's but if it's real then it can overcome anything. Our story begins with Noah, a boy whose family isn't the wealthiest, and Allie, a girl who comes from money, sharing a beautiful summer romance. Unfortunately, good things don't always last, and it all works out UNTIL the end of the summer. Allie is going away too New York to college and Noah says he will wait for her. But in that time span, Noah was recruited for the Military and sent off too war. Allie volunteered to be an assistant for wounded soldiers, and she meets another man. They fall in love and plan to get married, but Allie finally see's Noah has kept a long promise. What is the promise? And what will Allie do, be with her true love Noah or go a separate way? This is defiantly focused towards females, but it keeps your attention with the love and passion. If a couple watched this together you could pull males towards this too. That is why The Notebook is a fantastic movie.

5/5 An amazing, tender love story.
  by Diann C. Johansen
This is the way love should be....real, honest, tender, lifelong no matter what life brings our way. It was heart warming to the end.

5/5 IN LOVE
  by Alexis
I LOVE LOVE STORY'S AND THIS MOVIE IS THE BEST MOVIE I HAVE EVER SEEN...NO LIE!!! I LOVE THIS MOVIE SO MUCH YOU CAN WATCH IT WITH YOUR HUSBAND AND I BET HE WILL LOVE IT 2!!!! THIS IS SUCH A GOOD MOVIE...IT'S SO CLASSIC THIS IS THE TYPE OF MOVIE WHERE YOU IMAGINE THAT YOU ARE THE GIRL LOL! IT'S SO AWESOME! I CANT STOP TALKING ABOUT IT! READER GET THIS MOVIE YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT.

5/5 video
  by Jasmin W. Gabay
My 90 yr old friend loves this movie..He requested that I get this for him.