A Walk to Remember

Rating:
Summary: You won't be disappointed!
Review: I bought this movie from my local grocery store video shelf without any expectations or knowledge of the book or the movie. The opening scene led me to believe this was a knock-off of "Rebel Without a Cause" but then when we meet Jamie and see the interaction between her and Landon, I got the impression this wasn't just a teen flick about peer pressure. And Mandy Moore didn't "seem" like a rock star in this movie. Jamie was a kind and caring young lady who sought her self image from her love of her pastor father and her relationship with God. I enjoyed seeing the transformation of Landon from bad-boy image to responsible adult, but I thought the movie was too abrupt with that, without much detail in the middle about his own transformation.

I also like the fact that it was filmed in my home state of North Carolina and you get to see some of the scenery of the coastal areas of the state.

I hope the book goes deeper into all the characters, since you can't really get into all the character buildup in the short time frame of the movie. We jump too fast from their wedding to four years later, after Landon graduates from med school. to reveal why would give the story away!

Rating:
Summary: continued to watch..
Review: I seriously and honestly only wanted to see the movie because Mandy moore was in it and didnt know what I was getting myself into. The more I set here watching it the more I said to myself this is just isnt my kind of movie... and even though it was driving itself more and more away from my intrest I continued to watch. Then just when I least expected it she told Landon she had cancer and was going to die.. totally unprepared and shocked I instantly saw the movie changing direction ( I mean c'mon where did that come from?? ). Complete with a sad ending and my mixed emotions throughout the film I think its very worthy of 4 stars. I'll even admit some of the stuff in the movie was uncalled for and ridiculous but it wasnt really all that bad of a movie.. just ask yourself after its all said in done would you have been better off never seeing it?

Im not really an emotional person but very strong and powerful between Mandy Moore and Shane West just really got to me... if there was no laughter in this movie I would have been depressed for days. My advice to you is if you get torn up easy by things this movie is not for you but if you want to see a interesting movie go for it.

Rating:
Summary: The best movie ever made!!
Review: This is the best movie ever. I cried just about the whole way through. It is so romantic. It was great to see a movie about two people so much in love. Even though Jamie is portrayed as a "geek" she still had a wonderful and loving relationship with a "hot babe" and she didn't change her style or personality to get it. A Walk to Remember is a great "girly" movie and is a must see.

Rating:
Summary: a beautiful, beautiful movie, but....
Review: Yes, I love this movie. I love the acting, the sincere storyline, and the courageous separation from the typical teen movie formula. In today's world, this is exactly what people need to watch, especially young people. And it was released in theaters just a few short months after September 11; a better time could not have been picked.

It is a simple yet beautiful plot that takes a risk and goes straight to your heart, even through its own cliches: Landon Carter, the big shot high school senior hangs out with the wrong people, gets into trouble, and eventually falls for Jamie Sullivan, the purehearted, sweet, beautiful, and talented daughter of the local minister. When they take the time to truly go that extra mile and understand each other, the uncertain friendship forms into the kind of loving and trusting bond that all of us dream about. They would do anything for each other; they're happy together. Oh, but there's a catch. There always is. They form a relationship that not even tragedy can break....and that is certainly proven by the end of the film.

This is the kind of romantic plot that too many teen movies push down into darkness with sex, drugs, and drinking. The media has done this so much that some of us actually forget that Landon and Jamie's love is not all that unrealistic. I think this is why so many critics out there are not even looking at this movie the way it should be; Landon and Jamie are role models to admire, and if you are willing to overlook the beauty and innocence of this film and dismiss it as a corny and unrealistic view of teenage romance, then you need to sit down and look again.

I am inspired by the love story presented in "A Walk to Remember." I used to watch it and be lost in any attempt I could ever make in finding something wrong with it. After seeing it for at LEAST 15 times now (no joke), I will admit that it could have been made a little more realistic if the film was longer. Yes, many of us agree that this is a tearjerker of a romance between the two main characters, but doesn't it all happen just a little too fast? One minute, Landon is looking at Jamie in a totally discriminating light, laughing at her and assisting in making her the butt of jokes; then, all of a sudden, he's punching his best friend in the face for her. I have noticed that even when Landon was caught in the bad crowd, he seemed to be somewhat distant and not as bad as you think he is; still, I think the movie needed a little something more to make Landon's transformation a little more convincing.

Then you've got the school situation. I'd love to see a school like the one in this movie in real life. A huge fight goes on in the lunchroom....and it seems that there are no teachers or adults around to break it up. Twice, Landon and Jamie jump in their cars and leave during school hours. This is an aspect of the film that always bugs me....they needed to focus on that a little more to help the whole movie make sense.

However, these are only minor setbacks that many of us are willing to look past because the loving and outstanding love story makes it all worthwhile. Mandy Moore and Shane West have VERY difficult roles to play, and they pull it off well. They have excellent chemistry, and not all on-screen couples do. It's a great movie that certainly deserved a better DVD--the commentaries were awesome, but what about all the deleted scenes? Apparently, there was a pretty good handful of those.... I would have loved to see them. Regardless, this movie just isn't one to ignore; buy it, rent it, do whatever you need to do to see it. You don't have to like it, but we can all at least walk away with a positive lesson from it.

Rating:
Summary: powerful movie
Review: This is not my favorite type of movie but I must say...very real performances by Mandy Moore and Shane West. Even if you dont like this kind of movie you will be saying the same. Poor mandy :(

Rating:
Summary: a journey through love
Review: This movie explains how two people with two totally different personalities can fall in love so easily. This movie takes you through a journey of love, faith, hope, and through all the hardships of being different. Landon Carter(shane west) plays the bad boy teenager who has quite and edgy part to him. Jamie Sullivan (mandy moore) plays the sweet church girl who believes that everything happens for a reason. Throughout the movie you'll hear her say, "Maybe God...". Mandy Moore and Shane West did and excellent job in this movie and I don't think they could have picked a better actor and actress to play the part. This is definately the best movie I have ever seen because it's just so sad and I like those kinds of movies. Before you sit down to watch this movie grab five boxes of tissues!!!

Rating:
Summary: After School Special
Review: The only good thing about this movie is the relative morality factor being displayed in place of the normal potty-mouthed, crack-smoking, beer-drinking teen movies that abound. But it goes downhill from there. Here are a couple of reasons why this movie makes after school specials look more inviting: Reason #1: The real-life issues in this movie are in fact so far from reality that the sentimental and serious nature of them flies out the window and it only ends up looking stupid--Mandy Moore's character Jamie Sullivan, supposedly sick with leukemia, doesn't show a single sign of being ill, not even fatigue, until "the big moment" when she tells her loving boyfriend Landon (Shane West). Then magically, all the signs appear and she gets sick. Another issue: the saving grace about Jamie, which is supposedly her faith, is so misrepresented, it's not worth trying to portray in the movie. She's supposed to be a Christian, yet when Landon finally asks her why she has faith, she gives some Moonie-slash-New Ager answer about it being something she "can't see but she feels it when the wind blows." Last time I looked in the Bible, that wasn't the definition of faith that I remember reading. Reason #2: Mandy Moore needs to stick to singing; there's no question that she's good at that, but as for her acting ability, I failed to see it--all I saw was a cookie cutter teen pop singer reciting lines to her co-stars who could've acted the movie without her and just used her songs as a soundtrack, all the while the audience is simply waiting for her to sing something else so the misery can end. Bottom line: If you want a good teen movie with romance, rent or buy something featuring Julia Stiles. She's beautiful and she can act "circles" around Mandy Moore.

Rating:
Summary: You Can't Fall In Love With Me...
Review: Landon, a reckless teenager, gets into trouble when a friend ends up severely hurt during an initiation ceremony. The punishment for his delinquent act is to help the janitors at the school, tutor kids in need, and participate in the school play. During this time he seeks help from the schools geek, Jamie, to learn his lines for the school play. She agrees, but requests that he never fall in love with her, something he agrees to. However, Landon finds himself spending more time with Jamie and he begins to see something in Jamie. A Walk to Remember is a surprisingly good "coming of age" film that evokes feelings and pondering.

Rating:
Summary: One of the Best...
Review: this movie is awesomely made... Mandy Moore and Shane West were cute in the movie..got great chemistry .. i didnt tear but all my friends were...

Rating:
Summary: My favorite movie after Fight Club.
Review: I'm not sure why I was anywhere near a copy of this movie, it's not something I would have gone out of my way to see. A friend rented it left it at my house? who the heck knows, but it was there and I was bored so I popped it in the VCR. All I can say Is "If this is love then pour me another glass"(watch movie to get reference). I own it now and have watched it god knows how many times. I love it, and bear in mind my other favorite movies are The Usual Suspects, Fight Club, and Memento.

so whats good about it? First off the acting is above average in general, and incredible when considering that teen movies usually consist of subpar performances. Shane West is really talented, and played as good of a blown out of proportion Backstreetboyesque(its a word I swear) villain in "Get Over it" as he plays a bad boy with a good heart in this movie. The transformation is somewhat believable(more than it would usually be) in the beginning you get the feeling he doesnt actually like being a jerk, and his nasty friends force him to choose(as is realistic)to change. As for Mandy Moore, believe it or not she fits the role of Hollywood's favorite romance cliche known as "The Pretty Ugly Girl" better than its ever been done before. She's pretty cute at the beginning of the movie with baggy dresses and scant makeup, and what do ya know in her last scenes she is still pretty cute-- why? because she dresses just like she did at the beginning. Yup she doesnt take off her glasses or get a makeover or buy hip clothes or trade in her bible for a copy of Vogue -- she doesnt need to change, astonishingly enough she likes who she is the way she is ! whodathunk?

I warn you though once this movie sucks you in(and unless you are totally immune to sentimentality you almost certainly will be) they throw every piece of cheese from the dairy at you and then some. If the fact that they are purposefully trying to get you to go for the kleenex box annoys you, or you are a guy petrified of having teary eyes over a teen movie, by all means stay away. But for everyone else I highly recommend this movie.
-cjw