Message In A Bottle (1999)
C. – 126m
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 – Widescreen
Producer: Kevin Costner. Novel By: Nicholas Sparks
Starring: Kevin Costner, Robin Wright, Paul Newman, John Savage, Illeana Douglas and Robbie Coltrane
A woman discovers a tragic love letter in a bottle on a beach and decides to track down the author of the letter. This reviewer is not entirely sure what went wrong in the adaption of the Sparks novel but this is a near misfire. The cast saves it mildly. Noteworthy as the first film to be adapted from a Nicholas Sparks novel, and for the record, the novel is much better.
Rated: [PG–13] – A Scene Of Sexuality
Available on DVD & Digital Copy.
A Walk To Remember (2002)
C. – 101m
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 – Widescreen
Novel By: Nicholas Sparks
Starring: Shane West, Mandy Moore, Peter Coyote, Daryl Hannah and Clayne Crawford.
A dying teen daughter of a pastor captures the heart of a troublesome teen in their tight-knit community. A step up from Message In A Bottle (1998), this one is aimed at teens. Like its 2010 counterpart, The Last Song, this one is well done in terms of performances. However, this one has some slow points that show more to adults than to teens. Then again when most of it works, why complain? Mandy Moore stands out here!
Trivia: The first of two Nicholas Sparks films to be rated: [PG]. The other was: The Last Song (2010). In the book, A Walk To Remember, Mandy Moore’s character is a blonde. And finally, many of the sets, especially: The Hospital, The School and Landon’s Home were from the television show: Dawson’s Creek (1998 – 2003).
Rated: [PG] – Thematic Elements, Language & Some Sensual Material.
Available on DVD & Digital Copy.
The Notebook (2004)
C. – 123m
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 – Widescreen / 2.40:1 – (Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy)
Novel By: Nicholas Sparks
Dir.: Nick Cassavetes
Starring: Gena Rowlands, James Garner, Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Sam Shepard, Joan Allen and James Marsden.
When cinephiles hear that Cassavetes is directing a romance film they may expect something like Love Streams (1984). What is shown here is something resembling a pretty trainwreck. All the parts are beautiful (acting, writing, cinematography) but the final result is awful. The pacing is slow and the only saving grace for this film are Gena Rowlands, the director’s mother, and James Garner who are fine and welcome as always. Credit should also be given to Rachel McAdams for a valiant stab at the material.
Trivia: Director Nick Cassavetes (son of John Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands) staged and intervention with Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling. The results can be seen in the film and in the news of them dating for a while in real life after the making of the film. Ryan Gosling made the kitchen table used in the film in his pre-production character development work.
Rated: [PG–13] – Some Sexuality.
Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy.
Nights In Rodanthe (2008)
C. – 97m
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 – Widescreen / 2.40:1 – Widescreen (Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy)
Novel By: Nicholas Sparks
Starring: Richard Gere, Diane Lane, Christopher Meloni, Viola Davis and Scott Glenn.
A woman whose life is in chaos retreats to a small beach town and spends time during a storm with a busy doctor who is staying there for a spell. Romance ensues and so do the usual complications. Likable enough. Aimed squarely at the sexagenarian set of folks, who, as the Abba song (from Mamma Mia! (2008)) put it, “aren’t too old for sex.” And if you’ll pardon the additional pun, Gere and Lane put that over well, “…when all is said and done.”
Trivia: As of 2013 the house, featured in the film, has been renamed: “The Inn At Rodanthe” and has been refurbished to more closely resemble the interior movies scenes, which were actually shot elsewhere. The house is a rental property and now functions as an attraction after being washed into the surf around 2010.
Rated: [PG–13] – Some Sensuality.
Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy.