A Walk to Remember: Favorite Movie Review

A Walk to Remember, a 2002 movie, is one of the sweetest love stories, effortlessly put together. The storyline may have been done before, but the simplicity of the story and the depth of the action is what makes this movie a favorite. There are no added special effects, no fancy settings and costumes, certainly no flash. The film was directed by Adam Shankman (choreographer in So You Think Can Dance) and produced by Denise Di Novi (Edward Scissorhands, Heathers, etc) and Hunt Lowry. The story is told in a deeply moving and tragic way, which is to be expected from Nicolas Sparks (I also wrote a Commentary and Nights in Rodanthe). As with most of Sparks’s writings, the film takes the viewer on a ride of emotions, especially love and loss.

Mandy Moore, the pop singer, pulls off a stunning performance as Jamie Sullivan, the town shepherd’s daughter in the safe. She is quite shy and certainly not the prettiest or most popular girl in school. Moore brings the character to life though, adding depth and layers to Jamie’s personality. Jamie becomes a girl who doesn’t have many friends, but is still nice to everyone; although he may not be the most beautiful or the most cultured, he still finds a way to shine; and tries to distance himself from everyone around him, but still manages to make one of the most popular guys in school fall in love with him. Mandy Moore creates a character that viewers sympathize with and want to keep. And at the end of the movie, you mourn her physically.

Landon Carter, the popular bad boy, is played by Shane West. He is very convinced that the charming, bad boy hangs out with the “in” crowd. Perhaps not as emotionally charged as Moore’s, West’s character grows and changes drastically in the film. Landon’s transition from a boy who rebels against everyone and everything into a young man who comes to understand that life is too precious and important to be lost. Jamie inspires the best in Landon which forces him to do some soul searching and help him work to be a better person, even after he passes. Jamie’s father tells Landon that he is Jamie’s miracle when in reality it was his.

Although the film did not fare well with critics, it is still very moving in its simplicity. Part of the supporting cast is slightly bland, but Moore and West carry A Walk to Remember < /i> from beginning to end. The development of the love story is the focus. Parents, friends, etc. only help to fill in the background of the story. A great example is the scene in the story when Landon kisses Jamie. It doesn’t matter if anyone else was in that audience. There were only two of them.