The Notebook

What I am about to say will probably anger a large percentage of the female gender who has seen this movie, but I hated The Notebook.  The movie had come highly recommended by females of various ages, so against my better judgment, I decided to give it a try.  Big mistake.  The acting was flat.  The story was predictable and cliche.  There was no blood although they showed a war (important because it shows that the story is not realistic).  It was a waste of my time.

Ryan Gosling was just a pretty face, but there was no depth to his acting.  It is like watching Joey Harrington play football.  Yeah, he is hot, but he can't quarterback worth a flip, so his hotness decreases to the point of being un-hot in my book.  What good is a pretty exterior if there is nothing going on in the interior?  That is how I felt about Gosling's acting.  He was obviously chosen for his looks (and baby face) instead of his skill.  Therefore, there was nothing left but a pretty face, and that doesn't cut it for me.

As for the storyline, I knew the ending within the first three minutes of the movie.  I mean, come on, it is a romantic drama, and it isn't hard to figure it out.  Therefore, I was bored within the first 15 minutes of the movie.  Plus, the story line is disturbing at times.  We are watching two seventeen year olds strip and start to have sex.  Isn't that child porn?  Don't let the PG-13 fool you -- this movie probably should have been rated R because no 13 year old needs to see that (or anyone else for that matter, but that can be saved for another blog).  Plus, like all other Nicolas Spark movies, it did not make me cry (why do people cry at them?  you know what is going to happen.).

In case some of you are wondering whether I am anti-chick flicks, let me share a bit about my taste in chick flicks.  I do like some chick flicks.  I am a fan of Pearl Harbor (more chick flick than war movie, so it qualifies), Sabrina, Breakfast at Tiffany's, an Affair to Remember, Gone With the Wind, Legends of the Fall, In Love and War, to name a few.  I guess you can see a bit of a common theme in the movies.  I like the classics when actors knew how to act instead of just look pretty or there has to be some blood and guts to outweigh the mushiness.  As for those that think I don't cry at movies (because everyone who had a heart would cry at the Nicolas Sparks three I mentioned), I do.  It is just that those also have common themes.  Some that I cry at -- Remember the Titans, Rudy, Miracle, The Patriot, In Love and War, Tombstone (sometimes).  Basically you have to win something big or have some blood and guts then dying.  I do like my fair share of romantic comedies (even though those are usually pretty cheesy).  So I think that I am going to stop watching romantic dramas that were made after 1970 unless there are some blood and guts.  Plus, no more Nicolas Sparks.  He thinks women are easily entertained by cliche love stories packed full of emotions, and unfortunately he is right (except for this chick).