Everything the Notebooks missing

This is one of the most beautifully crafted movies I have ever seen. I think it shows the Hollywood filmmakers that quality is so much more important than quantity.

Now, before anything, comparisons with The Notebook and A Moment to Remember is inevitable, especially by fans of romantic movies. Why? Two particular reasons: a) a character has Alzheimer b) it is a love story.

Anyways, I know its 2014, late, but I just want to state that The Notebook has never done it for me. Some years since it was released and became a 2004 sensation, my friend who is a big fan of The Notebook raved about it to me again. I don't know why but I decided to see it. Now I like Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, they're good actors. Story was ok, I've never read the book it was based on. But I honestly could not see why the huge fuss over it.

I don't know, I was looking for something... I am still wondering why my friend likes it soo much. Personally, I think it is lacking in substance... something feels amiss. It does look really pretty and romantic.
I did watch it couple more times, maybe 2 or 3 more afterwards (just to give it a chance) just to really get what was the point, or what was missing, or why everything seemed bland until Noah said this:
"Well that's what we do, we fight... You tell me when I am being an arrogant son of a bitch and I tell you when you are a pain in the ass. Which you are, 99% of the time. I'm not afraid to hurt your feelings. You have like a 2 second rebound rate, then you're back doing the next pain-in-the-ass thing.
So it's not gonna be easy. It's gonna be really hard. We're gonna have to work at this every day, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, for ever, you and me, every day. Will you do something for me, please? Just picture your life for me? 30 years from now, 40 years from now? What's it look like? If it's with him, go. Go! I lost you once, I think I can do it again. If I thought that's what you really wanted. But don't you take the easy way out."

THAT is the only scene in the whole movie that did it for me, the only bit worth remembering for me, or at least that stood out to me. The rest of the film... they got some nooky, parents angst, things happened in between... I completely forgot most of what happened in the film apart from the scene where the quote above comes from.

Now I am not a cold person and I understood the film. It wasn't a matter of not understanding what's there and what is being said. But for all its worth, besides aesthetics, the way the film was done, at least to me, did not give much to be remembered (no pun intended). Aside from the quote I just quoted.

A Moment To Remember, I don't know how many times I saw it since I first saw it then, but it's been years since I watched it again. NOT because it was a bad film by any, and not because I don't get the film in its entirety. Purely because, many levels notch down from Grave of Fireflies, it's a pretty heavy film at the end. The bittersweet feeling that it leaves you - lately I am just watching lots of happy films. In other words, I never forgot the feeling from A Moment to Remember.

P.S. I had to pull the out of IMDB quotes to even realize this was said in the film: I am nothing special; just a common man with common thoughts, and I've led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten. But in one respect I have succeeded as gloriously as anyone who's ever lived: I've loved another with all my heart and soul; and to me, this has always been enough.

(p.p.s. I believe I watched A Moment around 2008 and The Notebook 2010 or 2011. Like I said, I am not one for Romantic films. I had both, each a different friend recommended it me or watched it with me)