Notebook/Legend/Atonement
Originally posted at auromheim.net

Recently, I’ve watched three very good movies: two romantic dramas set around WWII, and one post-apocalyptic science fiction. I figured I’d write a short review for each, though coherent reviewing is not my strong side. So, in chronological order:

The Notebook (2004)
The combining factor for the three movies I’m reviewing is that at the outset, I didn’t have the best impression of them. The Notebook is perhaps the one I was most pessimistic about. Numerous sitcoms have used it as the prime example of the “girly movie”, and from the blurb, I was expecting just another romantic story of the rich girl and poor boy who struggle with prejudices but end up living happily ever after.

“Happily ever after” being the defining sentence. Without the story in the retiring home, The Notebook would have been just another (superbly acted, but still) romantic war-drama. Seeing Abby and Noah at the end of their lives just gave the story an extra dimension.

I watched it twice over the Christmas holidays, and I cried just as hard at the ending the second time, as I did the first. And I don’t know about you, but I can’t help liking movies that move me that much.

I Am Legend (2007)
I don’t like zombie movies, and have never been particularly impressed by Will Smith as an actor. Still, I have a thing for post-apocalyptic movies, and so decided to give this one a try.

I still can’t put my finger on what made me like it so much, but I think it has to do with the way they were able to set the mood: you really felt Dr. Neville’s isolation. And the suspense! I have never jumped so much in my seat as I did while watching this movie. The Darkseekers were truly terrifying.

Will Smith impressed me incredibly. His portrayal of Neville’s loneliness stayed with me for a couple of days after I saw the movie. The final scene with him and Sam still makes me upset to think about.

Another thing I was impressed by was how the filmmakers were able to make the story so convincing. If you think about the virus-plot, it seems pretty far-fetched; but while watching, that’s the last thing on your mind. They really suspended my disbelief – and that isn’t always the easiest thing to do.

Atonement (2007)
One great thing about James McAvoy? You know you’re going to see some wonderful acting when you go to see one of his movies. And although Keira Knightley’s pout annoys me to no end, she’s a great actor, and did an awesome job in this movie.

Though, as I did with The Notebook, I wondered what was going to set this movie apart. It was beautifully made, incredibly well-acted, and the scenes from war-ridden France really brought home some horrible truths about the war. Even so, one part of my brain was still asking the question.

And then the screen turned black. And then we met old Briony Tallis. And the movie was completely turned around. It was a series of blows to hear the real fates of Robbie and Cecilia – and in a way, the way things ended up was yet another awful truth about the war, because without WWII, they might have gotten their time together.

I watched this movie yesterday, and I still can’t shake the hopeless feeling I got from the ending.