It seems that some people spend their entire lives waiting — waiting for the one you love to love you back; waiting for that big promotion; waiting to have children; waiting until the kids are in school, until they're out of the house, until the grandkids are older. In this world where everyone seems to be waiting for the next big thing, is there a point when we say, “enough is enough,” and start living in the here and now?
Of course, the two movies I saw this weekend were about waiting — one man waiting for the love of his life and the other man waiting to fulfill a lifelong dream.
“The Notebook” is a film about love, of a man waiting for his true love to return to him, first through the pain of misunderstanding, then through the cloud of Alzheimer's disease.
The film tells the story of Noah Calhoun and Allie Nelson. Noah spends his days in a nursing home with his wife telling her the story of their courtship and romance over and over and over, hoping the curtain of Alzheimers will lift from her eyes and she'll remember him and life they shared together. At one point, his children asked him to come home, saying their mother didn't even recognize him anymore. He replied, “That's my sweetheart in there,” and said he'd stay with her until the end.
The movies flashes back to Noah and Allie's younger days and shows the story he reads from the notebook.
Noah and Allie met at a carnival, the summer Allie turned 17. Noah hang from a ferris wheel until Allie agreed to go out with him. The two quickly fell in love and spent every waking moment together until Allie's parents intervened. As rich socialites, they didn't want their only daughter marrying a mill worker.
James Garner and Gena Rowland play the older Noah and Allie, while Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams play the younger couple.
This film was excellent. I haven't read the book yet, but you can be sure I'm going to now.
“The Notebook” is rated PG-13 “for some sexuality,” so isn't recommended for younger viewers. If you have a heart for romance, this is definitely the movie for you.
The other movie I saw is about a man waiting to fulfill his lifelong dream of a visit to New York City.
In “The Terminal,” Victor Navorski (Tom Hanks) gets stuck in customs at the New York City airport. While he was in the air, his small Eastern Europe country was at war. Upon his landing, the country no longer exists, making his passport and paperwork “unacceptable.”
Without the proper paperwork, Victor cannot set foot on American soil, but without a passport he can't board a plane to go home.
He is stuck in the airport's international terminal for ten months, during which time he befriends the staff and makes an enemy of Frank Dixon (Stanley Tucci), the head of airport customs.
Before going to this film, I had to ask myself, “What's so entertaining about a man stuck in an airport. Sure, it's an interesting concept, but can it sustain a two-hour-long movie?” The answer is YES!
“The Terminal” is rated PG-13 “for brief language and drug references,” so only recommended for mature viewers.
This is the third film Tom Hanks has starred in for director Steven Spielberg, following “Saving Private Ryan” and “Catch Me If You Can.”
Hitting GKC Varsity Cinema in the Sault over the next couple of weeks are “King Arthur,” “Anchorman” and “Sleepover.”
Of course, “Spiderman 2” hit theaters June 30. It was too late for this issue, but stay tuned to the next issue for my thoughts on the film.
Also, for those of you who donąt know — Tuesday is “Bring Your Own Bucket” night at GKC Varsity Cinema. Bring any size bucket (as long as it fits in your lap) and they'll fill it with hot, buttery popcorn for only 50 cents!
Selina Vert is editor of Bay Mills News.
