MovieChat Forums > The Notebook (2004) Discussion > Biggest Flaw with this Movie

Biggest Flaw with this Movie

posted 9 years ago by cooler56
28 replies | jump to latest

The biggest flaw I saw in this movie is that it is a "Love Story" yet we never really see why they love each other. Yes, they hug, and kiss, and do romantic things. But we never actually see where the challenges arise from, the thick and thin of what keeps them together. All we see is that Noah is initially aggressive with Allie, and at some point she caves in and the rest is history. I fail to see how that is love.

Throughout the film we are constantly reminded that they love each other so deeply, and how tragic it is for Allie to forget it slowly. But Noah built a house for her! They must be in love, right? Well that is just an example of how much he loves her. But it doesn't answer the question of why they love each other in the first place. He gives a big speech about how love is never easy, but again, we rarely see their love being challenged in the first place, apart from Allie's meddling parents.

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[–] thickybird1 9 years ago

Simply put, they fell deeply in love. That's it.

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[–] BenignPillows 9 years ago

I agree, at least partly.. The young actors were good (especially Gosling) and I could believe they were in love, but there was something about the "why" that was lacking. For quite some time, she doesn't seem interested in him (maybe she was, but played hard to get, Idk), then they go the movies, and after that she's suddenly interested. I missed really seeing what changed her mind, what it was that brought them together in the first place.

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"The best fairytale is one where you believe the people" -Irvin Kershner

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[–] nomusicvideos 9 years ago

i am on the same boat. Why is she in love with this dork face?

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[–] nickatnoon61 (247) 2 months ago

L0L I thought I was the ONLY one who thinks Gosling is 'goofy-looking'?

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[–] liscarkat (19427) 2 months ago

She knew he was going to age into looking like James Garner.

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[–] nickatnoon61 (247) 2 months ago

Yup! Everybody LOVES Jim Rockford! L0L That was my 2nd FAV show during the 1970s!(after "T.A.G.S.", The Andy Griffith Show)

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[–] nickatnoon61 (247) 2 months ago

At least Allie sought out Noah after they 'broke up', even tho the many love-letters never got to her after their 'first (almost last) fight'! IIRC, he was 17 and she was a few years younger when mom and 'pops' (with that GOOFY handlebar moustache lol) stepped in. I'm off a bit about the timeline, and actually how many years they were separated?

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[–] gabelandeskog 9 years ago

I think she started to fall for him after they went to the movies. He made her laugh, do things she would never do otherwise (dance without music, dance in the middle of the street, lie down in the middle of an intersection, etc.). He made her question her life: "I always thought you were free." As for Noah, idk? I thought it was just pure infatuation if I'm being Frank.

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[–] nickatnoon61 (247) 2 months ago

It's OK to be Frank, so long as you ask Frank first! L0L

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[–] Pinkdaisy678 9 years ago

Some people fall in this type of love and manage to stay married for 50 years. It happens.

You were just supposed to know that they fell in love, stayed together, and in the final stage of their lives were still madly in love.

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[–] caroleanne 9 years ago

He showed her incredible passion and a different, fun side of life. They couldn't possibly show us the full 50 years of their life together.

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[–] nickatnoon61 (247) 2 months ago

It happens, but it's a RAREity. That's why they make movies about it...

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[–] deashi_2000 9 years ago

Op has obviously never been in love...

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[–] nickatnoon61 (247) 2 months ago

deashie, Maybe, but as to the why someone falls in love is a very enigmatic question. My guess is... It's a God-given driving force that we are born with to REPRODUCE our race.

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[–] flicky-3 8 years ago

WE (the audience) don't have to know why they love each other, only THEY (Noah and Allie) need to know/understand why they love each other.

We're just watching their relationship unfold onscreen.

Whether or not we are convinced of their love isn't the point. The two of them are convinced and that's why the movie works for so many people.

I'm always concerned when I see a couple trying to justify/validate the love in their relationship through social media, etc.

A relationship can only be understood the two people that are directly involved in it, everything else is just posturing.

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[–] nickatnoon61 (247) 2 months ago

flicky said..."A relationship can only be understood by the two people that are directly involved in it, everything else is just posturing." I say.... Yes, and as soon as in-laws/parents get involved, that is when the TROUBLE manifests! I know this from my past experience, and it's a major reason why I stay SINGLE now! We don't marry just ONE person, but we marry, in most cases a new (dysFUNKtional) family!

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[–] JW-7 8 years ago

... we never really see why they love each other.

Sure we do. It's called chemistry. That mystery intangible that defies logic and explanation. They felt good together, better than with anyone else. We see that with Allie's "engagement" (when she saw Noah's face when she accepted) and Noah's "relationship". They just had "it." And there is no why. It just is.

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[–] nickatnoon61 (247) 2 months ago

L0L Too bad Noah's face is DORKY, but Lon "has it ALL"! (except 'the girl') He has the 'breeding', the good looks, and most impotently lol the....$hekel$!!! THAT is what our PROGRAMMING tells us is # Juan in life! Ask me why I do NOT support this unGodly, fallacious, and materialistic "way of life".

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[–] rubirub 8 years ago

You're totally right.

Most movies aren't able to show how a couple fall in love and this is one of them. The film starts playing romantic music, different situations of the lovers laughing and having fun, but they don't go deeper, they don't know how to show what's love.

In that sense, this movie fails delivering that idea of falling in love and why, but who cares? This is a chick flick!

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[–] flicky-3 8 years ago

Can you name a few movies where you felt that are good examples of showing how couples fall in love?

I think that topic is so subjective to each viewer it's almost impossible to pinpoint/agree but I'm interested in your thoughts.

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[–] nickatnoon61 (247) 2 months ago

L0L Reminds me of a Benny Hill skit, and WHY commas are IMPOTENT! "What is this thing, called love?" Or, "What is this thing called, love?" :P They are EXACTLY the same words, but have totally DIFFERENT meanings...

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