The Notebook (Limited Edition Giftset)

Okay, guys, 'fess up. Though few of us males go willingly to the likes of 'Sleepless in Seattle' and 'The Bridges of Madison County,' I'd wager a good many of you end up appreciating such romantic films more than you'd care to admit. Of course, men don't actually cry at these movies (shame on me for even suggesting such a thing!), but maybe, just maybe, you've felt that telltale lump in the throat and furtively swatted away a few stray tears as the hero and heroine reunite or bid a bittersweet final farewell. I know I have. But before anyone gets the warped impression that my favorite pastime involves parking myself on the couch in front of the latest Lifetime TV movie with a box of Kleenex close at hand, let me clarify my statement. For me, the best romantic dramas aren't just about the glory and pain of love; no, to truly succeed and provoke an intense emotional response, a hefty amount of doom or strife must threaten and test the amorous couple. In short, the story's got to have some guts. 'The Notebook,' though pretty to look at and featuring a fine cast, only briefly sinks its teeth into a substantive issue, and that's at the very end of the film, long after our cravings for depth have subsided. Most of the movie marches amiably along, but wades through shallow waters, all the while dripping the kind of Hallmark card sentiment that leaves a treacly aftertaste and requires a strong shot of Listerine to eradicate.

Based on the wildly popular novel by Nicholas Sparks, who specializes in dewy, hyper-sensitive fare, 'The Notebook' explores such well-worn romantic themes as fate, destiny, and both the transformative and celestial power of true love. Ryan Gosling plays Noah, a wrong-side-of-the-tracks country boy who spots spirited rich girl Allie (Rachel McAdams) at a Carolina town fair in the summer of 1940. Instantly smitten, he pursues her with typical teen vigor and a rocky romance ensues, complicated by her disapproving parents, social barriers, divergent future paths, and that trusty movie staple that mucks up many couplings, nobility. The lovers physically part, but remain spiritually connected for years, never finding the same passion or connection with anyone else. It's only a matter of time, of course, before they find each other again, but in the interim much has changed – Allie is now involved with Lon (James Marsden), an upper class war vet, and it's uncertain whether they can recapture what they've lost. Running concurrently to this nostalgic tale is a present day thread involving an Alzheimer's patient (Gena Rowlands) and the stranger (James Garner) who reads the story of Noah and Allie to her from a hand-written notebook.

Sparks wisely keeps his yarn free of melodramatic clutter, and the simple storytelling is one of the film's strengths. Yet the romance lacks sufficient tension. Both Noah and Lon are such good guys, I was rooting for each of them to win over Allie. Sure, I leaned a bit more toward Noah, but not enough to really stoke my emotions. The film also takes its time developing Noah and Allie's relationship early in the film, and not much of interest transpires during their period of mutual discovery. Unfortunately, director Nick Cassavetes (Rowlands' son) does little to help things along; despite several gorgeous landscape shots and a nice feel for period detail, his direction is largely uninspired. He coaxes fine performances from his actors (Garner is especially heartbreaking toward the end), but seems constricted by and ill-at-ease with the vanilla-flavored material. It's no wonder he chose the edgy, violent, and undoubtedly liberating 'Alpha Dog' as his next project.

Despite such hiccups, 'The Notebook' held my interest, and that's largely due to its formidable cast, which labors valiantly to breathe life into the material. Gosling, at first glance, seems ill-equipped to handle such a sensitive, gooey role, but he quickly grows on us, and his natural acting style helps him shun the traditional leading man mold. McAdams is luminous one moment and self-conscious the next, but Gosling keeps her grounded, and their above average chemistry allows them to create notable heat during their (elongated) love scenes. Few actresses can match the craftsmanship of Rowlands – her mellifluous contralto alone mesmerizes – and though she's given little to do here, she makes the most of her brief scenes. Ditto Garner, Marsden, Sam Shepard, and the always marvelous Joan Allen as Allie's rigid, controlling mother.

Like many pedestrian entries in the romance genre, 'The Notebook' is a shameless master of manipulation. Just when we're sure we've figured out the plot's thinly veiled twist, the script throws a misleading curveball just to string us along and keep us guessing. Worse, when the film reaches a logical, resonant ending point, it foolishly continues on for several more minutes until it reaches a ridiculous denouement that provokes as much incredulity as tears. While I stewed in my seat shaking my head, Cassavetes got the intended response from my wife, who dutifully cried on cue… but never lost her sense of clarity. "This is so stupid," she said as she dabbed her eyes. If only the film had ended a few minutes earlier, my opinion of it might have improved.

'The Notebook' is a classy production that glorifies love and shows how it enhances and defines our lives. As a wish-fulfillment fantasy, it satisfies –- and I can appreciate its appeal in that regard –- but for those, like me, who prefer their romance infused with realism, it doesn't make the grade.

'The Notebook' arrives on Blu-ray with a lush, finely detailed 1080p transfer that faithfully honors both its contemporary and period storylines. A warm, nostalgic glow bathes the 1940s sequences, while a crisper, cooler look distinguishes the modern scenes. Landscapes are often breathtaking, with the vivid and intensely saturated colors often reminding me of three-strip Technicolor. Red splashes of nail polish and lipstick provide marvelous visual accents, foliage greens vary appropriately in tone, and the textures and creases of clothing –- whether it's a felt hat, satin blouse, or wool trouser –- are well rendered. Fleshtones err slightly on the rosy side, and whites tend to run a bit hot, but black levels remain solid and rich throughout, and shadow detail, even during night scenes, is strong.

Light grain maintains the film-like feel, but never detracts from image clarity. In one scene, Noah and Allie lay down on a town street and the individual pebbles in the pavement are strikingly distinct. Close-ups possess marvelous detail as well, with pale freckles, pores, and even the fine hairs on McAdams' face clearly visible. There are a couple of instances of faint, fleeting mosquito noise and a bit of edge enhancement, but for the most part, the image is stable and vibrant. A big upgrade from the previous DVD release, this is a very nice effort from New Line, one that will surely thrill the film's legion of fans.

A quiet film like 'The Notebook' doesn't require too many bells and whistles in the audio department, but the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track adds lovely atmosphere to the sumptuous images. Surround use is subtle but noticeable - the faint sound of chirping crickets during evening scenes nicely envelops, and a driving downpour with thunderclap accents later in the film almost made me want to jump up and make sure my windows were closed.

Dialogue is well prioritized throughout, with only a few muffled lines during cluttered audio moments, and distinct stereo separation across the front channels provides good directional sweep during motion sequences. Although the film possesses few LFE opportunities, bass is strong and powerful during isolated instances, most notably the brief World War II bombing scene. Aaron Zigman's score is unobtrusive, but still enjoys fine presence and a warm depth of tone.

All in all, the well-balanced mix enhances the on-screen action without grabbing too much attention, and serves the film well.

Apparently, New Line doesn't believe any men on the planet admire 'The Notebook,' for its entire marketing strategy for this Limited Edition Giftset seems carefully designed to alienate as many of us as possible. Open the front cover of the elephantine book-like packaging and you'll find arguably the girliest release of the year; so girly, in fact, it may even turn off many in its target audience. Nicholas Sparks surely didn't write his novel exclusively for teenage girls, but Warner seems to think plenty of them (or their mothers) will be willing to shell out $40 for all the saccharine inserts and flowery trimmings. (And aside from the Blu-ray upgrade, that's all they'll be paying for, as all the extras are identical to what was included on the original DVD release.) First up, a rectangular digipak contains the disc, along with an attached 46-page photo and scrapbook album with an array of color pictures, a cast list, character portraits, and a condensed telling of the film's story. There are even several blank pages at the back for "Your Story," where fans can paste photos and jot down reminiscences of their own romance! Ick!

But wait, there's more! A separate envelope is filled with decorative stickers (with such lovey-dovey sayings as "My Sweetheart" and "I Wanna Go Out With You!"), photo corners and two commemorative bookmarks – everything you need to personalize your own notebook! A set of 16 'Notebook' notecards with envelopes, nestled snugly in the bottom of the box, completes the lame collectibles. Why New Line can't release a cheaper disc-only version without all this crap for people who just want to watch the movie instead of emulate it is beyond me.

• Director's Commentary - Nick Cassavetes provides an engaging, well-spoken commentary that hits all the requisite points. He discusses casting, script alterations, on-set challenges, his run-in with the MPAA over the love scenes, and the special experience of working with and directing his mother, Gena Rowlands. He also divulges some behind-the-scenes secrets and salutes his cast and crew. There's nothing particularly incisive or complex here, but Cassavetes' enthusiasm carries the day, and fans will certainly enjoy his perspective. He does note that if people don't like the ending, "they're lizards, not human beings." Well, I guess that makes me a lizard then.
  
• Author's Commentary - As a writer, I found this commentary by Nicholas Sparks, author of the original novel, more compelling. Sparks, of course, is passionate about the material, but rarely loses his objectivity, and talks frankly about the art of writing, his personal experiences, and the influences that shaped the story. He also touches upon the Southern way of life, the structural differences between film and novels, and cites narrative changes that were made during the adaptation process. Sparks' novels are not my cup of tea, but I appreciate his insights, and this articulate track will interest writers, readers, and viewers alike.
  
• Featurette: "All in the Family: Nick Cassavetes" (SD, 12 minutes) - One would think this featurette would give us an intimate look at not only Cassavetes and his actor-friendly directing style, but also his famous parents (actor/director John Cassavetes and actress Gena Rowlands) and their influence on him. But aside from a throwaway reference and a minor reminiscence from Rowlands, there's not much here about the family, save for a clip or two of Cassavetes calling Rowlands "mom" on the set. Instead, it's just a generic puff piece spotlighting Cassavetes' laid-back approach and collaborative spirit. McAdams, Gosling, Garner, Shepard, Allen and, of course, Rowlands sing his praises.
  
• Featurette: "Nicholas Sparks: A Simple Story, Well Told" (SD, 6 minutes) - A syrupy profile of the life and overnight success of this phenomenally best-selling author, who worked full-time as a pharmaceutical sales rep while writing 'The Notebook,' which he sold to Time-Warner for a whopping $1 million. The piece focuses on Sparks' clean-cut appeal, romantic writing style, and the family values and tragedies that shaped him.
  
• Featurette: "Southern Exposure: Locating 'The Notebook'" (SD, 11 minutes) - This languorous featurette pinpoints the various Charleston locations used in the film, from a historic movie theater to a lavish plantation that years ago was used as a model for Twelve Oaks in 'Gone With the Wind.' We learn how streets and buildings were transformed to fit the 1940s time period, and various town officials and preservationists give us a primer on Charleston's architecture and customs.
  
• Featurette: "Casting Ryan & Rachel" (SD, 4 minutes) - Producer Mark Johnson and Cassavetes discuss the "unconventional choice" of Gosling for the male lead, and how they considered several big-name actresses before finding the relatively unknown McAdams, who calls her screen test "the best audition experience I ever had."
  
• Rachel McAdams Screen Test (SD, 3 minutes) - Bookended by clips from the finished film, this electrifying screen test shows why McAdams was offered the role of Allie Hamilton virtually on the spot. Her raw emotion and chemistry with Gosling (who reads off camera) are riveting.
  
• Deleted Scenes (with optional commentary) (HD, 28 minutes) - Twelve deleted scenes, including extended (and racier) versions of the film's two big love scenes, feature optional commentary by editor Alan Heim, who provides insight not just into the cuts themselves, but also the general editing process. Most of these scenes are fairly substantive, interesting, and well worth a look, especially in 1080p.
  
• Theatrical Trailer (SD)
  

If you crave a good cry and like your romance sweet and pure, then 'The Notebook' is for you. Its top-notch production values, fine acting, and dual storylines make it go down easy, but it's not a very nourishing dish. The stunning video transfer and solid audio make upgrading a must for the film's fans, but only the most obsessed groupies should consider investing in this clunky limited edition, which aside from the frilly inserts contains no new supplements. Worth a look, but unless you're a major fan, you may want to wait for a cheaper disc-only release that's surely down the pike.