Yup. The movie received negative reviews and low ratings.
But.....
I love it. It's a beautiful movie.
Starring Mandy Moore and Shane West, A Walk to Remember is a 2002 romance film based on Nicholas Spark's novel that goes by the same name.
To sum up the story, it's basically about how a typical bad teenage guy, Landon Carter (Shane West) met a good and prompt teenage girl, Jamie Sullivan (Mandy Moore), fell in love with her, and how he was transformed to a better person by their encounter. This may sound like another typical, "no-surprise" film, but trust me - this movie's definitely worth watching.
Fellow Christians may like this movie, as it's all centered around the theme of "Love, Hope and Faith". But what's special about the movie, is that the whole thing is not pictured from a formal religious perspective, but rather just like any normal, touching love story, as one reviewer approvingly noted, "the main character is portrayed as a Christian without being psychopathic or holier-than-thou". So no worries if you don't want to touch on anything religious.
Regarding the performance of the cast, I must say that Mandy Moore did a pretty good job in this movie, given that this was her debut as a leading actress. Mandy Moore, in my point of view, is not really pretty, but as commented by a critic, she has some charm that makes her "quietly convincing". And Shane West? Haha there's something that I found attractive in this actor since I knew about the movie way back in 2002, but I'm not sure what it is, not until now =P
Love, faith and hope...
just like what Jaime said, "it's the centre of everything".
Not only between God and us, but also between you and I.
Jaime touched me with her faith, when she told her father "I think God just wants me to be happy". The child-like faith, the smile that she wore on her face when she said this...
Jamie: How can you see places like this...and have moments like this, and not believe?
Landon: You're lucky to be so sure.
Jamie: It's like the wind. I can't see it, but I can feel it.
True, God is there. You can feel him.
I think the reason why I love this movie, is that it matches with one of my most important definition of love -
when you really love someone, you would be willing to change for him/her. And that's what makes Landon such a lovable character. And sure he's romantic too, helping Jamie to fulfill her list of wishes - being in two places at a time, getting a tattoo...and he married her, when he knew she was dying and when he was just a 18 year old young man.
Landon: Do you love me? Will you do something for me then?
Jamie: Anything.
Landon: Will you marry me?
And he helped Jamie to achieve her ambition - to witness a miracle.
Landon: I'm sorry she (Jamie) never got her miracle.
Jamie's father: She did. It was you.