I was a bit uncomfortable the first ten minutes as I thought the movie was heading down the usual teen movie path, but my fears were quickly dispelled when popular boy Landon Carter was punished for his part in a prank that left a fellow student paralyzed and ordered by the principal to join the drama club in order to meet some new people. Jamie Sullivan, the school outcast and laughing stock, is one of the people he meets. He joins his crowd in poking fun of her, but soon comes to value her friendship and admires the way she is self-confident about who she is and what she wants. With so many teen movies focused on sex, it is refreshing to see these two teens build a relationship based on mutual respect and values.

Alas, the course of true love is never smooth and, without spoiling the ending for you, I will tell you that I found myself crying unashamedly as the movie drew to a close. Shyly, I glanced around me and noticed everyone from teens to grandmas openly weeping. "A Walk to Remember" is a nice, comforting film that I highly recommend for everyone who loves a love story and remembers what it was like to fall in love for the first time.


A Movie to Warm Your Heart!   January 27, 2003
sherman-nyc (New York, NY United States)
91 out of 93 found this review helpful

"Wow". That's about all I could muster at the end of the movie (embarrassingly, between a flood of tears - after all, a guy isn't allowed to cry, right?) I must admit - my skepticism was extremely high upon first hearing about this movie. I queried myself as to the necessity of watching yet another "teenage love story". However, upon a friend's recommendation, I decided to give it a go, and realized that I had actually come close to making a terribly big mistake in my life had I not watched it. The movie was simply INCREDIBLE!

Shane West does an excellent portrayal of High School bad boy Landon, and his desire to be popular and cool will surely strike a chord in many of our hearts. After all, during our precocious teenage years, there are arguably few things that are more important than being cool and universally liked by peers. One's self esteem is invariably tied with how others perceive us. And so that is how Landon is, until he meets sweet Jamie Sullivan, the local preacher's daughter played by beautiful Mandy Moore. Moore lends her character a huge amount of depth and surrounds her with an innocent, heartwarming aura, so much so that by the end of the movie, she can do no wrong. In addition, the movie is littered with many fabulous songs that are sung by none other than Moore's beautiful voice. One piece that stands out is "Only Hope", a beautiful song that will have your optical water droplets rolling out on more than one occasion. Another great tune that will get your good feelings swirling is "Someday We'll Know".

As you watch their relationship blossom throughout the movie, your own feelings are inextricably linked and you find yourself cheering the couple on, marveling at their sweet times spent together and secretly envious of the intense love that they have discovered. For guys, I warn you - Jamie is so incredibly pure and unselfish that she will have your hearts fluttering by the end of the movie. As for Landon, he will no doubt reside in many girls' dreams for months to come, and he demonstrates a type of love that transcends ordinary levels, completing Jamie's life in each and every way. He shows her a love that she has not experienced before, and she helps him to discover himself and fills him with a desire to achieve higher things in life. There is a lot of hidden depth, and even when Landon fulfils Jamie's first and foremost desire (which I shall not reveal for those that have not seen the movie), he says it in such an unselfish way that it evokes true admiration of his love for her. By being together, they have both achieved things that were previously not possible.

By the end of the movie, the viewer's faith in love and everything pure and good is restored to unshakeable heights. Love is truly the most powerful emotion known to mankind, and this heartwarming story reminds us that despite the challenges we face on a daily basis, there are things in life that make the experience truly worth it. To be able to witness the kind of love that Jamie and Landon shared is truly unforgettable, and as Landon says during the movie, "We had more happiness than most people experience in a lifetime." A Walk to Remember is a truly moving story that urges us to have faith in true love and to cherish all the wonderful things that we have in our lives.


Beautiful...a Classic in the Making   July 6, 2002
27 out of 28 found this review helpful

First off, please pay no heed to the critics on this one. They seem to have written it off as just another in a long line of typical teen films, giving it their typical (and apparently recycled) reviews for such films. In their prejudice, they fail to realize the uniqueness of this film, especially in this day and age. Sure, the story -- based on the best-selling Nicholas Sparks novel of the same name -- is nothing new: big man on campus falls in love with misunderstood misfit harboring a tragic secret. The difference here is in the presentation. Instead of the jaded, busy and noisy perspective taken by most teen films, "Walk" is quiet, gentle, full of hope.

The plot is simple enough. Popular bad-boy Landon Carter (Shane West) is sentenced to various after-school activities as punishment for his participation in a prank gone terribly wrong. Consequently, he comes into contact with do-gooder Jamie Sullivan (Mandy Moore), the preacher's daughter and school outcast. They grew up together, so he thinks he's got her all figured out; but as they spend more time together, he comes to realize that he never really knew her at all. They begin an uneasy friendship that blossoms into more. Along the way, they share some of the most romantic moments ever on film. Sadly, a tragic twist threatens to end their happiness.

The film benefits greatly from its two young leads, both of whom turn in outstanding, genuine performances. West has the difficult task of portraying a young man who undergoes a life-changing transformation from angry, aimless troublemaker to thoughtful, loving young man. His depiction is so convincing that by the end of the movie, you can actually see on Landon's face that he has indeed found inner peace from his prior internal tumult. West is especially brilliant in the school play scene where, without uttering a single word, he manages to display Landon's inner struggle over his feelings for Jamie. Quite a thing to behold. Moore is a revelation here as well. In her first lead role, she has chosen quite a difficult (and beloved) character to play, one that if not done right would inspire snickers and laughter rather than tears and sympathy. It is a tremendously challenging and pivotal role. And Moore pulls it off beautifully. Displaying strong screen presence, she shows acting range that belies her theatrical experience. She imbues Jamie with the ethereal radiance and quiet serenity required of her character (and by the novel). Rarely -- if ever -- will you see a more gentle, sincere and altogether believable portrayal of innocence. Together, these two are magic, sharing a chemistry that is not only natural and warm, but palpable and electric.

As with any film, "Walk" is not without its flaws. The directing could have been better to help in the flow of the narration. The film could have been about 15 minutes longer to sufficiently develop Jamie and Landon's relationship (though I suspect there were many deleted scenes). And it does not entirely stick to the novel. Those who have read the novel will find that there are many differences. Amazingly, however, the film still manages to capture the feel and essence of the book in that it can make your heart full and break it at the same time. Moreover, it dares to believe in faith and hope. It dares to believe in the transforming power of love. It dares to believe that young people are capable of true, intense and everlasting love. And though it happens to feature teens, it has a universal message -- and that message is up to the viewer, for it never seeks to preach.

More than just a love story, "A Walk to Remember" is anything but typical. Ultimately, it is about faith and hope...and living. No superficial make-overs or fart jokes here, folks.

Memorable, indeed.


Not quite unforgettable, yet not easily forgotten.   January 31, 2002
D. Litton (Wilmington, NC)
31 out of 34 found this review helpful

I pretty much knew what to expect from "A Walk to Remember," the latest in a long line of various romance dramas in which a popular boy meets and falls in love with an ugly-duckling girl who's not so ugly at all. The movie leaves no cliché unturned, no familiar plot development in the shadows, leaving almost nothing to the element of surprise. What I didn't expect from the experience was just how much I actually enjoyed every minute of this light, airy teen romance, despite its high predictability factor.

The movie begins somewhat awkwardly by introducing us to a scene in which a group of teenagers have met to initiate a hopeful candidate into their circle of friends. When the boy is injured, one of the boys, Landon Carter (Shane West), stays behind to help him, only to be picked up by the police while trying to flee the scene. We soon learn that his rebellion streak stems from the absence of his father, who left his mother years ago; Landon, of course, resents him wholeheartedly. At school, he finds solace in his status and popularity, although the punishment of tutoring duties, a part in the drama play, and janitorial service as a result of his actions cramp his style.

And then he meets Jamie Sullivan (Mandy Moore), the girl who has been in all of his classes for years and has been the target of wisecracks and put-downs for much of her life. At first, he is resentful of her coming up to him, but he soon finds himself asking her for help with his lines in the play. To his surprise, Jamie is not like other girls who would normally mind being insulted in public and treated nicely in private; the more she strays from his behavior, the more he is compelled to change his attitude and ways.

As the previews have told us, they will fall in love, much to the dismay and scorn of Landon's pals and ex-girlfriend, who cooks up a revenge plot that proves Landon's devotion to his new love. As the story moves on, revelations will be made, characters will reconcile, and everything will follow a distinct path that has been the outline for many a romantic drama in the past.

But who's to say that predictability can't be a good thing once in a while? As a critic, I admit the movie is nowhere near the realm of originality; as a romantic at heart, I found the movie to be a wonderful new spin on the old tricks of the genre, with some moments of delightful humor, and instances that are touching and filled with real emotion. The dialogue seems to have been polished to a brilliant new shine, however worn it may be, while the romance and teenage love aspects of the plot prove that the love story still has some kick left in it.

The movie benefits greatly from its two talented leads, Moore and West, who prove their acting worth with great performances. Moore, in her second movie role (she played the prissy cheerleader in last year's "The Princess Diaries"), embodies Jamie with a real sense of innocent charm and Christian faith, while West convinces us that Landon has undergone a change of heart and mind through his love for Jamie. The two share a chemistry and warmth that makes us believe in the movie's message of love winning over all, making the old seem refreshingly new. Among the supporting cast are Daryl Hannah as Landon's supportive mother, and Peter Coyote in an exceptionally well-done performance as Reverend Sullivan.

One could go so far as to say that "A Walk to Remember" easily resembles Moore's singing career: each one is far from being original, but they still manage to entertain in all the right ways. As a tale of realization and awakening amidst backdrop of love, the movie follows all the rules, resulting in little more than pure corn syrup that goes down easier than you'd first expect. It's not exactly unforgettable, yet it's not so quickly forgotten.


A Movie That Will Be Remembered   June 29, 2002
Gary (Dillon, SC)
17 out of 17 found this review helpful

After seeing the trailers to A Walk to Remember, I have to admit, I wasn't psyched about seeing this movie. It seemed to be yet another stereotypical cardboard cut out of recent teen movies in the past few years. There are a few 'chick flicks' that I have enjoyed in the past, but they're not my favorite movies. But, because of my friends eagerness to see the movie, I gave in, and went to see it. The results were very surprising. This movie wasn't just another average 'chick flick,' it was something much more. It became one of my all-time favorite movies.

The movie is based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks, and tells the wonderful tale of two people who are the definite opposites of one another only to be brought together by a miracle. There is Jamie Sullivan, played brilliantly by Mandy Moore, who is a shy and meek girl who is always teased on by her peers. Her head remains strong however, because she doesn't allow the rude and immature comments penetrate and hamper her uplifting spirit. This is a true definition of a great person. I always admire someone who isn't afraid to be themselves and not be terribly afraid of what other people would think or change themselves to be something they're not. Jamie has high morals that she never allows to be jeopardized. There is also Landon, played by Shane West, whose only concern in life is not to jeopardize his reputation in other people's eyes. Both of these characters are brought together by an incident and fall amazingly in love. This tells a wonderful and amazing story of how true love can be.

Before watching this film, I doubted Mandy Moore's acting capabilities, but now I realize just how fitting she was for this role. Shane West also plays his part convincingly. The story is combined with an awesome cast to produce a remarkable and very rememberable movie.