Monday, October 31, 2011

Love Sparks!

I'm in a romantic kind of a mood so I thought I'd take a look at the movies written by the King of The Romantic Novel - Mr Nicholas Sparks.  The books are a pleasure but the movies have managed to lift them to another level... I think this may have quite a bit to do with the amazing casting, anyway let's take a look back at the Sparks movies in order....


Message in a Bottle


Starring Kevin Costner and Robin Wright Penn, was released in 1999.  Message in a Bottle is about a woman who finds a love letter in a bottle and becomes determined to track down the author.  It was Nicholas's first foray into movies and although not a massive critical success it still managed to rake in the bucks.

A Walk to Remember


Starring Shane West and Mandy Moore, this movie was released in 2002 and is possibly in my Top 10 list of favourite movies of all time!  Big call I know but if you are yet to see it please do.  
When a prank on a fellow high-school student goes wrong, popular but rebellious Landon Carter (Shane West) is threatened with expulsion. His punishment is mandatory participation in various after-school activities, where he is forced to interact with the preacher's daughter Jamie Sullivan (Mandy Moore), a girl he has known for many years but to whom he has rarely ever spoken.  Jamie ends up being the making of Landon and he in turn becomes her miracle.

The Notebook


Starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, The Notebook was released in 2004 and has become the yard stick for all romantic movies.  Surely you all know what it's about and if you don't then for god's sake go and watch it.

Nights in Rodanthe 


starring Richard Gere and Diane Lane, this movie was released in September 2008.  
A doctor who is traveling to see his estranged son builds a connection with an unhappily married woman at a North Carolina inn.  This movie is worth watching just for the Inn!

Dear John

Starring Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried, Dear John was released in 2010, and proves what a great romantic lead The Chan is.  
This story is about a soldier (Tatum) who falls for a college student (Seyfried) while he's home on leave.


The Last Song


Starring Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth, The Last Song was also released in 2010.  What a great year this was for Romantic drama and this movie capped it off. 
Nicholas Sparks wrote this story with Miley in mind and even asked for her imput while developing the character. 
The drama centers on a rebellious girl who is sent to a Southern beach town for the summer to stay with her father. Through their mutual love of music, the estranged duo learn to reconnect - and lets not forget that she meets the gorgeous Will Blakelee (Liam) for which I for one will be eternally grateful.  Thankyou to whoever cast this movie - it made our year!

The Lucky One


Starring Zac Efron and Taylor Schilling, this movie will be released in 2012.  How can life get any better than a Nicholas Sparks romance starring Zac Efron?  I don't think it can.  This story revolves around a Marine, (Zac) who travels to North Carolina after serving three tours in Iraq and searches for the unknown woman he believes was his good luck charm during the war.  I have read the book and it has all the calling cards of a great Sparks tale so I can only assume that we are going to love this one too. (did I mention ZAC IS IN IT?)




And in great news, Warner Bros. has just acquired The Best of Me, the new book by Sparks. While the novel isn't available yet, the deal was made when studio reps sat in a room with the author while he laid out the story. The plot revolves around high school sweethearts who drift apart as they reach adulthood and then reunite when a funeral brings them both back home . The Best of Me has just hit the shelves and Nicholas is in NZ as we speak promoting the book.  Can not wait to see who will direct, and star in this one.


 So there you go - Sparks Movies in release date order - now  I need to know what order you would put them in?  1 - 6 best to worst, if you've seen them all.  If not, why not?  Which have you seen?
Cool Rider

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