After a fun weekend with David’s siblings, he and I went out for a quiet movie date together to see Dear John last night. Considering it was the movie that knocked Avatar out of the #1 position at the box office, we were really expecting a great film. I’m happy to report that we were not disappointed:
Firstly, I had not previously read the novel Dear John by Nicholas Sparks but I am familiar with his style of tale telling. Basically he throws everything AND the kitchen sink at you to get you all emotionally riled up and then he really turns the screws to ensure that you bawl your eyes out. I have to say, the movie did not turn out the way I thought it would. I wouldn’t say there were surprise twists (well, OK, mebbe there was one surprise twist) but the story ended up going somewhere I was not prepared for. Channing Tatum was pretty good in his role as John Tyree … sure, he’s not the best actor but he did a good enough job, I thought. The boy plays a solider in 80% of his films, a dancer in the other 20%. He’s got both of those character roles down pretty well. Amanda Seyfried was really charming, very sweet and totally believable. I loved the film. The ending left me wanting more but, all-in-all, I was happy with the film. If you love Sparks‘s other stories, you’ll prolly like this one. I’m not sure how the film is different from the book but having only seen the movie, I was satisfied with the outcome.
No plans for tonight … I have a lot of stuff to get taken care of here at home … I’ll prolly be eyeball deep in laundry all day long. Not the best way to spend a Tuesday but at least it’ll be a nice, relaxing day.
I absolutely hated this movie! I found it really unbelievable. Perhaps I’m just biased since I finished the novel right before I saw the movie. In my opinion, Channing was horrible and mumbled all of his dialogue. It was frustrating. I was just like, “OPEN YOUR MOUTH!” or something. I was surprised how bad Amanda Seyfried was…she was good in some scenes, though. I just feel like the story was nonexistent and blah. The ending in the book is far more superior in the movie. And what was up with that porn ‘stache? I was also annoyed how Savannah was supposed to be a good girl and yet she straddles John on their FIRST KISS? Whatevs.
I hated the new ending, they should have kept the book ending, that ending was perfect. there were a few things they shouldnt have changed.
but man..when Channing was talking to his dad..that killlllled me – i tried not to cry, but damn.
I have to agree, Chase. I just finished the book last week, so all of the changes really got to me. After it was over, the person I was with said, “Why does it sound like he (John) is rapping all of his lines?”
I thought this ending was more satisfying, but way less believable. Also, this was the first Nicholas Sparks book I’ve read, and I wasn’t really into the writing. People give Stephenie Meyer a hard time, but she is actually a better writer!
i didn’t read the book and still thought it was awful.. totally unbelievable and didn’t have any weight or substance.. i’m usually easily moved by movies like this but this one did nothing for me..
I was so disappointed with this movie. I felt it was so rushed and there was no character development. I should never have read the book first.
@Tracy — I’m of the mind that you should ALWAYS read the book first.
The fact that it sounds like they changed the ending from the book is the ONLY reason i might go see the movie. I hated, hated, the books ending. I read the book and was left feeling totally annoyed. I really wanted to see this movie, then I read the book, and decided no way.
@Lulu: me too!! I HATED the way the book ended! Did not want to see the movie b/c of it, but heard they changed the ending. I did snoop online and find out what changes were made and am only slightly interested in seeing it now.
the book is waaay better. but looking at it from just a movie perspective and not comparing… it was good. not great but good. and channing tatum shirtless with a surfboard is always…ALWAYS a good thing!!!!
@Holly: You can’t really compare Nicholas Sparks and Stephanie Meyer as they write different genres of novels.
The book is ALWAYS better. Case in point: Twilight. I don’t think the changes between Dear John the book and Dear John the movie made it any better or worse, just different. That’s part of the fun of watching movies that are based on books: seeing someone else’s interpretation of an author’s writing.
Trent
As for the differences…
In the book Tim and Savannah grew up next door to each other and were always close friends. Its always obvious Tim is in love with her. John mentions it numerous times in the book. Also Tim has an autistic brother not son. He is the same age as Savannah in the book.
The relationship starts to unravel when he is on leave and stays with her at her college. She is spending lots of time with friends and he wants time just the two of them. After they have sex everything changes.
When Savannah got together with Tim, he his parents had just died in a car crash and they bonded and it led to a relationship.
Later he gets cancer after they get married. When John goes to find Savannah he goes to a bar to ask where she lives….he sees a donation jar for a local man with cancer. He goes to the house like he does in the book and finds out they are married and he has cancer. Tim tells him she is obviously still in love with him. He sells the coin collection and the experimental drug works. The last chapter John is watching Savannah and Tim holding hands on the ranch,
Much more believeable. I loved the book and didnt like the movie. Well as just a movie alone I liked it, but based on the book….not a fan.
I understand they need to make some changes but they changed HUGE and IMPORTANT things. Frustrating. I know they wanted the happy ending but the book was more realistic.
@JeniLee way to give it all away
People, please stop being so critical!!! Films can not be the same as the books, or else the film would go on forever! Yes, I as well, had just completed the book a few days ago. There are some significant differences, but it made me laugh, cry and smile, in 2 hours. Well worth my $12 and 2 hours of time!!!!
@JeniLee I was curious how the book compared to the film after I watched it- haven’t read the book and I thought the movie sucked. I still don’t want to read the book, but thanks for giving a summary of what they changed. :D
It seems that Nicholas Sparks doesn’t know how to close the endings to his novels. I’ve read a couple of his works and I always found their endings weird or out of place.
I really liked the movie. I understand they have to change things about the book, but the whole tim thing was weird. Why did they have to change young tim with an autistic brother to a creepy tim with a son. Didn’t add anything to the movie or make for a shorter explanation. Just weird.
Took me awhile to figure out “Tim ” was Henry Thomas who played “ELLIOT” from ET
@ Stef I think the book ending was great and not out of place at all. Makes sense to have a realistic ending with it not working out,
@ Megan….are you kidding me? If people didnt want to know anything about the book or movie they wouldnt be reading this post in the first place so no I didnt give it all away for people who didnt want to know.
@Lulu, I agree, the book was great but the ending of the movie was far better. I had to read the end of the book a few times and was really irritated that it was just over like that. In my own mind I think of the book with the movie ending.
I haven’t seen the movie yet but I did read the book. I HATED the ending of the book and I thought Savannah was a total bitch for what she did. So I can’t wait to see the movie because I know it’ll at least end the way I thought it should!!
The movie was OK. Tatum is gorgeous, Seyfried is charming. The ending pissed me off(and several other movie goers in the theater that day)! The book had a more realistic ending-the movie had an obvious “hollywood” ending.