The Film
Earlier this year, Warner Bros. had planned to go back into the vault and triple-dip The Notebook, just in time for Valentine's Day. The Notebook: Ultimate Collector's Edition has the same image, audio and special features as the last two releases, but in a fancy, giftable package. It's even fancier than the last giftable package, I guess. For unknown reasons, the studio pushed the release until this week. Something sweet for spring perhaps?
Maybe it's for Mother's Day, because nothing says "mom" more than one of the greatest love stories of all time. She will certainly love this, though. Everyone does. Even people that hate love stories love The Notebook. Apparently, it's difficult to ignore the charms of Ryan Gosling.
And charming he is in this film, as is Rachel McAdams. It's the third and probably most beloved Nicholas Sparks novel to be made into a movie. Unfortunately, it was not the last, which is why we have adaptations of Nights in Rodanthe and Safe Haven. The film has even left countless fans crying for Gosling and McAdams to get back together. (They were a real-life couple post-Notebook.) It's also the movie that will get even the most jaded viewer to shed a tear (or more) for these two crazy kids.
The Notebook starts out as a love story being read by James Garner to Gena Rowlands. It's a sweet, sometimes sad story about country boy Noah Calhoun (Gosling) and heiress Allie Hamilton (McAdams). Like any love story, The Notebook has its cheesy moments, but it wouldn't be a good love story without those. However, it's really the on-screen chemistry between the two leads that gets all of the film's viewers to dot their "I"s with little hearts. Fire up the bubble bath and enjoy.
The Picture
The Notebook is a gorgeous movie with gorgeous people. Thankfully, this release has a gorgeous 2.40:1 image to match. If you have either of the two previous Notebook Blu-rays, don't bother squinting. Warner Bros. hasn't touched one hair on Rachel McAdams' beautiful head. It's the same lovely image as before. Some of the skintones look like these actors have been out in the Southern sun for too long. Otherwise, the colors both in the past and present scenes are nice, especially when it comes to all of those reds. It also has a decent amount of detail, which looks best in grassy areas and in the film's many close-ups.
The Sound
Like the image, Warner Bros. picked up this film's Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track. It's very focused on the dialogue, which is always clear and breathy in some spots. Even when Ryan Gosling is sad and/or drunk, it still sounds great. However, this mix has a few surprises, with decent ambient sounds. Also, some of the louder scenes, especially during the brief stint in World War II, really pack a nice punch.
The Extras
Final Thoughts
"Ultimate Collector's Edition" sounds so final. Then why do I have the feeling that we will see The Notebook again? (And not in a cheesy romance way.) There was really no reason for Warner Bros. to repackage this movie for a third time, especially when the film's 10th anniversary is one year away. Lucky for them that it's such a beloved film for so many (and a guilty pleasure for others). This is a nice gift or a good buy if you don't own the film already. Otherwise, only the true collector will want to snag this set.
Product Details
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