Notebook College Essay Example
Notebook College Essay Example

Notebook College Essay Example

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  • Pages: 7 (1683 words)
  • Published: June 18, 2018
  • Type: Essay
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Running head: THE NOTEBOOK The Notebook This paper explores the movie “The Notebook” directed by Nick Cassavetes, analyzing different aspects of the film. These aspects will be examined in depth, accompanied by examples. The elements encompass intent, story, plot and meaning, theatrical elements, cinematography, editing, sound, and the summary. The filmmaker's goal is to present a believable narrative in "The Notebook," depicting the profound love and passion shared by the main characters. It holds a special place as one of the most cherished films.

The text underscores the immersive quality of the story, presenting readers with a firsthand experience of the main characters' journey. It delves into the heartwarming narrative of Noah and Allie, showcasing how their love overcomes societal differences, allowing them to reunite and live happily ever

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after. The film explores various significant subthemes such as class disparities, love triangles, betrayal, decision-making, and memory loss. Its underlying message is that genuine love has the power to conquer any challenge. The central figures in this movie are Noah and Allie who first meet at a carnival in Seabrook Island, South Carolina during 1940.

During a magical summer, they formed a deep love and made plans for their future. Noah, from a humble family, and Allie, from a wealthy family, faced disapproval from Allie's parents due to Noah's lack of wealth. As a result, they were prohibited from being together, causing immense sadness. They each had to move forward with their lives - Allie attended college in New York while Noah enlisted in World War II. Allie, now a nurse, crossed paths with a wealthy lawyer named Lon Hammond and they soon became engaged.

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Noah comes back from war to discover that his father had sold their house so that Noah could purchase the Windsor plantation. Meanwhile, Allie is getting ready for her wedding to Lon. While trying on her wedding gown, she stumbles upon a newspaper article about Noah completing the Windsor plantation, just as they had always envisioned. This prompts her to visit Noah in Seabrook. Despite having moved on with other relationships, they realize that they still deeply love each other. Eventually, Allie decides to be with Noah and they spend the rest of their lives together.
"The Notebook" portrays various acts of romantic love, loss, challenges, and overcoming those challenges. The film primarily focuses on the theme of love within a small town in the American South. This beloved love story achieved great success thanks to the performances of its actors and the atmospheric setting it created.
Creating a successful love story through film is a difficult task unlike horror films; it requires an artistic touch that can evoke feelings of romance in both male and female audiences.

In our personal experience with this film, we believe that all the elements were effectively aligned with the novel. The film received a very positive reception and is considered a masterpiece in the world of romance, with a lasting impact on romantic artists. "The Notebook" employed various techniques for capturing images in the movie. The film specifically emphasized the relationship between Noah and Allie, and the techniques used were chosen to complement this type of storyline. One prominent technique used throughout the movie was the subjective camera angle.

The film showcased extensive dialogue between the main characters, leading to

the utilization of over the shoulder angles and subjective angles from one character's perspective. These camera angles provide an immersive experience for viewers, enhancing the impact of facial expressions. Consequently, this generates a dramatic effect by making viewers feel as if they are in the same position as the characters. A notable illustration of this occurs when Noah and Allie, the main protagonists, lie in the middle of the street. The camera angle employed in this scene positions viewers directly on the street with them, gazing sideways.

The film effectively captured the sensation and sentiment of being on the street with Allie and Noah. The scene where Allie reunites with Noah after years, and they go for a canoe ride, was particularly cinematic. The arrangement of birds surrounding them on the water created a highly dramatic effect. The use of colors, sounds, and camera angles added to the viewer's surreal experience. Another significant cinematic moment occurred at the end, where adult Noah and Allie peacefully lay on the bed, holding hands, presumably having passed away.

The lighting portrayed the couple as calm and deeply in love till the end. The film predominantly showcased the characters up close and in focused shots, effectively conveying the theme of true love. Throughout the movie, true love was depicted by emphasizing the characters' facial expressions through close-ups and rounded soft shapes. The opening scene features a Ferris wheel as the backdrop for Noah's initial attempt to ask Allie out on a date.

It is possible that the curved lines are employed to convey sensuality. Multiple close-up shots were utilized on Allie's mother to depict her resentment and disappointment

towards Noah. The facial expression effectively conveyed her feelings about Allie's partner choice. Cinematic moments in the film were captured through various camera movements. Panning and fixed camera positions were prevalent throughout the movie. Nevertheless, the fixed camera position frequently zoomed in on the main character to capture their emotions. This technique effectively conveyed that no dialogue was occurring.

The use of panning was employed in the picnic table scene in "The Notebook" where Noah meets Allie's parents. In contrast, a fixed camera zoomed in to capture their emotions when Allie's parents observed them on the lake. According to Film Editing (2009), film editing is often referred to as 'invisible art' because when done effectively, viewers remain oblivious to the editor's work and become completely absorbed. The editor of "The Notebook" demonstrated exceptional skills by carefully selecting and merging the best shots to craft this exquisite romantic drama.

The movie centers around a young couple's love story in the 1940s. The narrative is framed by Duke, an elderly man reading a love story to a female patient at a nursing home. Flashbacks are used throughout the film to seamlessly transition between scenes at the nursing home and Noah and Allie's love story. Various cuts like form cuts, jump cuts, and parallel cuts were employed. For instance, parallel cuts depicted Allie's relationship with Lon progressing alongside Noah renovating a house for her. Slow motion was utilized to emphasize key moments such as their first encounter at a carnival or their dance with Lon. Montage highlighted the developing relationships between Noah and Allie, as well as Allie and Lon.

The film included minimal transitions but two instances

of the dissolve effect were notable. The first occurred when Duke examined old photos of his life with Allie. The second took place after it was discovered that Allie and Duke had passed away while holding hands; in this scene, the screen gradually dissolved, revealing birds flying away.

Both of these transitions are indications of significant changes in the film, and the editor effectively manipulates the viewer's emotions through the rhythms created. The various types of shots used are established through the editing process. According to Boggs ; Petrie (2008), "The speed of each scene's cuts is determined by its content, so that its rhythm matches the pace of the action, dialogue speed, and overall emotional tone." The use of quick cuts generates excitement in the viewer, while long takes create a sense of calm and relaxation.

One instance of a lengthy shot occurs in the film "The Notebook" when Noah and Allie walk down the street at night, engaging in conversation and getting acquainted. Audible noises are incorporated throughout the movie. At the start of the film, a scene at the carnival is depicted, where sounds emanating from various rides and people, including children, screaming and laughing can be heard. Another significant audio moment occurs when Noah is depicted working at the lumberyard. Each time this scene appears, viewers can witness Noah and his coworkers engaged in work while simultaneously hearing the sounds produced by different machinery and the cutting of wood with saws, which corresponds with what is shown visually.

In the 1940s, many homes had wooden flooring, which is depicted in the movie scenes with people inside houses. The sounds of walking,

running, and shuffling feet are audible during these scenes, aligning with the visual. These auditory cues play a significant role in enhancing the movie experience. Invisible sound is also utilized in several scenes of the movie. For example, when Allie brings Noah home and her parents discuss him in another room, a close-up of Noah's face is shown while Allie's mother's screams, calling Noah trash, are heard.

"The Notebook" utilizes invisible sound in various instances. One such example is when Noah suffers his first heart attack. The audience is shown the house, and in the background, a nurse can be heard saying good morning to Noah. Despite being passed out, he does not respond. The nurse's screams resonate, creating a sense of urgency, while the visuals focus on the hospital entrance. Another illustration of invisible sound occurs throughout the movie, as music plays a minor role. It is introduced in the carnival scene at the beginning to establish the mood and resurfaces during significant dramatic moments in subsequent scenes.

Music always enhances the viewer's connection with a movie, allowing them to anticipate and feel the unfolding events. In the case of "The Notebook," the film as a whole is exceptional. It contains numerous memorable scenes that enable the audience to relate deeply to the story. Particularly remarkable is the scene set on a lake, where a boat is surrounded by white ducks. The vivid colors and emotional atmosphere make this scene stand out. Another equally poignant moment occurs when Allie, holding suitcases in hand, returns to Noah. Her choice to follow her heart communicates to the audience the enduring power of love. Despite life's challenges,

Noah and Allie find their way back to each other, demonstrating that love conquers all obstacles.

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