Genre Paper and Presentation - Book Report/Review Example

The book (2004) directed by Nick Cassavetes is a romantic drama based on Nicholas Spark’s novel. It tells a tale of two young lovers, Allie andNoah played by Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling, meeting during the summer and their love being disapproved of due to class differences. The two are separated for over ten years and are finally reunited when Allie is engaged and forced to choose between her fiance and her young love. P.S I Love You (2007) is another romantic drama based on a novel by Cecelia Ahern and directed by Richard LaGravenese.

It focuses on Holly and Gerry, played by Hillary Swank and Gerard Butler, meeting during her trip through Ireland, falling in love and getting married much to the disapproval of her mother. Gerry dies young due to a brain tumor just before Holly’s thirtieth birthday and helps her heal and embark on a life journey through a series of letters and instructions he wrote before dying. Both movies are unique and vividly portray themes of complexity and strength of love, obstacles faced by lovers, and a journey of self discovery.

Both Cassavetes and LaGravenese develop the complexity and strong bond of love in their movies. In P.S. I Love You, Holly obediently follows her husband’s instructions because of how much she misses and loves him. Their love leaves an everlasting impression even though Gerry is no longer with her. For example, when Gerry tells her to buy a dress for Karaoke, she does exactly that and even sings on the stage in front of a large audience which is something she clearly would never have done before.

Similarly, in The Notebook, Allie has been separated from Noah for over ten years and is actually engaged, yet she still can’t hide nor get rid of her strong feelings for him. For example, in the scene where she’s trying on wedding dresses, she faints when she sees a photo of Noah in a newspaper. Despite having been separated, she goes to see him just to see how he is doing. Both protagonists, Allie and Holly, are also in a conflict with themselves and show feelings of confusion and guilt.

For example, Holly sits in front of the TV watching old movies, not wanting to be happy and moving on. Also, Allie after all these years, is still confused as to who she really loves. For example, in the scene were Lon, her fiance, proposes to her, instead of becoming excited, she becomes quiet and sees Noah’s face instead. Both directors take their protagonists on a journey of self discovery through out the films where they learn to identify with themselves and their choices. For example, Holly spends the whole year, getting in touch with her free and confident self.

She embraces her creative side, which is beautifully shown in the scene where she angrily throws a shoe across her bedroom and picks it up later having attached itself to a silver buckle, thereby giving her ideas for fashionable shoes. Similarly, Allie gains a sense of freedom when being with Noah and breaks away from the bondage of social class differences. For example, even after her mother shows disapproval, she plans to meet with Noah at an old abandoned house. Also, through out the film, though Allie is confused as to who she wants to be with, she finally discovers what she wants and openly embraces her decision.

For example, when confronting Lon after having been reunited with Noah, she leaves her fiance at the hotel and stands smilingly at Noah’s doorstep revealing to bother herself and the audience who she has chosen. The movies also differ in the way they represent some of the genre elements. In P.S. I Love You, the obstacle separating the two from meeting is permanent and due to fate. For example, Gerry dies at an early age because of a brain tumor causing Holly to become a widow at an early age.

However, in The Notebook, the two lovers are separated temporarily mainly due to class differences and strong disapproval of Allie’s parents. For example, during the last days of their summer together, Allie’s parents make a quick decision and leave early the next morning without giving her a chance to say good bye. Also, despite Noah writing to her daily for a year, Allie’s mother hides the letters from her, further delaying their reunion. Regardless of this, the two do meet, and spend a fruitful life together.

For example, in the hospital when the elderly man is reading to the now aged Allie, we see him being visited by both their kids and grandchildren. Also, the two are united even in death, when the nurse discovers them holding hands, having passed away peacefully in each other’s loving company.