Dear John Movie Review
I am currently reading the book now, and it has to be one of my favorite Nicholas Sparks books. Next to A Walk To Remember of course. The way Sparks writes John is so compelling and honest that I just fell in love with John Tyree's character. Now this post isn't suppose to be a book review, so I will not say anything further but note book mentions will be present throughout this post. I just wanted to point out how enjoyable the book is, and the movie was just as enjoyable. If you haven't watched the movie or read the book please BEWARE OF SPOILERS!!
This weekend my sister and I went to go this movie and I must say I quite enjoyed it. As I said before I am currently reading the book, however; I didn't go in thinking it will be like the book. 'Cause let's face it in this day and age for a movie to be like the book is almost unheard of. That said I am a hypocrite because there are many books I have read where the movie just disappointed me *cough*Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince*cough*. I don't know I guess in the end if I like the movie and it is good despite how different it is from the book, then it's okay by me as long as the themes are there. In Dear John the themes were there and present, and I was quite pleased by the movie.
Savannah - The thing is if you notice in the movie (and book) they foreshadowed Amanda's betrayal because she even tells John she has flaws just like everyone else. What I liked is that Sparks and the movie didn't make Savannah a "Mary Sue" character. She royally hurt John in a matter of two months, but the sad thing is it's so realistic. It's not like Savannah could hop into a car for an hour long drive to get to John. I mean I'm not condoning Savannah's behavior because there are many women that do not betray their spouses or significant others who are in the forces. It's just the writer did a good job at pointing out how it even surprised her, and one can't exactly articulate these emotions. It's quite complicated, convulated, and Amanda did a great job in her breakdown scene emphasizing this utter confusion. I do wish they focused a bit more on Savannah's arc of autism because it's a very compelling storyline to read. Loved that they let Amanda sing in the film as well.
John & Savannah - I think Amanda and Channing had great chemistry, and you can feel their off-screen friendship come through onto the big screen. You can tell how much John just cherished Savannah which just made Savannah's betrayal heartbreaking. Their chemistry was a very casual one which grew as the movie progressed. However, what I realized watching the film and reading the book is that I enjoyed this book and movie because of John and his relationship with his father. Don't get me wrong I do love John and Savannah's relationship, but their relationship isn't what pulled me into this story. As compared to say A Walk To Remember where Landon and Jamie's love story stole the show. Going back to Dear John my favorite scene of their relationship is when John comes back for his first leave, and Savannah goes through security and sets things off. No one stops her because they realize she is greeting her boyfriend home, and the camera goes to the smiling bystanders watching this reunion. It was quite a touching scene. That's not to say I don't love their kissing moments because I just love those forehead kisses. I'm quite fond of this couple, but in the end I wasn't over the top emotionally invested in.
John & Papa Tyree - Richard Jenkins did a great job in the role of Papa Tyree. Which for me I wanted to see more of him and John together. What the movie doesn't elaborate on, I wish they did, was that Papa Tyree has Asperger Syndrome and was never diagnosised. He went through life like this, and raising a son that doesn't know of this syndrome caused a strain in their relationship. John didn't know of this syndrome until he met Savannah. What I liked is that Savannah opened a door to heal their relationship. For John to understand his father, and know why he does the things he does. Why he needs to put dishes a certain way, same dinner menus every week, and etc. Richard Jenkins did this perfectly, and he was so compelling and heartbreaking when he had his outburst in the car because Papa Tyree's routine was completely thrown through a loop.
He tried for John and Savannah to go to the party at Savannah's house, but he simply couldn't. He was just used to his routine and was not comfortable in a social setting, but he tried so much. I wasn't expecting to see so many flashbacks, but I was overjoyed to see them. For one it showed the bond this father and son used to have, and once the teenage years happened the crap hit the fan. My favorite flashback was of course the warmest one where young eight year old John found a mule coin and shared something new with his father. Of course the coin collection was started completely differently in the book because the coin collection started with Papa and Grandpa Tyree, and was passed down to John. The casting of young John was perfect, he had those same tender brown eyes as Channing, because sometimes you can see that vulerable little boy. There is one pivotal scene that showed that little boy vulerableness, and showed some great acting chops from Channing Tatum.
John - Channing Tatum is quite a newcomer in this business, but I highly recommend seeing his younger work especially Fighting and Public Enemies. Like many young actors in Hollywood people judge this fine actor before they see him in action. Tatum blew me away once again at his portrayol of John Tyree. While reading the book I could actually see Channing in this role more and more, and man was he perfect for this role. From the surfing to the solider to the son Tatum took this character as his own. The most pivotal scene for John's character and Tatum's acting was when John came to his father in the hospital hallway. When he sat down and read him the letter he wrote to his father. These thoughts he had while he was shot, and turning it into a coin analogy for his father to understand. Oh my god, just thinking about I'm getting teary eyed once again. The way Tatum read this letter out aloud just merely broke my heart and everyone's heart in the theatre. There was no music to help soften this scene, at least not from what I remember, but it was all Tatum and Jenkin's hand mannerisms. During that scene I can clearly remember the quietness of the theatre to the point you can hear the sniffling. That moment in the story was so heartbreaking and moving that is just blew me away due to the writing, directing, acting, and it's just down right relateable. It gets to you right in the heart.
The character of John Tyree have been people I have met throughout my life, and it's a person who grew so much. From this rebellious, selfish teenage phase to changing into this remarkable, unselfish person who understood his father and gave away his inheritence to save Savannah's husband's life. John Tyree is another example of how to make these rough characters into some of the best characters around. Something some creators on some tv shows have yet to accomplish, but man does Sparks and the movie do a great job at it.
Guest Stars & 9/11 - The movie did a great job at showing the events and aftermath to 9/11. Seeing the actual footage of the first tower falling still brings back memories of that day. It's another reason I liked this novel is because it's quite modern, and relateable to those historical days. I loved seeing Friday Night Lights's Scott Porter (Jason) and One Tree Hill's Cullen Moss (Junk) in the film because I'm quite fan of both shows and their characters. While I do like Henry Thomas I thought they could have recasted a younger actor for the role of Tim, but the young actors who played Alan were perfect. The music choices they made were great, but I still wished they used Snow Patrol's song "Set the Fire to the Third Bar" in the movie. Since it fits so well not only in the trailer, but also in the romance storyline theme.
I loved how they filmed this movie from the North Carolina to the scenes in Iraq. The only thing I wished is that they put more emphasize on the father's condition which was the Asperger Syndrome. That's what the father had, and Jenkins did a great job at showing traits of it. I thought they needed to put more elaboration on that part, so the general audience knew what he had. The new ending I didn't mind at all because it was in fact open ended, and it's up to the viewer to decide what happens next. With romance stories it's a double edge sword on happy or sad endings. Alas, you can tell it was filmed in Los Feliz if you know the area, and Tatum's new facial during Dear John early promotion in January lol. When I saw the new ending I just smiled like a chester cat because for these two characters I wanted a somewhat of a happy ending. Overall, the movie was well done despite the massive amount of changes because of the themes to me where still there, Tatum and Jenkin's acting, and how it was filmed. Can't wait to get to the dvd, and the next movie on my list comes out next week is Percy Jackson!!