Why all of this fuss about “A Walk To Remember”?

Most people who ask that question are only casual fans of the movie. They saw it once in the theater and may have the video or DVD that they’ve watched maybe once or twice. Either that or they haven’t seen it at all. (I know one person who refused to see it because it had Mandy Moore in it and she didn’t like her in “The Princess Diaries”.) If that describes you, then let me enlighten you as to a few things. But first, let me tell you the story of how I first came to be interested in this movie. Being a full time college student and working 1/2 to 3/4 time, I didn’t get to see much TV, so it should be of no surprise to find out that I didn’t hear anything about the movie when it was released in theaters in January of 2002.

The first I ever heard of it was when people began asking for it where I work in the Home Entertainment department of my local Wal-Mart, a couple weeks before it was released on VHS and DVD in July of that year. When it came out, it sold out in 2 days, and I remember thinking that it must be pretty good, and I picked up a copy of the VHS when we restocked. But, for one reason or another, I didn’t watch it right away and eventually it ended up in a box of other watched and unwatched videos.

In early February of 2003, we made some major changes to the videos and DVDs we were carrying in store (we call it a “mod change”), and I noticed we now had DVDs of some titles I owned on VHS but had never watched. Since I had acquired a DVD player a few months earlier, I decided to trade up and looked through the box of videos, and came across AWTR. It was one of the movies I traded up and for whatever reason I watched it when I got home that night. I’m not really sure why. I had half a dozen choices. But something drew me to it and made me watch it. When I finally saw it, I just couldn’t believe I had waited so long to watch it!

Now I have the DVD, VHS, VCD, Book, Unabridged Audiobook, and both regular and expanded Soundtrack CDs. Do you think I like the movie? “A Walk To Remember” is a very misunderstood movie. Most people think it’s just a “chick flick.” But that is a gross oversimplification. On the surface, AWTR appears to be just another teen romance/tragedy with the twist that the secondary character happens to be a Minister’s daughter. It’s been compared to “Love Story” (Ally McGraw and Ryan O’Neil, 1970). I think you will understand why I am so obsessed with the movie if you read my comprehensive online review, but let me give you the gist of it:

“Jamie was the last person Landon was likely to fall for. Serious and conservative, she was as far from cool as she could possibly be, and didn’t care. The daughter of the town’s Baptist minister, Jamie was not afraid of letting people know that her faith was the most important part of her life, even if it cost her some friends. Landon hung with the in-crowd — an aimless, moody, reckless guy who breezed through school on looks and bravado. He had no plans, no future and no faith in himself.” (from the summary on the official AWTR home page)

That describes the first hour of the movie, but it is only half of what it is really about. I’ve already AWTR is a story about faith. I’ve already said that the characters face tragedy (I won’t explain here, in case you haven’t seen it yet). She is a person of faith. He is not. The real story is how they face that tragedy and how he is effected by seeing how she faces it. Trust me, this is good! They cut a lot out to appeal to the mainstream audience, but the gist of it is still there.

If you haven’t seen it yet, go out and rent it, or better yet, BUY IT! Click HERE to go to the online store and order a copy, or if you’re in a hurry, I know for a fact that Wal-Mart carries it 🙂

–Tim Ryberg, Webmaster
<fanfic@transwarp2000.net>

P.S. I know I am a guy, but I am comfortable enough with my sexuality to be agle to honestly say I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!! It is one of my all time favorites!!!