The Notebook (2004)

The movie opens with Duke narrating a story to Allie at an old age care home. Allie is suffering from dementia while Duke is relentless in trying to revive her memories of her past life.

The story that Duke narrates is about a young couple, Noah and Allie, who are madly in love with each other despite their obvious social differences. Circumstances cause them to drift apart before they are brought back together. Whether they unite or not is what this story is about.

As the movie progresses, we come to know that the couple whose life is shown is actually Duke and Allie. Their love transcends time and all barriers. It is true love at its purest

The love chemistry between Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams is cracking. Ryan is particular is passionate to the core. His 2 getups look majestic.

The scene when he asks Allie out for a date on top of the Ferris wheel, the couple's first date, their romantic escapades, the easy bonding between Noah and his father & the scene when an enraged, bearded Noah asks Allie to do what she wants are gems. The movie infact is a classic replete with more such impressive scenes.

Rachel impresses in parts while she overacts and becomes artificial at times. She is charming though. James Marsden is really lively in a small role as Allie's engaged fiancee, Lon.

The nurses in the movie have nice little roles while the elder couple make a mark too with their intense bonding in the sunset of their lives.

The movie has a moving soundtrack and some lovely locales that add to the endearing quality of the lead pair's romance. It's poetic on the whole

VERDICT: An intense romance that lasts a lifetime. Moving and Poetic.

The Vow (2012)

This movie is based on a true life couple. Leo and Paige are happily married after falling in love. After an accident, Paige falls into a coma and later recovers with memory loss. She forgets the fact that Leo is her husband and only remembers her old life with her parents and her relationship with Jeremy, her earlier boyfriend.

Now, Leo has to win her back amid opposition from Paige's father and Paige's own uncertain ways due to her memory loss. His perseverance pays as Paige finally comes back to him after discovering certain important truths. Her memory never comes back though

Channing Tatum is really endearing with his earnest and natural portrayal. The same cannot be said of Rachel McAdams. She is obviously cute and charming but, after her memory loss, she starts getting onto your nerves with her same confused expressions and helpless self-pity.

The process of the guy getting back his wife is not gripping and it loses steam many a time. The chemistry between the lead actors is cracking in certain scenes when they are together as a pair. In that sense, it's an ideal date movie or Valentine movie or whatever.

VERDICT: Drags to the finish line. Could have been more crisp. Can give this a skip.

Sherlock Holmes (2009)

Whats it about
A stylish depiction of the adventures of Sherlock Holmes and his assistant John Watson in eliminating the dreaded black magic exponent Lord Blackwood. Holmes nabs Blackwood in his 6th act after 5 murders, and succeeds in getting a death sentence for him. But Blackwood returns from the dead and plans to take over the entire world through some shady plans that involves many murders based on some maps, directions and signs (man,ox,eagle, lion)
          Holmes' former sweetheart Irene also gets involved through another professor Moriarty who employs her to get some details through Holmes. Holmes and John have their share of differences over many matters including John's fiancée Mary but, they stick on for friendship's sake and for their sheer brilliance and succeed in putting an end to Blackwood before his final act at the Parliament.
       Finally Holmes proves that Blackwood's schemes and plans were all based on pure science, logic, the fear that he instilled among people and that there was no magic involved

                                                                        
Hits

• Robert Downey Jr. Perfectly cast. As the always rational, logical detective with absolute attention to detail, Downey rocks with his elegant and nonchalant style
• Guy Ritchie's touches. The sequences when Holmes visualizes in his mind what he intends to do before he actually attacks his opponents are mind blowing examples of innovation. 
• Jude Law as Watson is majestic and classic with his manly style and western looks. 
• Hans Zimmer's soundtrack is quite repetitive but ear-pleasing nevertheless. 
• The art direction is terrific. Many scenes look just like paintings. The color schemes make the London of old look absolutely gorgeous. 
• Mark Strong's solid voice is his biggest plus in his portrayal of Lord Blackwood.  

VERDICT

New age style and some surreal visuals/visual effects make the action set in London of 1890 look absolutely stunning. The lead male cast's contribution is no less either.