A Walk to Remember was released on January 25, 2002. It was directed by Adam Shankman. It is a drama and romance based off the book by Nicholas Sparks. It is the story of two teens in North Carolina, Jamie Sullivan (Mandy Moore) and Landon Carter (Shane West), who fall in love despite their major differences. Landon is the rebel child and Jamie is the preacher's practically saintly daughter. They end up starring together in the school's play, and as Jamie starts to show love towards Landon he comes to see how truly beautiful she is. The couple is forced to cross unimaginable barriers to be together, and in the end they tear down the many prejudices and judgments of their society, and demonstrate true Christian love.

Questions I found myself asking in this movie included: did Mandy Moore actually write Jamie's solo for the school play, what is on Landon's shirt during the play, how closely does the movie line up with the book, and what other films have Mandy Moore and Shane West starred in?

I once again went exploring for answers. Shane West has starred in many movies such as, The Westing Game, Clips Place, Liberty Heights, El Dorado, and The Presence, and continues to star in many more movies. I also found that Shane, as Landon does in the movie, comes from a divorced family. Mandy Moore has starred in such films as The Princess Diaries, Dr. Dolittle 2, How to Deal, Saved, and The Upside to Anger. Did Mandy Moore Write Only Hope? No, Mandy sang the song originally written by Switchfoot artist, Jon Foreman! How closely does the movie follow the book? While the GENERAL story line is the same many details are different. What was on Landon's shirt during the play? According to the movie commentary, Shane West actually had some sort of accident prior to the shooting of the scene and there is blood on his shirt.

I love this movie! It shows that true love overlooks fault, and has an enduring message, to live your life to the fullest. It is a great romance that will make you cry!

For more information see the following sites:

Shane West
Mandy Moore
More information

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (2008) is the sequel to The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005), based on the series of books by Ann Brashares. The film was directed by Sanaa Hamri. The enriched cast includes the dynamic quartet of: Amber Tamblyn (Tibby), Alexis Bledel (Lena), America Ferrera (Carmen), and Blake Lively (Bridget). Other talents include Leonardo Nam, Tom Wisdom, Michael Rady, Shohreh Aghadashloo, and Blythe Danner.

The film focuses on four girls, who have been friends since birth, dealing with life and distance from one another. Bridget finds herself aiding in an archeological dig in Turkey, and finally dealing with her past in Alabama. Carmen follows her friend from Yale to Vermont to help backstage in a production, and finally learns to shine for herself while dealing with multiple changes. Lena goes to take a figure drawing class, and learns the true meaning of love. Tibby is in New York, trying to write a romantic comedy, and finds herself dealing with sexuality, pregnancy, and depression. As I watched this movie, I realized I was never bored and caught myself crying and laughing! The plot of this film hits the bull’s eye.



Questions I asked myself in this movie included: what other films are the girls in, where have I seen Shohreh Aghadashloo before, do the actresses really like each other, and how closely do the movies follow the books?



I started searching for answers. Amber Tamblyn has starred in The Ring and The Grudge and Black Out. America Ferrera has starred in a variety of movies from Real Women Have Curves to Darkness Minus Twelve to Steel City to the voicing in Tinker Belle and How to Train Your Dragon to Our Family Wedding. She also starred in Ugly Betty. Alexis Bledel, though she is probably best known for her television role in Gilmore Girls, has starred in a variety of films: Tuck Everlasting, Sin City, I'm Reed Fish, Post Grad, and there are more to come. Blake Lively actually stars with her father, who plays her father. She has been in many films: Accepted, Simon Says, Elvis and Annabelle, New York, I Love You, and The Green Lantern.

Do the girls really like each other? The reality is that all the girls are really friends in real life!

Where may I have seen Shohreh Aghadashloo before? She has starred in many roles just since coming to America. I recognized her from The Lake House (also an amazing movie), but you may have seen her in Surviving Paradise, America So Beautiful, or many other movies. Finally, how closely do the movies follow the book series? The movie combines the 3 novels following the first into one summer. Other than age and time difference the main differences are that Lena is oldest in the novels and all the stories are sadder in the books.

I loved this movie! It is a great commentary on friendships during college, many issues every woman faces, and the story is beautiful! I would definitely recommend this movie to appropriate audiences. This is another movie I find myself and friends in multiple times!



For more information check out these resources:

Sisterhood Frequently Asked Questions

Blake Lively
America Ferrera
Alexis Bledel
Amber Tamblyn
Shohreh Aghadashloo

Bride Wars

Bride Wars is a romantic comedy released in 2009 directed by Gary Winick. Staring Anne Hathaway, Kate Hudson, and Bryan Greenburg, this film has a stunning cast! The movie focuses two childhood friends, who end up getting married on the same day.


I think this movie is incredibly funny, addictive, and has a wonderful lesson about friendship! Really anything involving the stresses of a wedding is destined to be funny. The film focuses on problems every bride encounters, as she plans her wedding. Highlights of the movie include when Liv (Hudson) decides to change the bottle of tanning spray, Emma (Hathaway) has chosen. This results in an Emma being orange and less than happy. She then decides to seek revenge on Liv, whose hair dye is changed to a lovely shade of blue. Another highlight is when Emma starts sending Liv (a former weight watcher) cookies, chocolates, and even butter, pretending to be her fiancé, so she cannot fit into her Vera Wang dress. There are more highlights in this movie than I can count, putting it at number one on my list of favorite movies. Once you have seen it, you have to watch it over and over again.

Questions I asked myself during this movie included, is there actually an International Butter Club or Jolly Walrus Cookie Bouquet, What other films did Kite Hudson, Anne Hathaway, and Candice Bergen star in, and is the security at tanning salons really that great?

I went exploring to find the answers. The Jolly Walrus Cookie Bouquet is just a term people use and the International Butter Club is too; however there is now a facebook group centered on the International Butter Club! Kate Hudson has appeared in many movies including The Skelton Key, You, Me, and Dupree, My Best Friend's Girl, and many others. Anne Hathaway has starred in many films from The Other Side of Heaven to The Princess Diaries Movies to Get Smart. Candice Bergen is most noted for her appearances on television, but she has also starred in Miss Congeniality and Sweet Home Alabama.

Overall this is a wonderful movie that pretty much anyone can relate to in some way. I love this movie personally because of how much I am able to see my friends and myself in Liv and Emma!

For more information about the actresses mentioned you may want to visit:



Kate Hudson
Anne Hathaway
Candice Bergen