A Walk to Remember Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		3.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.0

A Walk to Remember Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf December 22, 2022

1999’s “Message in a Bottle” proved there was an audience for an adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks’s novel, inspiring the producers to try again with 2002’s “A Walk to Remember.” While “Message in a Bottle” was aimed at adult audiences, the second Sparks production hopes to appeal to a much younger demographic, with screenwriter Karen Janszen delivering an ultra-soft take on a burgeoning relationship between a reckless high school student and a pure-hearted girl dealing with a terminal illness. “A Walk to Remember” is basically a television production that found its way to the big screen, with director Adam Shankman (“The Pacifier”) trying to make the most vanilla picture possible, never demanding much of his actors or the material. He’s crafting a simple tearjerker, rarely going above and beyond to make something truly meaningful with Sparks’s tale of final wishes and transformative encounters.

Landon (Shane West) is a tough kid going down the wrong path, recently involved in a hazing incident that sent a young man to the hospital. While he’s arrested for this crime, he shows little remorse for his violent actions, offered at chance to avoid deeper trouble by volunteering to help others through service projects, including tutoring kids with special needs. While he runs with a crowd of cruel kids, Landon’s own behavior is challenged by Jamie (Mandy Moore), a kind, God-loving teenager and the daughter of Reverend Sullivan (Peter Coyote), who isn’t sure Landon has honorable intentions for anyone. After they co-star in the school musical together, Landon begins to see Jamie in a different way, with the pair spending time together, soon falling in love. However, Jamie isn’t well, privately dealing with illness that prevents her from dreaming about her future. Landon, hoping to give her everything she wants, claims responsibility for her to-do list of experiences, arranging adventures for Jamie as they gradually commence a romantic relationship. As the two figure out their love, time stands in the way of their happiness, forcing Landon to confront his often destructive life choices.

Landon’s reckless ways are detailed in the opening scene of “A Walk to Remember,” with the high schooler working to persuade a classmate to make a high jump into a shallow reservoir. The dangerous act is entertainment for Landon’s friends, who live to bully others, offering respect to their leader and his endless appetite for coarse behavior. Of course, Landon has secrets of his own, dealing with serious abandonment issues from his father, offering coldness to his mother (Daryl Hannah), and with his arrest comes some form of responsibility, tasking the juvenile delinquent to complete service work. Shankman doesn’t cut to the core of such corrosive actions, keeping “A Walk to Remember” on the same level as a prime time T.V. show aimed at tweens, with West playing up the “fixable” rebel act, while Jamie is positively angelic, absorbing horrible humiliations from Landon’s posse (the overacting from this group is difficult to watch), devoting herself to kindness and curiosity.

“A Walk to Remember” tracks the relationship between these opposites, which takes them through the rehearsal process for a high school musical about a gangster, giving pop star Moore a chance to sing. The high schoolers go deeper as a couple, with Landon learning how to be a more soulful person, responding to Jamie’s to-do list of accomplishments, which includes a desire to be in two places at one time and receive a tattoo. “A Walk to Remember” examines the thawing ice between the pair, and it takes time to examine domestic situations, especially with Reverend Sullivan, who doesn’t grasp the importance of Landon’s growing love, hesitant to allow his daughter access to the boy.

Of course, Jamie has something major going on in her life, dealing with a medical issue that allows her to endure horrible behavior from other kids. She’s focused on living, and “A Walk to Remember” finds something to work with in Landon’s quest to support her desire for experiences, bringing the twosome closer together. Alas, such lightness is quickly replaced by more important concerns, clearing the way for pure melodrama to flood the feature as Jamie and Landon’s relationship is challenged by the cold realities of life.

A Walk to Remember Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.36:1 aspect ratio) presentation is sourced from a much older master of the film, offering a softer look at screen details. Textures are limited here, with only basic facial surfaces appreciable, along with school and home decoration. Exteriors also offer restricted dimension. Colors are acceptable, favoring warmer hues with costuming and domestic visits, and greenery is passable. Skin tones are decent. Delineation is satisfactory with some slight solidification. Grain looks aged and processed at times. Source is in fine condition. Opening titles are a bit strange, with jagged edges on the Warner Brothers logo.

A Walk to Remember Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix offers a basic understanding of dialogue exchanges, handling the quieter moods of the feature, preserving performances. Scoring supports with distinct instrumentation, and soundtrack selections offer limited power but carry into the surrounds for some immersive musical moments. Atmospherics are mild. Low-end isn't challenged.

A Walk to Remember Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features director Adam Shankman and actors Shane West and Mandy Moore.

• Commentary #2 features author Nicholas Sparks and screenwriter Karen Janszen.

• "A Look Back" (31:48, HD) is an interview with author Nicholas Sparks, who shares his personal motivation for creating this story, inspired by his sister's battle with cancer and her desire to get married. Sparks examines his process, trying to shape believable characters, and he examines the personalities in "A Walk to Remember," detailing emotional motivation. With "Message in a Bottle" achieving box office success, Sparks was ready to send another book to the big screen, working with screenwriter Karen Janszen to capture the details of southern life. Director Adam Shankman is celebrated, along with stars Mandy Moore and Shane West. Supporting turns from Peter Coyote and Daryl Hannah are also praised, with authentic parental details coming through in the performances. The interviewee explores adaptation challenges, including changing its original 1950s setting, while work was put into preserving a faith-based angle to the feature. Sparks credits "A Walk to Remember" as an inspiration for similar teen entertainment over the last 20 years, and marvels over the staying power of the movie and the book, which has reached a global audience.

• "Cry" (3:49, SD) is a music video from Mandy Moore.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:16, SD) is included.

A Walk to Remember Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"A Walk to Remember" aims to be gentle, offering viewers simplistic conflicts and characterizations, hoping the whole things goes down easy, including a slide into illness that's missing the natural ugliness of personal loss, treating Jamie's experience with frustrating distance. It's PG-rated take on sweetness and personal responsibility, lightly buttered up with faith-based writing, and it doesn't head anywhere surprising. "A Walk to Remember" doesn't require grit, but it could sure use some, as the writing lacks emotional weight, keeping the whole thing inconsequential, despite dealing with the forces of life and death.