Customer Reviews

The Note

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

What a wonderful film! I loved it! Genie Francis and Ted McGinley are smashing!! In The Note, Francis is Peyton MacGruder, a human-interest columnist told to increase her readership or move on. When a plane crash nearby kills everyone onboard, Peyton happens across a note addressed simply to "T." Peyton holds close the note's contents. She simply pledges to find the intended recipient and chronicle the search in her column. . . and readership zooms. Along the way, through the people she meets--and her friendship with McKinley's character, a fellow reporter--she finds her "voice," herself, and more. No spoilers: just know that no life is left untouched . . . and twists abound. Leaves you better than it found you! Buy this one, you'll want to see this one over and over again!

This will be buried among all the glowing reviews, but I wanted to share my thoughts. The message of forgiveness in this movie comes through loud and clear. It is uplifting and inspiring in many ways.
But for me the chemistry between the lead characters lacked something. I know that is in direct contrast to what so many have said, but it was my honest reaction. I do not watch soap operas or today's sitcoms, so I have no history with either of the lead characters--I just based my feelings on what I saw in this movie and I had a hard time believing they would end up together.
Another comment, about the "edited movie" review. That is what actually convinced me to buy this. I had heard that when first aired on TV the movie was clean, but contained multiple uses of the Lord's name as an exclamation, so I had avoided it. After reading the complaint that it was edited I figured, "What else would they edit?" and I gave it a try. I was pleased to be able to watch the movie without profane language.

I am looking forward to this movie being on DVD. I fell in love with it when it premiered on the Hallmark Channel in 2007. I caught it each time it came on and was delighted when it was shown again this past summer. Its message is timeless. It is well written with a twist of romance and a hint of humor. Genie Francis has been one of my favorite actresses and does an amazing job. She brings much emotion to the story and makes it so real. Ted McGinley became my favorite leading man. He and Genie have great chemistry. This is a must see for all.

I was very pleased with THE NOTE. I bought it to put in our church library so the standards I measured it by were more stringent than a person might have for viewing in his own home. It met those standards.

I agree with all of the positive reviews and have nothing to add except to note the sub-text of the beautifully written script...
Forgiveness is a key that can open doors to blocked lives...Especially the need to forgive ourselves...While very entertaining, I felt this was a truly spiritual film with a buried treasure. I strongly suggest that you watch the included interviews with the star and the author...

Have you ever wondered about what goes through the minds of people who had only a few minutes left in their life before a tragedy?

This question is explored through an uplifting and touching film which was the #1 rated Hallmark film in 2007.

The film stars "General Hospital" Daytime Emmy award winner Genie Francis who plays the part of Peyton MacGruder, a newspaper columnist, who is on the verge of losing her job due to low readership.

On that same day, a flight crashes in the ocean and while she sits alone on the rocks near the ocean, she finds burnt wreckage and floating along the wreckage and stuck between the rocks is a plastic bag with a note.

From that moment on, Peyton knows that she needs to write a story to keep her job, improve her readership and what best than to write an ongoing column about finding out who the writer was and find the person who the letter was written for.

But during the process of writing the column, the note seems to have a positive affect for the people affected by the death of a love one on that flight but also through the journey of writing these columns and meeting these people, it opens up old wounds for Peyton and for her to confront emotions she has harbored inside her broken heart.

Also starring in the film is actor Ted McGinley ("Hope & Faith") who plays a fellow award winning sportswriter who helps Peyton by giving her advice, encouragement but most of all, his loving heart.

VIDEO:

The film is featured in 1:75:1 anamorphic widescreen. A lot of the scenes are shot indoors but for a Holiday film, a good touch of winter and everything looks pretty good.

AUDIO:

Audio is presented in English 5.1 (Dolby Digital). The majority of the film is dialogue-based. Audio is clearly heard. No major use of surround sound or audio direction to certain channels in this type of film but nor is it really needed.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

The DVD features two special features:

* "Notes from the Novelist: A Conversation with Angela Hunt"
* "Playing Peyton with Genie Francis"

I found the interview with Angela Hunt to be quite informative. As a Christian woman, it was great to hear in her perspective of why the story was written and what she did to make sure her ideals and beliefs were featured in the storyline. And the message the storyline brings.

The second featurette featuring actress Genie Francis talking about playing the part of Peyton MacGruder but the biggest part of all is Genie talking about one of the most controversial situations that involved her back in the 80's as one of the major stars (especially her storyline) during the "Luke and Laura" years of "General Hospital" and explaining how she left it all because of what a co-worker told her. And while leaving the soap opera during her storyline's peak and by making an impulse decision to leave at the age of 19 because of anger, she hurt many people in the process.

She goes on to explain about the note and it's message of forgiveness. And that for her playing the part, just having to go through the pain back then as an actress but then finding enlightenment through playing the part of Peyton MacGruder.

I'm sure it was not easy for her too talk about it and the fact that she fully discusses it openly was a surprise but how it ties into her role and her appreciation for the film and also working with Ted McGinley was worth watching. A very cool special feature!

"The Note" is such as uplifting and touching film. I was very touched by the storyline and especially watching both Genie Francis and Ted McGinley in the film.

Before watching the film, the first thing that went in my head was Genie Francis...Laura of "General Hospital" and Ted McGinley from "Happy Days" and "Married With Children" and other comedic roles.

But growing up and watching Genie Francis, it's so great to see her acting again and playing an authoritative but yet an emotional role. She did a great job with this role and I hope to see more of her in the future. As for Ted McGinley, it was great to see him in a serious role and both had awesome chemistry together onscreen.

And again, going back to the film, sure one can expect a tearjerker from a Hallmark film. But I was very much impressed by the message of the film and the overall touching storyline.

We hear so much about tragedy, especially with yearly news of those affected by 9/11. Also, perhaps in our own personal lives, we may know of someone affected by tragedy or perhaps tragedy has hit closer to hom and even hit us hard. There is a lot of questions that can run through someone's head and in this case, if one had a few minutes left of life, knowing that they may die, if you had a message to write, who would you write it to and what would you write?

In this film, the message is clear and simple but without spoiling it for you, I think anyone watching this film can truly appreciate the endearing message once revealed in the end.

The timing of this DVD is not only great for the holidays but for someone experiencing some sort of pain within their lives, the positive message in this film is quite touching.

All in all, a film that truly touches the soul! Definitely worth watching!

This is the second movie that I purchased from Amazon that has edited content. The Note aired on the Hallmark Channel with words that have been substituted in the DVD that I purchased from Amazon. It is disconcerting to watch the actors say words that are not reflected in the audio of the DVD. I wouldn't have purchased the DVD from Amazon if I had known they would not carry the original version. I will be purchasing a DVD of this movie from the Hallmark Channel, but will ensure that it is the full original version before I buy it.

This is a wonderfully touching movie. Francis finds a note in a ziploc bag that washes up to shore following a horrific plane crash. As a reporter she recognizes that this might be a great story - find the person for whom the note was intended. What starts out for her as an effort to get a great story and get her boss off of her back, turns into a journey that brings her healing (from a mystery in her past), love and family. Genie Francis and Ted McGinley are very good as the lead characters. I didn't recognize McGinley at first as he is much older since I last saw him in anything, but the years have been good to him and he is much more handsome than he was in his youth. He is also good in a serious role - I'd only seen him do comedy in the past. I highly recommend this movie. It's clean, uplifting, not at all preachy, lighthearted when it needs to be and heart wrenching when it needs to be. I think this needs to be a part of my permanent collection.

A column write Payton MacGruder (Genie Francis)is loosing readership for her column. At the same time an airplane goes down and Payton happens upon a note in a Ziploc bag. Her column takes off as she writes about her search for the person that the note had been written to. All she knows is the note was written to someone called "T".

The real story from the movie and the column is the persons involved, surviving family that may be the person written to when the writer on the doomed airplane made his hasty written statement. There are many lessons to be learned about life, love, and forgiveness through the people that were NOT the true person being written to. Payton finds it makes not difference, and her readership grows, because of the stories she reports coming from her quest.

Of course, a romance develops inside the newspaper walls, or at least blossoms. Another writer, played by Ted McGinley, decides to assist Payton, but has some of his own reasons to get close and personal. And there is more than romance that he discovers in the columnist Payton. She has her own history, baggage, struggles, that perhaps the note was a miracle for her.

A good twist of a couple or three different plots which end in enough surprise to grant this Christmas related movie 5 stars. Don't let the Christmas time of the plane accident and the aftermath deter you from watching this movie in July or September or any month. It's not really a Christmas movie, it just happened to take place in December. Recommended viewing.

Taken from the book by Angela Hunt. Subtitles are available. There is also a nice special feature with a conversation with the book's author. And more.

If what makes a good film in your estimation is topped by "having a message," this is one of the greatest films ever made. If this is truly what you look for in a film, stop reading; what follows will only serve to aggravate you. Seriously, there are 46 (to date) other glowing reviews, read one of those and then watch this on Instant Video.

...

However, if what makes for a good film in your book is having (among other elements) a compelling premise, authentic drama, realistic dialog, acting that helps you lose yourself in the story and a fresh expression -- the next five minutes you spend considering this review may very well save you the almost hour-and-a-half of your life (a return of nearly 1640%!!!).

"The Note" DOES have a compelling premise. However, the dramatic tension is contrived, the dialog is formulaic, the acting (with the notable exception of Ted McGinley) is a recitation of lines with choreographed movement, and the film as a whole is one cliche after another.

I really wanted to like this movie -- and in exactly the same way that I like slurping the sap off the under-layer of a maple tree -- I did.

Compelling Premise: the idea behind the film is a wonderful sentiment: that in his dying moments a father spent this time crafting and encasing a note of acceptance and love to his child -- and that in the hero's journey to bringing this token to its rightful owner, the various characters touched by it are inspired to break free from their self-imposed guilt/resentment and recover the greatest aspects of their spirit.

Contrived Dramatic Tension: the antagonist, a one-dimensional "bad man" television reporter, acts as more of a strange distraction than a true opposite of our lead. It is never quite clear how his "meddling," which gives her story exposure, would somehow frustrate our protagonist's goal: to increase readership in her column.

Examples of Boilerplate Dialog: 1) "I feel like I've been given this note for a reason. It gives everyone it touches a second chance." 2) (in a conversation whose context includes exactly one person, the main character's daughter) "Have you heard from her -- your daughter?" 3) (in the scene where the protagonist's boss is laying down the sink-or-swim ultimatum) "Improve these numbers or you're out."

*** warning: spoiler alert, next paragraph ***

Cliches: 1) The rookie reporter gets "scooped" by the unscrupulous vet. 2) The gullible intern gets snookered into inadvertently helping out the bad guy. 3) Two mid-aged women living alone -- with cats. 4) The tortured childhood of a now-successful singer/song-writer (who, for all her cathartic effort is still bitter about it). 5) In the sea of grey-clad mourners, the important person is wearing a neon-sign red cap. 6) The loudly telegraphed "twist" where the messager becomes the receiver of the message (I was waiting for Genie Francis to turn to the camera and say, "you know, we all could use a little forgiving ourselves.").

Don't take my word for it, you can see clips of this film at Rotten Tomatoes -- Clip 8 is a quintessential example of the quality and structure of this film.