The Last Song [Book and Movie Review]

The Last Song (Book Review)

Title: The Last Song
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Date Released: September 2009

The book revolves on the life of Veronica “Ronnie” Miller, a teenager whose life is in a crisis regarding her parent’s divorce thinking that her father left them for no reason resulting in resentment and rebellion. Her relation with her father, Steve who failed to give his full responsibility as a father due to his divorce with his wife, Kim because of her affair is the center of the story as father-daughter love emanated the theme. The primary psychosocial task for an adolescent is to discover their identity and what to become in the future but in Ronnie’s case this stage wad deeply obscured by sadness and confusion thinking how her father left them for no reason. Despite of her rebellion, she still exhibited pure and gentle heart as evidenced by how she offered her hand to help Blaze, to save the turtles and appreciate her father bit by bit in the middle of the story. Falling in love is normal at this stage of life and her summer love flick with Will flourished her personality as she emerged psychologically into a young woman. Parents, no matter how imperfect and misunderstood they are always do have great love for their children and sometimes it is not felt due to misunderstandings and unknown circumstances. Steve Miller for me is a perfect father though he is not a perfect person. The author provides deeper meaning of fatherly love mixed with Christian values and sacrifice. We really should not waste time hating our parents because we never know how long it would take them to be with us in this world. In the end, the father and daughter bond was repaired by music which they also shared in the past.

The Last Song (Movie Review)

Title: The Last Song
Based on the Novel by: Nicholas Sparks
Directed By: Julie Ann Robinson
Date Released: March 31, 2010 (US)

CAST
Miley Cyrus as Veronica “Ronnie” Miller
Greg Kinnear as Steve Miller
Liam Hemsworth as Will Blakelee
Kelly Preston as Kim Miller
Bobby Coleman as Jonah Miller

The movie is a teeny bopper hit, with famous teenage pop star Miley Cyrus in the spotlight and the handsome Liam Hemsworth. Miley gave justice to the role with her musical abilities like that when she sang in the car with Liam. I also love the piano-in-the-garage scene which is my favorite scene. The setting of the movie with was in Georgia is nothing but perfect for the adaptation especially the volleyball scenes. Some important scenes in the book were also deleted like when Ronnie found out her mom’s affair which resulted in their parent’s divorce and the most emotional playing of the piano in the hospital which depicted the title of the story though they still didn’t made the movie less. A very lovely soundtrack with the song “When I Look at You” by Miley Cyrus provided much demeanor and depth to the mood of the viewers because it fitted the story so much. This movie is more than what teens should watch but for the whole family as well.

-faf

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