Nicholas Sparks creates another sure hit

MANILA, Philippines - True love endures and conquers all. Cliché though it may be, this is the foundation of all the stories Nicholas Sparks has successfully created. He puts in just the right touch of melodrama, making his audience sympathize with the characters, weep for them and wish for their happy ending. 

From his bestselling books to their blockbuster movie adaptations, Sparks makes people believe in the power of love. Who can forget The Notebook, where the love between Noah (Ryan Gosling) and Ally (Rachel McAdams) defies class difference and the incurable illness of dementia? Shown in 2004, it became the most significant love story of its time, with earnings of more than $115M worldwide, a whopping amount compared to its modest production budget of $29M. 

As early as 1999, Sparks has captured millions of hopeless romantics with the compelling drama, Message in a Bottle. It’s about a divorced columnist who tracks down the writer of a love letter which she found by the shore, and eventually finds herself the recipient of a love that runs deep and eternal. Starring Robin Wright and Kevin Costner, it remains in the top list of the highest-grossing Nicholas Sparks movies all over the world, with a total gross of $118.8M worldwide.   

And then there was Safe Haven, a tale about a woman who ran away from a dark past right into the arms of a strong and compassionate widower. Released on Valentine’s Day of 2013, it raked in almost $94M all over the world. It starred Josh Duhamel and Julianne Hough.

Other unforgettable titles which made their way into the big screen are A Walk To Remember (2002), Nights in Rodanthe (2008), Dear John (2010), The Last Song (2010) and The Lucky One (2012). All were smash hits, led by the Channing Tatum-starrer Dear John, which earned $114.9M.

Now, Sparks gives his best yet again in his latest novel-turned-movie, The Best of Me. Set in the spring of 1984 in the small town of Oriental, North Carolina, rich girl Amanda Collier can’t help but be drawn to poor boy Dawson Cole. They manage to let their love blossom, until tragedy strikes and tears them apart. Twenty years later, the former lovers see each other again for the funeral of their mentor who was part of their high school romance. Neither has forgotten their passionate love for each other, but each is already living their own lives. As the two confront painful memories, they discover undeniable truths about the choices they have made. But one question needs to be answered: Can love truly rewrite the past?    

Possessing that kind of conflict that makes it seem impossible for the lead characters to end up together, The Best of Me is another Nicholas Sparks love story you shouldn’t miss. It stars James Marsden (X-Men) and Michelle Monaghan (Made of Honor).

The Best of Me, opening in cinemas on Oct. 22, is from MVP Entertainment Philippines and Viva International Pictures.