Netflix accused of changing ‘The Notebook’ final scene
It’s been nearly 15 years since The Notebook hit theaters. At the time, we all fell in love with Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams as Noah and Allie, so it only makes sense that many are still tuning in to the flick to this day.
However, it appears Netflix in the U.K. has come under fire after fans noticed a major difference between the original cut and what is currently streaming on the service.
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For those who are unfamiliar, The Notebook tells the story of Noah and Allie, a mill worker and rich girl who fall in love during a 1940s summer.
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
Years later, Allie is in a care facility with a memory impairment. Her friend Duke comes to read the story of Noah and Allie to her, unbeknownst to her that he is Noah and she is Allie.
At the end, Duke leaves his room to comfort Allie, and they both pass away in their sleep. A nurse discovers them the next morning, and it then cuts to the lake with birds flying over it.
However, The Notebook fans in the U.K. were in for quite the surprise when they approached the heart-tugging scene for it to be cut entirely. According to Variety, the scene that shows they have passed away is skipped over. Instead, it goes straight to the birds flying over the lake.
Twitter users began calling out the streaming giant.
https://twitter.com/huggydaddy/status/1100032537898946560
https://twitter.com/Angelswutang/status/1100610232290631682
WTF, @NETLFIX has CUT the ending of the notebook?! The most iconic moment in romantic history?! Instead of ending in them dying in each other’s arms, it ends on the moment they’re holding hands and Ellie remembers him?! Nah, this ain’t on Netflix #fuming
— Amethyst Mary (@amethysttmary) February 27, 2019
https://twitter.com/chelliey/status/1100145267008028672
However, some were happy that is was more in line with the Nicholas Sparks novel it’s based upon.
congrats @netflix, you made the notebook end more like the book now! i always loathed the movie ending – don’t know why they kill them in the movie version – but if only the screenwriter felt the same. not always a netflix fan but it’s nice to know you believe in the real ending.
— 𝓶𝓲𝓼𝓼𝔂 (@seanbennigans) February 27, 2019
People are freaking out over the change of The Notebook on Netflix.
Not knowing that in the book, it's 2 old people banging in the end.
"And she undoes my buttons, one by one"And there is a sequel.
You get a cake and a surprise cake. #IHateTheNotebook— Dumpling | Plant PNGtuber (@BustedDumpling) February 27, 2019
Sparks sat down at the Today Show Wednesday morning to discuss the changed ending controversy.
“I didn’t know it was coming, so I find out about it the same way everyone else does,” he says. “For me, it’s an opinion thing. It’s a different ending—you’re definitely going to have an opinion on it one way or the another.”
When asked which cut he preferred, Sparks stuck with the original. When another anchor asked if they gave an explanation as to why the different cut was used, he explained, “This is above my pay grade.” You can check out the interview below.
Soon after, Netflix U.K. addressed the backlash on Twitter, writing:
“Things you should know…
– we did not edit the notebook
– an alternate version exists and was supplied to us
– we are getting to the bottom of it asap – apparently some films have more than one ending?!”
Things you should know…
– we did not edit the notebook
– an alternate version exists and was supplied to us
– we are getting to the bottom of it asap
– apparently some films have more than one ending?!— Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) February 27, 2019
Netflix U.S. also seemingly chimed in on the situation, asking users, “If you could change the ending to any movie, what would you change and why?”
If you could change the ending to any movie, what would you change and why?
— Netflix (@netflix) February 27, 2019
The Notebook is not currently available in the U.S., but it will be headed to the streaming service March 1. Whether or not we’ll be getting the original cut remains to be seen.
What do you think of The Notebook ending mishap? Sound off in the comments below.
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