juneebuggy Well this was better than a lot of Nicholas Sparks adaptions but also filled with all that you've come to expect from one too. Its the usual angsty star crossed love affair with two stories in one -which is actually what made this movie.Scott Eastwood takes the leading hunk role as Luke Collins, a former bull riding champion trying to make a comeback on the rodeo circuit and Sophia an art student preparing to seek her future in New York. As these lovers from different worlds try to forge a future together they find inspiration from a fateful meeting with Ira (played brilliantly by Alan Alda) which has them learning about his decades long romance with his wife Ruth through old letters. We the viewer flashback to the 40's & 50's to witness their love story. Yes its reminiscent of The Notebook but if I'm honest despite the eye candy of Scott Eastwood I think I preferred the well played story of young Ira (Jack Huston) and (Oona Chapman) as Ruth. Their story felt more developed and less cliché.The bull riding sequences are pretty good and Scott Eastwood.... nice he has decent chemistry with Brit Robertson as Sophia. Suitable angsty but not terrible.

gradyharp Nicholas Sparks has an enduring audience – his novels are read by those of all age who love romance stories and his books are consistently transformed into successful films. In the case of THE LONGEST RIDE the screenwriter is Craig Bolton and he ha managed to make Sparks' story even more significant and touching than the original book. Much of that is, of course, due to director George Tillman, Jr. and a cast able to create the present and the past with aplomb.At first the audience may be put off by the violent brutality of bull riding – violent for both the bull and the human rider – but as the story progresses this degree of gut courage and commitment plays well in the film. The story centers on the star-crossed love affair between Luke (Scott Eastwood, a significant growth in presence), a former champion bull rider looking to make a comeback, and Sophia (Britt Robertson), a college student at Wake Forest in North Carolina who is about to embark upon her dream job in New York City's art world. As conflicting paths and ideals test their relationship, Sophia and Luke make an unexpected connection with injured Ira Levinson (Alan Alda) whose memories of his own decades-long romance with his beloved wife (the young Ira being played by Jack Huston and his wife Ruth played by Oona Chaplin) deeply inspire the young couple. Spanning generations and two intertwining and very parallel love stories, THE LONGEST RIDE explores the challenges and infinite rewards of enduring love.In addition to the mentioned actors, supporting roles are well managed by Lolita Davidovich as Luke's mother and Elea Oberon as Ruth's mother and Kate Forbes as Ira's mother. Mark Isham wrote the musical score. The inclusion of fine art plays a major role, both in the parallel stories of Sophia and Ruth and in the sensitive manner in which the story ends. THE LONGEST RIDE is a sweet and satisfying film.

Desertman84 After watching The Choice,I gave another new Nicholas Sparks movie a try with The Longest Ride. It stars the diminutive but lovely Britt Robertson and Dirty Harry's good-looking son,Scott Eastwood.It tells a story about a romance between a professional bull rider and a college art student and how their romantic story was further developed when they save an old man from an accident. Alan Alda, Lolita Davidovich and Oona Chaplin co-stars.Luke Wilson got injured in bull riding.As he was about to recover at North Carolina,he meets Sophia Danko and romance starts to develop.Their love story becomes interesting as they save Ira Levinson from an accident while they were on the road going home from their first date.Both get to know more about Ira as he was recovering from the hospital and they get to learn about his story particularly the romance between him and his late wife,Ruth. Both stories are being told simultaneously as the film progresses.Screenwriter Craig Bolotin makes an effort to provide an interesting story but to no avail especially for movie viewers aren't fans for romance stories.It was obvious that the story was far from original as we have seen them in other movies before.Too bad that the stories of Luke and Sophia as well as Ira and Ruth have a lot of contrivances that one may find it silly and annoying.No question that it was emotionally manipulative particularly as Luke and Sophia manages to make life-changing decisions for the sake of their relationship.Do I need to mention the ending wherein Luke bids on a simple portrait where nobody is interested in?Too bad that even the bull riding aspect of the story did not provide any interest at all.The characters were also simply one-dimensional as well that they don't provide any interest in the film.In the end,it was simply another typical Nicholas Sparks story that were seen in the previous films that were adapted particularly The Notebook.Only people who are into romantic films would find this enjoyable and entertaining no matter how many times they have seen the same story in previous romantic films before whether they were written by Sparks or not.

Jacob Shrimpton This movie has incorporated 2 very memorable, emotional story's in an interesting way that I have not seen before in a movie. Throughout the entire movie, I was left thinking 'what is going to happen next?'. There was not a point where I wanted to skip or leave the movie, keeping me engaged throughout the entire 2 Hour run time. There are not many movies like this that makes you feel like that, but 'The Longest Ride' has done am amazing job of that.The actors really delivered the characters feelings to the audience and other characters. My favorite is the relationship between Luke and his mum. The fact that they are at opposite ends of the scale on the topic of bull riding. There characters with their few interactions on screen really sell this. There are a few funny parts that keeps it from being a full on serious or of movie. The main topic of interest in this movie is bull riding and art, neither I am extremely passionate about, but it was still an amazing movie that anyone can enjoy.