The Notebook - Analysis (:

Not truly a war/romance, but he does go to war, and so does she, so I'm doing it anyway (:! And, Can I just say, I love this film. It makes me cry every single time I watch it, without fail (:

The first thing we see, which immediately tells us we're watching a romance, is a sunset. The colours seem to run through the whole opening 2 minutes. The sepia effect is obviously used, as a hint of red is in the beginning, without too much of any other colour. The reflection of the sun in the water is beautiful. It could possibly suggest that love is beautiful, if it's found with the right person.
The sunset seems to involve yellows, oranges, blues and reds, whereas they go darker before only having a hint of red. The colours are simplistic. Nothing any brighter than a rusty red, possibly suggesting pain. It could also just simply be suggesting love.
Theres a person rowing across this river, in 6 shots to begin with. First, he's seen in a long shot from the back, rowing away from us. Then a mid shot, still rowing away. This is followed by a long shot from the side, then a mid from the side. His front is then finally seen in a long shot, then he is once again rowing from left to right in a long shot. This also allows the credits to appear on screen. They aren't added in a particularly amazing font. Its just plain white writing, showing the names of the cast, crew, and team, etc.
Doves are a common element in the first 2 minutes. They are the bird of love, like what you see on wedding invites, etc. This is another reason for the audience to know they're watching a romance. The rowing man reappears, going from left to right in a mid shot. Each shot of him has been separated with a fade, from one shot to another. It could possibly have been a dissolve, too.
For the first time, we see a white house. This could suggest fairytale, as in most fairytales the house is beautiful and white. Although, later in the movie, we find out it isn't a house. It's a home for the old woman. The two suggestions of love come together, towards the house. The rowing boat, and the dove's. They go forward, then a shot reverse shot is used to show the woman watching. She seems to be looking out and examining the river, in an over the shoulder shot.
The mid shot of the house returns, with an emphasis on the woman's figure in the upstairs window. This seems to be a point of view shot, as if the audience are in the head of the rower. Heading towards the house. The birds fly towards the house, reflecting in the window as we have a close up of the woman. The colour slowly starts to return, hinting blonde in her hair.
There isn't anything to suggest war just yet, but the flashbacks we see do. The movie is made up of living in the past of this couples life, so when going back in time its obvious that sooner or later the war is going to happen. Sorry, if this is rubbish.

& right there, for one minute, i forgot that you don't love me anymore.