An argument about the movie, The Adjustment Bureau

One of the ladies in the office where I work told me on Friday that she'd finally watched the DVD of The Adjustment Bureau. When I asked her if she'd liked it, she kind of hesitated for a moment and then said, "Forget the science fiction aspects of the movie, the romantic parts that you raved about weren't realistic." I asked her what she meant. The woman then told me that she felt the reason Matt Damon's character wanted to be with Emily Blunt so badly was because the Adjustment Bureau tried to keep them apart. He didn't like being told what to do. If it hadn't been for that, he probably would have found someone else.

I asked if she thought a man would be willing to give up everything to be with the woman he truly loved, and she said no. Another woman laughed and said, "Try being married for several years and then see if the man is still willing to give up everything." I took issue with that. I told them that everyone has to live life as they believe it to be and that a lot of the stuff we deal with has to do with the choices we make on a day-to-day basis. It was also my belief that if a man met the woman he was supposed to be with for the rest of his life that it would be a love so strong that nothing could pull them apart. See, I believe in soulmates. Call me crazy or stupid. I dont care. This is one of my core beliefs and nothing or no one can change it. I firmly believe that a man can meet a woman and know in an instant that he's in love with her and that they're meant to be together, no matter what. I won't say that meeting this very special person is easy, but when it happens, you know it in your heart. The ladies called me a hopeless romantic.

I then asked all of them another question. I said, "How many of you have seen the movie, The Notebook?" They all said they'd seen it. I asked how many of them had liked the movie. Each one of the women admitted to having loved the film and having cried at the end of it. I asked them why they'd loved it so much and was basically told that they all wanted to spend their lives with the person they loved and to die in their arms like James Garner and Gena Rowlands did. I then asked them, "Who the hopeless romantic here?" They didn't have an answer to that question.

Anyway, I just watched The Adjustment Bureau again, and I still stand by my opinion--When you meet the right person, you'll be willing to give up everything just to be with them, and you'll fight anyone who tries to keep you apart. I know I would.