While he doesn’t receive any movie or book royalties, Vance says “Dear John” has had a positive effect on his life, especially when it comes to dating. “It’s a great icebreaker,” he says.

Nicholas Sparks has had a number of his books made into movies. His emotional love stories told in books, including "Dear John" and "A Walk to Remember," have been translated to the big screen.

“Dear John” is like that, too, reminding us in very stark visual terms that it’s mostly young people, very young people, who go to war. Just looking at the faces of its two stars, Amanda ...