25 Best Romance Movies: Now Discussing: "The Princess Bride"

Interesting article on this, here:

New York Times

 

I'm not going to say the article is wrong, but it sure reeks of the old "everything was better when I was a kid/teenager/young adult/etc..." cliche. The only evidence provided to support the author's assertion is the assumption that everyone reading the article agrees.

 

There were plenty of bad romantic comedies back in the day...even Hitchcock made one. But today they are oddly bland, as if it's illegal for the man in question to have any personality.

 

Okay, so let's look at some good ones. This list is from EW:

"Just like true love, the perfect romance film is hard to find. Of course, we have high standards -- we want palpable chemistry, enormous odds for our lovers to overcome ... and a devastating death scene never hurts. And the best part? They don't even have to love us back. --By Liane Bonin"


25. "Sleepless in Seattle" (1993)

"It reads like a stalker tale: A woman crosses the country for a stranger. But when it's Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, it's just adorable. That we fell for a love story in which the stars only spend two minutes on screen together speaks volumes."


Add to the stalker-concerns; anybody who looks for love on the 'net is taking massive chances. Haven't seen this one.

 

Next: 24. "The Notebook" (2004)

"This story of star-crossed lovers (Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling; Gena Rowlands and James Garner) captures the heartbreak and beauty of enduring love, and it's pretty hot to boot. Teen girls hadn't swooned like this since 'Titanic.'"


I wouldn't know. Never seen it.

 

The Notebook was a comedy?

 

I don't think the Notebook is a romantic comedy, but I love the movie. The end just makes me want to cry, but at the same time it's so powerfully romantic.

 

The Notebook is not a comedy. Women seem to love it. I've made the mistake of watching it with several of them. They get all misty-eyed, but also lament that the sort of man portrayed in the movie no longer exists in real life, and generally do their best to make you feel inadequate even as you wonder what exactly it is that makes the character so tremendously appealing. Also, love trumps disease.

 

23. "Dark Victory"

"Bette Davis got an Oscar nod for playing a socialite who finds love with the doctor set to operate on her brain tumor. She's dying, but ironically she's also finally living -- and it's caring about someone other than herself that's made her a person worth loving."


I saw this on TCM recently, and it...wasn't bad. In fact, though I am no fan of Bette Davis, I saw why she was a star.

 

Next: "Amelie" (2001)

"A shy Parisian waitress daydreams of finding love while spending her free time improving the lives of her neighbors. Uniquely French and extra quirky, the movie is irresistibly charming. And only the hardest heart could resist gamine star Audrey Tautou."


Yes, the movie *does* have great charm, as does she. Here, at least.

 

Next: "Love Story" (1970)

"He's a rich, handsome jock (Ryan O'Neal), she's a beauty his parents don't accept (Ali McGraw). They stay together despite formidable obstacles, but there's one whopper still ahead -- and it's a tearjerker. Grab your tissues, and don't say we didn't warn you."


McGraw is such a ragingly bad actress, I've never managed to watch than five minutes of this on TV>

 

Next: "Jerry Maguire" (1996)

"Forget "Show me the money!" The most memorable quote in this film -- the closest thing you'll see to a "bro-mance" -- comes when Tom Cruise admits to Renee Zellweger, "You complete me." The follow-up is perfect: "Just shut up. You had me at hello." Sigh."


Sigh, indeed. I liked this movie, despite my feelings re Cruise.

 

Next: "West Side Story" (1961)

"It's 'Romeo and Juliet' in New York City AND there's dancing -- who could ask for anything more? Apparently not Oscar voters, who awarded the classic musical 10 statues, including Best Picture. If only Shakespeare had had a librettist and a choreographer."


I wouldn't include this movie in this list, for this reason: the (very) good things about it aren't the romantic elements. The supporting cast, the music and the dance are fine. The leads are awful (Romeo being worse than Juliet, which may be why they kill him off and let her survive). And even the music involved in the romance is quite bad...the lyrics of "Maria" not being Sondheim's shining hour.

 

Next: "Atonement" (2007)

"An unlikely yet alluring couple (James McAvoy and Keira Knightley) is torn apart by a lie in this devastating Oscar contender. Don't hold out for a happy ending, but sometimes yearning for love lost is the most powerful heartstring-
tugger of all."

I might have gone to see this, if not for the trailer-from-hell-which-disclosed-every-last-plot-detail.

 

Next: "Lady and the Tramp" (1955)

"Who says love can't be just as touching in animated form? (See also 'Beauty and the Beast.') Ever since this Disney film about dogs from opposite sides of the tracks, no dating couple has looked at spaghetti in quite the same way."


I haven't seen this one...

 

The spaghetti 'kiss' in Lady and the Tramp is one of my favorite Disney moments, it's just so cute and sweet.

 

Next: "Wings of Desire" (1988)

"It's about an angel (Bruno Ganz) who gives up immortality to be closer to the French circus performer (Solveig Dommartin) he's fallen for, but this is no conventional fairy tale. The angels here explore much deeper themes of love, life and connection."

Haven't seen this one...

 

I saw "Wings of Desire" at the theater back when it came out, several times. Beautiful movie in both visuals and story.

 

'nother beautiful movie. Netflix just delivered it to me today, in fact.

 

Next: "An Officer and a Gentleman"

"The passion between a naval officer-in-training (Richard Gere) and unhappy factory worker (Debra Winger) here is about as torrid as you can get. And his rescue of her from minimum-wage hell is pure romantic poetry."

Very manipulative movie, but it does work, on a rather low level.

 

Next: "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" (2004)

"Discovering that his ex (Kate Winslet) has had him erased from her memory, Jim Carrey follows suit. But it's not that easy, and his poignant struggle to remember what was good rings true to anyone who's ever loved and lost."


Want to see this, but haven't yet.

 

I thought it was very good. I sympathised with Carrey and loved Winslet, and neither are normally favourites of mine.

Really worth seeing, Zaz.

 

This is the second recent thread where this has come up. It's a sign, Zaz SEE IT.

-sj loves kevin spacey

 

I love this movie!