Yeah, that's right. It's time to pour yourself and your significant other some Courvoisier and warm up in front of 120 minutes of pure romance...
What are your Big 5 romantic movies?
It's ok. I know some of you will mention cheesy stuff. No worries. Others will mention movies that don't seem all that romantic. But this is YOUR Big 5, no one else's. And sure, mention a romantic comedy if you like. But just because there is a relationship in the movie doesn't make it romantic. It should sweep her off her feet or shine a light on her Prince Charming. It may find her in need of rescue! It may find him fighting for her life! Please, nothing steamy. Let's leave that for after the movie (pre-married couples not included).
When a Man Loves A Woman
Benny and Joon
Titanic
Jerry Maguire
Lady and the Tramp
5a: The Princess Bride
Posted by: Chris Meirose | 07/14/2008 at 11:53 PM
When a Man Loves A Woman
Benny and Joon
Titanic
Jerry Maguire
Lady and the Tramp
5a: The Princess Bride
Posted by: Chris Meirose | 07/14/2008 at 11:54 PM
The Wedding Date
The Notebook
Pride and Prejudice
A Walk to Remember
Anne of Green Gables
Posted by: Janelle | 07/15/2008 at 01:16 AM
The Princess Bride - I was tempted to list this one five times
Much Ado About Nothing
Singin' in the Rain
Anne of Green Gables/Anne of Avonlea
Shrek :)
Posted by: Aaron Pelly | 07/15/2008 at 01:37 AM
You've Got Mail
Pride and Prejudice
Anne of Green Gables
Strictly Ballroom
Roman Holiday
Posted by: Beth | 07/15/2008 at 03:32 AM
1. The Notebook
2. Love Actually (one scene needs some closed eyes).
3. The Family Stone
4. Dan in Real Life (romantic comedy)
5. Beautiful Girls
Posted by: Bumgarner | 07/15/2008 at 06:28 AM
5. My Best Friend's Wedding
4. Pretty Woman
3. Notting Hill
2. Dirty Dancing
1. Love Actually
(So I'm a sucker for Julia Roberts- sue me!)
Posted by: Ryan Abs | 07/15/2008 at 06:56 AM
Just have one-- Legends of the Fall.
Posted by: Dan | 07/15/2008 at 07:01 AM
1. Legends of the Fall
2. The Princess Bride
3. Once
4. High Fidelity
5. Almost Famous
(ask me another day and they would be different)
Posted by: Caleb Land | 07/15/2008 at 07:54 AM
1. Pride and Prejudice
2. Anne of Green Gables
3. Sweet Home Alabama
4. The Wedding Singer
5. The Notebook
only the first two would I think be suitable for any age - the other three needs screening.
Posted by: kim davidson | 07/15/2008 at 08:00 AM
1. Life is Beautiful (hands-down best)
2. The Princess Bride
3. Return to Me
4. Hope Floats
5. Forrest Gump
Posted by: Jim U. | 07/15/2008 at 08:08 AM
Still Breathing
Jump Tomorrow
While You Were Sleeping
When Harry Met Sally
Say Anything
Here's the deal... all of you should go watch Still Breathing (which has some wonderful musings on fate & grace) and Jump Tomorrow (which is the only indie picture I've ever seen without a cynical moment in it).
Posted by: Mark Jackson | 07/15/2008 at 09:05 AM
1. The Notebook
2. Pride and Prejudice
3. Cold Mountain
4. When Harry Met Sally
5. Beautiful Girls
Posted by: Zach Nielsen | 07/15/2008 at 09:08 AM
1. While You Were Sleeping
2. Sense and Sensibility
3. Much Ado About Nothing
4. Return to Me
5. Emma
I could go on! But each of these I could watch a million times and not be tired of them.
Posted by: Michelle | 07/15/2008 at 09:29 AM
1. "The Shop Around the Corner" - the original that "You've Got Mail" is based on, with Jimmy Stewart
2. "Vow to Cherish" - Christian movie about Alzheimer's and commitment
3. "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" - a romantic comedy that I found to be quite funny.
4. "Hitch" - is this romantic? I also laughed at this too, lots.
5. "King Kong" (obviously)
Posted by: Ken in Virginia Beach | 07/15/2008 at 10:13 AM
Good Will Hunting
Life is Beautiful
Pride and Prejudice
Rushmore
Garden State
Posted by: Jake Meador | 07/15/2008 at 10:31 AM
Indie
1. Once
2. Lars and the Real Girl
3. All the Real Girls
4. Wicker Park (more of a suspense-love triangle but the last few minutes with Coldplay playing is worth the investment)
5. Garden State
More Mainstream
1. Atonement
2. You've Got Mail
3. The Notebook
4. Legends of the Fall
5. When Harry met Sally
Posted by: Casey Bedell | 07/15/2008 at 10:31 AM
Once
Bella
Garden State
High Fidelity
The Constant Gardner
Posted by: Ian | 07/15/2008 at 10:47 AM
While You Were Sleeping
An Affair to Remember
Sabrina (both versions - old and new)
When Harry Met Sally
It Happened One Night (1934 film with Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable)
Posted by: Scott Eaton | 07/15/2008 at 10:50 AM
The Mirror Has Two Faces
You've Got Mail
Brigadoon
Pride and Predjudice (the old one)
The Way We Were
I know I cheated and posted twice. I could probably post again, but I won't. This is one of my favorite genre of movies. I love watching these movies with my wife. Call me a big sap - it's OK. I'm secure enough in my masculinity to take it. :-)
Posted by: Scott Eaton | 07/15/2008 at 10:55 AM
Monsoon Wedding (probably my all-time favorite)
Emma
Return to Me
Hitch
Much Ado About Nothing
Posted by: Luz | 07/15/2008 at 11:23 AM
1. Joe versus the Volcano
2. The Princess Bride
3. Pride and Prejudice
4. Casablanca
5. That Thing you Do
Posted by: Ched | 07/15/2008 at 12:01 PM
The list looks heavily weighted towards American movies, so I'll list a few more beautifully romantic foreign films.
The Road Home (Dir: Zhang Yimou)
In the Mood for Love (Dir: Wong Kar Wai)
Once (Dir: John Carney)
Il Mare (Dir: Lee Hyun Seung)
And another great American romance:
Before Sunset (Dir: Richard Linklater)
It's a sequel to Before Sunrise, which, come to think of it, should also be on this list.
Posted by: Rob | 07/15/2008 at 12:44 PM
Atonement (not sure if it passes inspection)
Pride and Prejudice
Notebook
Terms of Endearment
I'm way too macho to have a fifth one!
Posted by: Luke Britt | 07/15/2008 at 01:06 PM
1. While You Were Sleeping (received the "ring" immediately following this one, so it's tops)
2. North and South (BBC production)
3. Pride and Prejudice
4. Lady Jane
5. The Painted Veil
Posted by: Saralyn | 07/15/2008 at 01:34 PM
Steve,
Must've been out of ideas as to what to rent Friday night? What a great backdoor way to get some new ideas. (And probably about a hundred other guys are taking notes as well... myself included).
-Rob
Posted by: Rob | 07/15/2008 at 02:43 PM
1. Somewhere in Time
2. Pride and Prejudice
3. The Notebook
4. When Harry Met Sally
5. Shadowlands
Posted by: John Fooshee | 07/15/2008 at 03:49 PM
Ok, first of all, for all I love about Shadowlands I just can't see that as a great romantic movie. Depressing. Wonderful, inspiring even, but depressing.
Second, Somewhere in Time is an inspired choice. What a wonderful older movie. We will be renting or buying it soon thanks to John. :)
Third, I totally forgot Before Sunrise/Sunset. Really enjoyed those. Nice work Rob.
Posted by: Steve McCoy | 07/15/2008 at 03:55 PM
Wow, this post has generated quite a response. I guess I wouldn't define romance as strictly "happy." That being said each of these movies leave me with a sense of wonder at life and hope for the future -- in direct coloration with my marriage, of course.
1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: I can't believe this hasn't shown up yet. What's wrong with you people? :) Probably the most romantically hopeful film I've ever seen and one of my favorite films of all time.
2. Garden State: Again, incredibly hopeful about love and life. Another all-time favorite.
3. Punch Drunk Love: Again, I can't believe no one has mentioned this one yet. I guess I just love films that accept that life is broken and full of pain and still find reasons to believe in the power of love.
4. Lost In Translation: There's just too much to say about this film. What an ending! If you haven't seen it, drop whatever you're doing right now and go watch it. Your soul may depend on it... :)
5. The Village: Say what you will about M. Night Shyamalan, but The Village is, at its heart, a love story. And a great one.
Honorable Mentions: Pride and Prejudice: This is like romantic crack. Moonlight Mile.
Romantic Comedies
The following are my Top 5 films traditionally classified as romantic Comedies.
1. Return to Me: THE greatest romantic comedy of all time.
2. Love Actually: Amazing. Great film.
3. You've Got Mail: For every guy who has had to work hard at convincing the girl he loves to love him back.
4. When Harry Met Sally: Classic.
5. The Philadelphia Story: OK, classics are an entire different category all their own, but this one is great.
Posted by: adam clark | 07/15/2008 at 07:02 PM
Lady Jane
Groundhog Day
Love's Labor's Lost
Much Ado about Nothing
What about Bob
Posted by: Terry | 07/15/2008 at 08:01 PM
Shadowlands- yes, immensely sad but only because he comes to love her so and his heart is broken.
Return to Me- yeah, more tears but I love the focus on extended "family" and Minnie be cool.
Groundhog Day- Bill Murray at his best, and Andi ain't too bad herself.
While You Were Sleeping- had to get Sandra in there
Sleepless in Seattle- had to get Meg in there.
Posted by: cavman | 07/15/2008 at 09:33 PM
Garden State
Eternal Sunshine (nice ones adam clark)
Lord of the Rings - Return of the King (don't ask)
Rushmore
The Sound of Music
Posted by: Joel | 07/16/2008 at 08:06 AM
Of course- The Sound of Music!
Fiddler on the Roof is another one...I love where Tevye and his wife sing, "Do you love me?"
Posted by: Terry B | 07/16/2008 at 08:49 AM
1. Pride and Prejudice (new one...haven't seen the old.)
2. Sleepless in Seattle
3. Atonement
4. P.S. I Love You
5. An Affair to Remember
Posted by: Amanda | 07/16/2008 at 10:56 AM
Love, Actually - An amazing movie
Pride and Prejudice
When Harry Met Sally
Frankie and Johnny - Al Pacino and Michelle Pfieffer
Almost Famous
Posted by: Alan Cross | 07/16/2008 at 10:59 AM
Favorite, all-time:
French Kiss (Kevin Kline, Meg Ryan, "beautiful! gorgeous! wish you were here!")
2. Legends of the Fall
3. Born Yesterday (original version, although Melanie Griffith does ok in '93)
4. As Good as it Gets
5. My Fair Lady
Posted by: Heather | 07/17/2008 at 10:57 AM
Serendipity - with John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale was a cool romance we've seen a few times.
Posted by: Terry B | 07/17/2008 at 07:09 PM
I just remembered how subjective movie recommendations can be. What I recommended might not be for others....
We just watched "Love Actually" because of the recommendations here and although there were some cool parts, there's just as many parts I'd skip and consequently not recommend it.
Maybe it's an age thing, though.
Posted by: Terry | 07/18/2008 at 08:06 PM
Terry, I deleted your last comment. These threads are for recommendations from people of various tastes and backgrounds. If you don't like a movie, fine. But my blog isn't the place for you to find quotes from movie reviews to refute the answers of others. Thanks.
Posted by: Steve McCoy | 07/18/2008 at 08:51 PM
oops
sorry about that....
Posted by: Terry | 07/18/2008 at 10:31 PM
Pride & Prejudice (the Keira Knightly one)
What dreams may come (Robin Williams)
As Good as it Gets (Jack Nicholson)
erm...
Posted by: Beat Attitude | 07/19/2008 at 05:45 AM
The Quiet Man
Princess Bride
Return of the King
Say Anything
Pride and Prejudice
Posted by: jody | 07/19/2008 at 11:31 PM