Today I was a guest on the radio program “Along the Way.” We discussed Christianity Today Movies’ “Most Redeeming Films of 2008.”
But I was also asked to recommend some romantic movies for Valentine’s Day. We didn’t have time to discuss more than a few, but here’s the list I hurriedly threw together for their website:
Unexpected Movies for a Romantic Valentine’s DayDiscover your next favorite date movie.
Try an overlooked romantic masterpiece:
* The Road Home
* Mostly Martha
* Sweet LandOr try something stylish, unusual, and thought-provoking from another part of the world:
* In the Mood for Love
* Chungking Express
* Monsoon Wedding
* Arranged
* Once
* Three Times
* Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
* Italian for BeginnersNot feeling very adventurous? Want to play it safe? Go back to an old favorite that you might have forgotten:
* Roxanne
* Amelie
* Strictly Ballroom
* Moulin Rouge
* Ladyhawke
* Bringing Up Baby
* Casablanca
* The Princess Bride
* Return to Me
* Sabrina
* HolidayHow about something classical and literary?
* Persuasion
* Pride and Prejudice
* Sense and Sensibility
* Emma
* Cyrano De BergeracMy favorite historical epic is also a poetic exploration of romance and the definition of true love:
* The New World
But I recommend you revisit this year’s most unexpectedly romantic movie…
* WALL-E
What’s on your list of the most romantic movies? I’m sure you can think of some obvious candidates I’ve forgotten…
I have a standing policy of hating romantic comedies, but a few have managed to find their way onto my favorite films list: The Fisher King, Punch-Drunk Love, Lars and the Real Girl, and (seconded) WALL-E. The Palm Beach Story is a classic, too.
Wall-E!! Totally romantic!!
My favorite historical epic is also a poetic exploration of romance and the definition of true love:
* The New World
AND it almost guarantees that your loved one will fall asleep in your arms – or you in theirs. 😉
I’d recommend the BBC’s North and South, and Philadelphia Story
“Sweet Land” is a wonderful film — good call!
“New World” — what can I say — my fave film of all-time! 😉
Annie Hall is quite wonderful, with a not-so-predictable ending… or maybe it is, if you know the opening monologue: “Annie and I broke up…”
The Philadelphia Story is a great love triangle film. A very lighthearted love triangle that is to say.
Paris je t’aime. It’s all about love, after all. ALL kinds of love.
Paris je t’aime!
Anne and I watched that last night for a late, late date-night video. I enjoyed it even more the second time, and I’m realizing that I might want to go back and put it on my list of favorites for ’08.
Thanks, Allie.
And The Fisher King is essential, Tyler. How did I forget that?
A few more to get the heart pumping:
“Truly, Madly, Deeply” (Alan Rickman and Juliet Stevenson, directed by Anthony Minghella)
“Roman Holiday” (Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn)
“The Way We Were” (Robert Redford and Barbra Streisand)
“Robin and Marian” (Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn–yow! Directed by Richard Lester, criminally forgotten)
“The English Patient” (Ralph Fiennes and Kristin Scott Thomas, Minghella again–we’re going to miss that guy)
Happy Valentine’s Day!
It may be an unlikely date night movie, but Shadowlands is my FAVORITE romance. Of course, I always get weepy… but yeah — who can beat C.S. Lewis?
“Before Sunrise” …follow it with the even-better “Before Sunset” is you’re feeling a bit wistful
“Say Anything…” if you have a date who wants a more typical film…it actually turns out to be much better and honest than most teen romances out there.
If you’re single, “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” is great, but I think the best film for loneliness is actually “Lost in Translation”
And if you’re the type who wants to go the class-less route and break up on V-Day, I guarantee that if you pop in “Reservoir Dogs” your girl will never forgive you 😉
End of world + patriotism + romance= Armeggedon
English majors in love + boy choir covering Prince = Romeo + Juliet
Obi Wan + Virginia Woolf + Paris in 1900 + elephant love songs = moulin rouge
“An Ideal Husband” — gotta love it when Oscar Wilde gives good marriage advice!
“I Capture the Castle”
“Beauty and the Beast” — Disney!
“Penelope”
“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”
“Bright Young Things”
“My Sassy Girl” — the original Korean version, not the wretched American remake
“Amazing Grace”
Any “Thin Man” movie
Oh, and “Ever After”
A Room With A View
JEFF. Monsoon Wedding is SO good. It is so epic in its non-epicness.
And you already know how I feel about The New World. I am compelled to mention The Painted Veil, which has a similar sort of quietness that somehow bowls you over.
Favorite oldie: It Happened One Night, winner of the 5 biggest Oscars in 1935, starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert.
PRT: I see your North and South (“No, NOT Patrick Swayze’s Civil War!”) and raise you a Jane Eyre 2006.
For a current romantic movie, you have to see Slumdog Millionaire. I just wish I hadn’t seen it, so that I could take my wife to it for Valentine’s Day. However, thanks for all the at home movies, so that I can at least snuggle with her on the couch.
My favorites: The Apartment. Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Punch-drunk Love. When Harry met Sally. Groundhog Day. The Age of Innocence. Eternal Sunshine. Donnie Darko? I thought that was pretty romantic.
Oh, Once, that’s a good one.
No… no… “Notorious”! (Hitchcock). Also its unofficial remake, the underrated “Mission: Impossible II.”