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An article about 'Romantic Movies'...
by
Ian McNeice
Never has a
subject been more emotive than when I ran a
small survey to find out which were our
favorite top 10 romantic movies of all time.
First of all there is the problem of
defining what constitutes 'romantic'. Then
there is the era and age of the movie. Then
there is the notion of what counts as a
movie. In other words can a made-for-TV
program count. Finally, after pulling my
hair out with the stress of it all, I
whittled the answers down to a final ten.
You may not agree, you may send me your own
lists and you may threaten me with violence
but the point is, there is no
definitive list. We all have our own top 10
romantic movies based on what we have viewed
over the years. And that is it. Here are our
the results of our top 10 romantic moves
survey in no particular order.
Love
Story (1970)
The music helps I have to say has
an amazing impact once again on recent viewing but that's not
the whole story by far. One of the best and most popular and
enduring love stories on celluloid you can find. Ali McGraw and
Ryan O'Neal star in a film that will have you reaching for the
tissue box without doubt. Its funny how often romance is linked
with sadness but I am not getting into that here. We have
everything that a tearjerker can throw at you- rich boy, poor
girl, opposing father, success, disaster, fatal illness etc.
Superbly filmed and an emotional rollercoaster. Fabulous and a
must-see, just watch it on your own though of you are prone to
tears.
Titanic
(1997)
Would you like someone to die for
you, or want to die for someone? In tragedy we often find the
barest soul of romance and so it is with this movie. The romance
is not so much in the characters but in the fact that it is so
intense and so brief and so unfairly taken away within a setting
of huge drama. Self sacrifice may be the romantic ideal being
portrayed here but there are few us of who watched this without
a tear. At 3 hours, we are overtaken by every emotion and for
days afterwards the movie leaves a haunting impact. But it is
the drama of the two lovers that affected the worlds audiences
the most. Superb.
Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
I cannot believe this is only ten
years ago. To me it feels like a film from folklore, certainly
in terms of perfect romantic movies. Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks may
be too sweet a pairing for some but in terms of romantic fantasy
land this is about as close to heaven as one can get.
Beautifully scripted and filmed and pulling on our heart strings
with required, it is the perfect vehicle for the starts of the
show to illustrate why they are both romantic stars. Meeting on
top of the Empire State building - well who wouldn't! There are
some reviews on the web that try and analyze this movie as if it
was Ben Hur, lets not bother. Instead grab your pop corn and
settle in with your sweetheart.
Pretty
Woman (1990)
When asked, it came back in
almost every top 10 I was given. Maybe it was the dream pairing
of Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, maybe it was the story of a
girl finally made good. Maybe it was simply about boy choosing
girl just when you think he might not. Whatever aspect you wish
to focus on, this is top class romantic entertainment that over
the years has not aged one bit. Critics should take note of the
people's view as there were some unkind reports on this movie.
Clearly these guys have no heart. Rent and watch and remind
yourself how on screen romance should look. Yes it may be a re
make of Pygmalion but quite frankly, who cares.
City of
Angels (1998)
My personal favorite and one that
is hugely successful in terms of presenting the answer to the
complex romantic equation of romance, love and mortality. Meg
Ryan again and based partly on the classic earlier film Wim
Wenders' movie, Wings of Desire, City of Angels is beautifully
filmed and acted, Meg being particularly on form. Nicholas Cage
as the angel Seth finds himself at odds with the world by
falling in love with Meg who looks almost as angelic as Nick
throughout. Ultimately Seth's fall from grace to be with the
woman he loves tugs at the heart but nothing on earth can
prepare you for romantic dram of the final moments. From the
opening heart breaking scene, to the angels portrayed as beings
of light , aloof in high places, this movie appeals on every
level Glorious and gorgeous in every way with a music score to
match.
Casablanca (1942)
This classic and adored timeless
classic is really a romantic melodrama. Often quoted ("here's
lookin' at you, kid" and the always misquoted "play it again
Sam"), it has lost none of its romantic value in the last 61
years. Against a wartime backdrop we are presented as viewers
with a classic love triangle where two men vie of the affections
of the same woman. Humphrey Bogart in splendid form as the
exiled loner and the film its self attends to the theme of lost
love. The ending is a romantic classic. If it is Sunday evening
and raining outside this is the one for you (both).
An
Affair to Remember (1957)
One of my favorites, the
essential romantic storyline is that Cary Grant, an eligible
bachelor is set to marry an heiress. Fortunately or
unfortunately depending on your viewpoint he meets Deborah Kerr
whilst traveling alone on a luxury yacht and realizes he's
engaged to the wrong woman. Just to complicate matters, she is
engaged to the wrong man. In the end they agree to spend six
months apart and if they still love each other they will reunite
six months later at the top of the Empire State Building. Of
course the threat of tragedy strikes. Even today elements of
this storyline find their way into modern romantic productions.
I have to mention one of the top cinematic romantic moments when
Cary Grant walks into Deborah Kerr's room and sees the painting
she had bought but which he had painted. A great romantic treat.
The Way
we Were (1973)
I have always been a great fan of
Robert Redford and it is easy today for the younger generation
to forget not only his but Barbara Streisand 's formidable
talents. Here we have two young lovers with differing political
ideologies who come together, one the conservative , the other a
radical. Its an odd thing but there are aspects to the American
cinema of the early 1970's that have never been emulated (see
The Last Picture Show for example) anywhere else and this
embodies many sensitive romantic ideals that are rarely
portrayed today. Miss Streisand won a deserved Oscar for her
portrayal of the woman in love and the music will make your
spine tingle. Lovely.
Dr
Zhivago (1965)
The year I was born was 1965 but
Omar Sharif still looks better today than I ever have. The music
is mesmerizing, the, film work unbelievable and epic and the
love story, simply stunning. Recently re-released in special
edition DVD format, this is one for a weekend in and perfect for
lovers of romantic movies everywhere. Julie Christie still look
as gorgeous as ever and the perfect romantic heroine for this
film. Set against the backdrop of the Russian revolution, Sharif
and Christie portray two lovers who are separated and brought
together again by war and fate. Once again it is a movie that
combines romance and tragedy as the two appear to be intertwined
but for a treat of cinematic vistas and passion this is a must
see.
Brief
Encounter (1946)
Celia and Johnson and Trevor
Howard star in this romantic classic. A housewife by chance
meets a married Doctor at a railway station. What transpires is
a cinematic masterpiece of inspired passion and unrequited love
between an English middle-class man and woman. Even the title
has moved into general romantic speak. If you haven't seen it
then put it at the top of the pile because you cannot be classed
as educated in the art of romance until you have. My own note is
that I was told it was filmed at Car forth railway station at
the edge of the English Lake District.
Oh and we now want to add the
fantastic John Cossack movie, High Fidelity -
just because !
Happy romantic viewing! |