Top Ten Romance Movies: BeastieGirl's LoveFest with Brad, Kevin and (pre-TomKat) Tom
Jan 06 '07 (Updated Jan 12 '07)
The Bottom Line Some of my favorite romance movies just in time for Valentine's Day- be sure to bring some tissues, as I love a good tear-jerker!
As I was shopping for discounted Christmas items the week after Christmas, I noticed that the shelves were already filling up with pink M&Ms and other Valentine’s Day candies. So, in order to honor the spirit of early marketing, here is my list of the Top Ten Most Romantic Movies.
10. Jerry Maguire (1996)- You Complete Me
While in recent years I have become less and less of a Tom Cruise fan, Jerry Maguire is one of those movies that appeals to a general audience. Appropriate for children, a chick flick night, or a quiet night in with a loved one, Jerry Maguire has it all. With Tom Cruise in the eponymous role of Jerry Maguire, he plays a ruthless sports agent turned agent with a conscience. His faithful assistant played by a pre-freakishly skinny Rene Zellweger is the poster child of teenage like crushes, but they still make a cute couple. Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Regina King provide some fantastic comic relief and keep Jerry Maguire from getting too mushy. Cameos by famous athletes (including Troy Aikman, Al Michaels, Drew Bledsoe, and Frank Gifford) should keep the sports fanatics interested. The ridiculously cute Jonathan Lipnicki plays Zellweger’s on-screen son, making Jerry Maguire a true family romance.
Tissue Factor 2/5
9. Princess Bride (1987)- As You Wish
One of my all time favorite movies, the Princess Bride is a (somewhat) modern-day fairy tale. The Princess Bride is modern in that it was released in 1987 and the humor is dripping with charming wit and sarcasm. Robin Wright Penn is our fairy tale princess in love with her farm boy, Wesley (Cary Elwes). Billy Crystal plays the wizard Miracle Max, a most hilarious character. Other charming characters are played by the late Andre the Giant and Mandy Patinkin. Of course, evil has to play a part in every fairy tale and Chris Sarandon and Christopher guest are the perfect evil plotters in the Princess Bride. Otherwise, this is a classic tale of good versus evil, with True Love as the most powerful reason for living. Nothing states romance quite like that.
Tissue Factor 1/5
8. Somewhere in Time (1980)- Come Back to Me
A lesser known film, Somewhere in Time is the story of a playwright who runs into an older woman at one of his plays. She hands him a pocket watch and asks him to “come back” to her. After solving a mini mystery of why he thinks he knows this woman as though it were a past life, he figures a way to travel in time and reconnect with the woman in her younger days. Christopher Reeve plays the main character alongside an ever beautiful Jane Seymour. Watching this movie by today’s standards leaves a little to be desired in the actual quality of the film, but overall, the score is beautiful (my mother loves the soundtrack), the scenery is gorgeous where it was filmed (Mackinac Island) and the story of an amazing connection between two people make a very romantic movie indeed.
Tissue Factor 3/5
7. Meet Joe Black (1998) Thank you for loving me
I’ve heard several mixed reviews about Meet Joe Black but it is again, one of my all time favorite movies. It is rather long, which I guess was the reason many did not like this movie; it was just too slow paced. I have to disagree on that. While the film is a hefty 178 minutes long, it is a beautiful story about life and all that life has to offer, including love. Claire Forlani plays the love interest of Death (Brad Pitt), who has come for her father (Anthony Hopkins), unbeknownst to her. Death, aka Joe Black, has decided to give Hopkins some extra time to live so that he may take some time to learn about life. If you like movies with a lot of action, stay away. If you like a deep, emotional film, Meet Joe Black is the perfect snuggled up on the couch movie for you.
Tissue Factor 3/5
6. Legends of the Fall (1994) Such people become crazy or they become legends
So if Meet Joe Black isn’t up to par for you, but you’re still a Brad Pitt fan, this one is for you. Legends of the Fall is one of those tragically romantic movies. The romantic part doesn’t just involve love between two people, but romance in general. Set in the 1900s Montana, the scenery is breathtaking and the crackling fires indicate that this movie would be best watched in front of the fireplace as well. Bring some Kleenex for sure to this one, as there is much loved lost here. The story involves three brothers who love their father (Anthony Hopkins), love their country and love one woman, Susannah (Julia Ormond). Samuel (Henry Thomas of E.T. fame) is the youngest brother who has brought his fiancée home to meet his family. Tristan (Pitt) and Alfred (Aidan Quinn) are tight brothers, but opposites, with Tristan being the wild adventurous son whom everyone loves and Alfred, the oldest and more mature son. The three boys go off to war and the tragedy begins. With only two brothers returning home, Susannah is met by the love of both of them. The epic struggle of love and relationships is brought to life in this movie and although there are many sad endings, the thought of true, deep love is what really makes this movie, well, moving.
Tissue Factor 5/5
5. For Love of the Game (1999) Clear the mechanism
Kevin Costner and baseball seem to go hand in hand. Kevin Costner as a leading man in a romance is also not unusual. Put the three things together and it just fits. Kevin Costner plays (surprise!) a baseball player whose love of the game of baseball has always been apparent. What he discovers as he reaches the apex of his professional ball career is that his love for a woman is also just as strong. Kelly Preston plays his love interest in For Love of the Game and it is a perfect role for her. The great casting of this movie helps to make it a believable romance and perfect match up. While this movie is neither a “chick flick” nor a guys’ sports movie, it combines both factors, making this a great date movie. You probably won’t need the tissues here, but someone to hold hands with would be nice.
Tissue Factor 1/5
4. Notting Hill (1999) Whoopsidaisies
Hugh Grant has always been a bit of a bumbler to me, but he fits his role of William in Notting Hill perfectly (he even uses the word “whoopsiedasies more than once). William is the proprietor of a bookstore in London when he meets a famous movie star, played aptly by Julia Roberts. A relationship ensues, although it would seem impossible based on her fame and his lack of. Notting Hill is sort of a fairy tale romance, where the object of desire is somehow miraculously attained. Definitely in the comedy/romance genre, the Tissue Factor here is 0/5.
3. Message in a Bottle (1999) Choose between yesterday and tomorrow
This movie has always had a soft spot in my heart as it was filmed in my adult hometown of Portland, Maine. I met Kevin Costner (even got to shake his hand) during the filming! Regardless, this novel to screenplay is about a woman (Robin Wright Penn) who finds what else, a message in a bottle. She soon discovers other messages that have been found and they all lead to Garrett Blake (Costner). Theresa (Wright Penn) tracks him down and a romance begins to blossom. Paul Newman has a supporting role as Costner’s father, making the cast of this movie superb. There is a certain calmness about this movie, set on the ocean front in North Carolina, Message in a Bottle is about finding love, losing love and healing.
Tissue Factor 4/5
2. Bridges of Madison County (1995) The old dreams were good dreams, they didn't work out, but I'm glad I had them
I was advised to read the novel, The Bridges of Madison County, but by the time I got around to it, the movie was already released on video, so I opted for the lazy man’s version of arts and entertainment. The Bridges of Madison County is one of the most simple, yet moving love stories I have ever encountered. A simple farmer’s wife, Francesca (Meryl Streep) happens to meet famous photographer Robert Kincaid (Clint Eastwood) while her family is out of town. Robert is in the area taking photographs of covered bridges nearby and asks her if she will direct him to one of them. While this may seem like nothing, it’s the start of a wonderful, romantic 4 days that will carry Francesca through a lifetime of being a wife and mother to her family. While I don’t condone cheating, there is something quite beautiful about the way Francesca allows herself to enjoy life for her for just a brief moment. Directed by Clint Eastwood, The Bridges of Madison County is not about morals and a torrid love affair. It’s more serene, with two people enjoying each other for their true nature, not what is expected of them in every day life. This is movie is a great escape for the characters, as well as the audience.
Tissue Factor 3/5
1. The Notebook (2004) Wherever she is, that's where my home is
I had heard great things about this movie and brought it on a plane trip with me. I turned the subtitles on for the girl sitting next to me and by the end, we both looked at each other with tears streaming down our faces. The Notebook is about a young couple, who fall hopelessly in love with each other, although they are from completely different backgrounds- your classic rich girl/poor boy story. Only the story is told by an older man (James Garner) who is reading this tale to a woman suffering from dementia (Gena Rowlands). The humanity displayed in this movie is extremely moving and the suggestion that we won’t live forever, no matter how much we hate to think about it, will happen. The Notebook is a beautiful portrayal of an amazing and lasting love that endures to the end- but it’s realizing that at some point there is an end that really hit home for me. Also based on a novel, The Notebook has a sense of calmness about it, with less action, but packed with emotion.
Tissue Factor 5/5
Other honorable mentions include They Way We Were, Prince of Tides, Say Anything, Sleepless in Seattle, and On Golden Pond.
So find someone to cuddle with, get to work on your Netflix queue and oh, yeah, buy some stock in Kimberly Clark (makers of Kleenex), because you can be sure I will be using it as I watch these movies gearing up for St. Valentine’s Day…
~*~The links to my Top Ten movies are to reviews that were written by members of Epinions that I respect and have reviewed the movies in a way that reflects my own opinions very well, please pay them a visit!~*~
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