Anh Khoi from over at Anh Khoi Do and movies is a list powerhouse these days. So here is another list from him about love and romance movies.
It came with this note: Hi there, Trista. In this second initiative, I’d like to present my list of ten love films that one must see before his/her death. Of course, many films might look sad while one of them won’t have any difficulty to cheer you up.
Revolutionary Road
Cold Mountain
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Lost and Delirious
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
In the Mood for Love
House of Flying Daggers
Atonement
Brokeback Mountain
The Road Home
Romance/love isn’t really my thing, but I think that I would have to add Notting Hill, UP, Shaun of the Dead, Garden State, Love Actually and… more as I think of them.
What about you fine people…? What romances are on your lists?
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Ah, Trista. Only you would have Shaun of the Dead in a film list of love films. Awesome.
Anh Khoi – gotta say, love your style. I still think the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is the best date movie of all time. Or a litmus test. Or both.
.-= Shannon the Movie Moxie´s last blog post ..Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix =-.
Being a total sucker for romance I couldn’t limit myself to just 10.
Top 10: Somewhere In Time, Harold and Maude, Casablanca, The Apartment, True Romance, Sweeney Todd, Remains of the Day, West Side Story, Garden State, An American In Paris
Alternate 10: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Let The Right One In, Chasing Amy, In The Mood For Love, Torch Song Trilogy, The Cooler, Shaun Of The Dead, When Harry Met Sally, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind
@Shannon:
“I still think the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is the best date movie of all time. Or a litmus test. Or both.”
I agree. Such a beautiful, and yet tragic, love story. However, I had the misfortune to come across a girl (a friend to be more precise) who complained there were “too much drama for a martial arts film”. At the same time, I showed some empathy for her, because whether we’re Asians or Westerners, we’ve always been used to the idea that martial arts films are only meant to entertain us (whether they’re mindless or not). Besides, when it came out, I found that CTHD had more depth than any martial arts film of the time because of its well-elaborated love story between Shu Lien and Li Mu-Bai. In short, I guess that the film should please to fans of romance movies and action movies (provided that you accept that the fighting style in the film is wudan and not realistic fights).
@Mark:
Unfortunately, I haven’t seen most of the films you mention. Still, I found that “Let the Right One In” original. As for “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”, although I didn’t like the stiff performance by George Lazenby, I really liked the premise making James Bond trying to find love once and for all.
@Trista:
“Notting Hill”, “Up” and “Love Actually” look quite interesting from what I’ve heard.
.-= Anh Khoi Do´s last blog post ..Flower and Garnet =-.
Love Actually, definitely – I kept my distance for a while but upon watching it loved every minute, a great movie showing every type of love there is. Eternal Shunshine, True Romance & Chasing Amy would definitely be in my list too.
I’d also add Dan In Real Life, and Edward Scissorhands, probably the most romantic movie ever, for me.
@ Mark: Good call on The Apartment, one of my favourite movies!
.-= Selfstyler´s last blog post ..Trailer – DISTRICT 9 =-.
You see what happens when I fall asleep at 7:30 and sleep until 5:30 the next day? My readers get lively. Awesome!!!!
@Shannon: Well, Mark added it too, but yes. Also, it’s subtitled “A romantic comedy with zombies.”
@ Anh Khoi & Shannon: I think I should really see CTHD again. I didn’t really like it when I saw it, but I also remember not seeing it in the theatre, nor focusing on it very well, even though I can’t remember the specifics of when or where I saw it…. which means it’s definitely up for a rewatch. Also, I think it came out when I was in university – not my best film exploration time. Wouldn’t like anything that was “different”.
@Selfstyler: I agree about Love Actually. I did the same thing! Everyone’s always going on about it, so I stayed away. Then I picked up a copy while staying at my mum’s while she was in the hospital for lack of anything else to do… and I LOVED it! It’s very, very well done and very beautiful. One of my instant favorites. Dan in Real Life though…. that’s interesting. I saw that movie solely because I enjoyed Steve Carrell in Little Miss Sunshine so much, but there were some major issues with Dan in Real Life. I can’t say
I didn’t like it, but I can’t say it’s a favorite. At the end I was just kind of “meh” about it. What did you like so much?
@Mark: Dood. Always with the awesome, insightful movie suggestions. And I should totally see The Apartment.
The subplot in Love Actually that gets me every time is the Andrew Lincoln/Keira Knightley one – when she opens her door and he’s there with the cue cards, I well up every time. And just his final walk away talking to himself – “Enough. Enough now.” Manly tears.
I think Dan In Real Life really struck a chord with me because it didn’t feel fake – I often turn away from romantic movies because the love aspects rarely ever ring true for me, the dialogue and falling in love feels really forced. But with DIRL, that whole sequence in the book shop with Steve Carrell and Juliet Binoche just rang absolutely true, the awkwardness, the chemistry, all of it. It just felt very natural and gentle, it wasn’t big gestures or contrived meetings, it was just two people clicking. Sure, the film has it’s share of contrived set up (the police car shuntings clearly setting up a dramatic finale), but I was instantly won over by the central love story.
Much of it, I’m sure, is due to Steve Carrell, who just has one of those faces that is both instantly comedic yet exudes sympathy and pathos. Man’s gifted!
And you NEED to see The Apartment for similar reasons – a real cynical look at love that manages to be hopelessly romantic at the same time.
.-= Selfstyler´s last blog post ..Green Lantern…Justin Timberlake!?!?! =-.
I was just reading an article by sex researcher Kris Saknussemm on his top 10 favourite fetishes. When I read the one on “Melophilia” I remembered Shannon’s comment in this post.
Melophilia — The erotic worship of music
I spoke with a man in Chicago who was open enough to demonstrate to me his melophilia. When listening to Yo-Yo Ma’s haunting cello on the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon soundtrack, he became stimulated to the point of an explosive orgasm.
That could be a very frightening first date!
And that made you think of my comment… oh my. Memorable is a good thing, yes?
.-= Shannon the Movie Moxie´s last blog post ..Film Fan Fridays for Friday July 10, 2009 =-.
In this case memorable is good. I remembered your post because I was intrigued by the idea of CTHD being a first date / litmus test movie. It’s certainly a great film and I remember walking out of the theatre impressed, but 9 years later it’s the images of the “wire fu” that are my most vivid memory and not the romance. It’s obviously a film I should revisit.
Of course I would consider “Kung Pow! – Enter The Fist” a first date / litmus test movie, so what do I know. I’m obviously fishing in a very small pool if I’m looking for a date who appreciates the comic genius of that movie, ha ha.
Kung Pow! Right on!
.-= Selfstyler´s last blog post ..RetroReview – THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON =-.
Hehe, good point – it’s all about *who* is going to the movie!
.-= Shannon the Movie Moxie´s last blog post ..Film Fan Fridays for Friday July 10, 2009 =-.
@Selfstyler: I agree. i turn away from movies where it all feels very contrived, but I also thought that – while Steve Carell is a brilliant mastermind of the awkward natural – the setting itself felt very contrived. I dunno. I had very mixed feelings about that movie. Also, “manly tears”, snort.
@Mark: Oh my various Gods that is so wrong. Although I also have very sketchy memories of CTHD, so maybe I should watch it again too.
@Shannon: Can I share your horror?