Random Talk : Movies about Love

Before I go forward with anything I want to say that I’m not a really big fan of romance movies. They are all so generic and repetitive that they sort of start to blend into this one big mess which really can’t make head or tails of.

Part of the reason why I don’t like them is because they follow, pretty much, the same basic plot: Boy meets girl or vice-versa. They fall for each other. Insert romantic dates. Insert opposing family, or health problems of family members. Add a scene where they fight and split and, finally, in the end they get back together because they are meant to be. If you really think about it I just described 95% of all the romantic movies in the world.

Another part of the reason is because they are all shot in a style which suggests that they are good films. Take every Nicholas Sparks film and watch them back to back. They all seem to have the same director and cinematographer and they all look like really good films, but in reality they are not because every movie is the same story again and again and again.

That being said there are a few movies which rise above the clichés and tropes that plague this genre. These are the movies which depict love as being deeper than dinners in fancy restaurants and kisses in the rain. In other words, movies which I think are really good, because i just cant seem to call Twilight a romantic movie.

Titanic (1997)

You had to see this coming. Quite possibly James Cameron’s greatest movie, Titanic has stood the test of time.  I remember my parents telling me how they cried in the theater during the credits, and in a way, even I felt the movie tug on my heart strings when I saw the movie again recently. But, the main reason why this movie makes my list is because when I saw this movie last time, it was with my grandfather and he refused to watch it after the scene where they find out that the ship is about to sink.

When I asked him about it, he told me he could not watch it any further because to him the story should have ended when Jack and Rose found love and solace in each other. It was also because he didn’t want to see the tragedy, which happens later, to tear them apart.

This is the reason why Titanic, while at times cliché, is a movie which stands as a testament for true love, fictional or otherwise. We end up caring for the characters and we want their love to succeed, all the while knowing that a tragedy is about to happen. If, by any chance, you have not seen this movie (How is that even possible?), please check it out, it won’t disappoint.

When Harry Met Sally… (1989)

This movie is quite possibly the dictionary definition of a romantic comedy. We follow the story of two friends across years of their life all the while knowing that they are perfect for each other but that they just don’t seem to realize it.

It has two of the most incredible performances from Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal, who share an incredible onscreen chemistry which makes the characters feel so real. Even though it is a comedy, I felt myself rooting for the two characters. It is funny, touching, heartbreaking and oddly truthful about love and life.

And for the record, it has the best one line dialogue in cinema history. “I’ll have what she’s having.” If you haven’t seen this movie, check it out. You may find yourself relating to a lot of things.

Brokeback Mountain (2005)

When I first conceptualized a list of romantic movies which rise above the norm, two movies came to mind immediately, Titanic and Brokeback Mountain. Starring Jake Gyllenhall and Heath Ledger, Brokeback Mountain is a tale of forbidden love but is also a movie about the consequences of the choices you make.

It tells the story which depicts a complex romantic and sexual relationship between two cowboys in an era when homosexuality was viewed with hostility. While I never really cared about homosexuality before, this was the movie which made a supporter of the LGBT community.

Some people look down upon this movie because it is a movie about homosexuality, but it is one of the greatest romance movies, I have seen, which transcends these labels. If you like romance movies, and if you are a fan or good storytelling please check this movie out. It may not be your cup of tea but, who knows it may change your view on a lot of things. It did change mine.

Blue is the Warmest Color (2013)

This was the movie which introduced me to the world of foreign cinema. While I was a fan of anime, movies from other countries never interested me as much until this movie. Starring Adèle Exarchopoulos and Léa Seydoux, this is the first movie in history to win the Palme d’Or for best director and actors. It is a movie which transcends the language barrier and for that alone it has a special place in my mind.

Following along the likes of the previous movie, this is a tale of forbidden love. But it is also a coming of age story which deals beautifully with topics of growing up in an environment where everyone around you has a different mindset, and accepting yourself for what you are.

It is one of the few movies which depict the beauty of your first love and the pain you feel when you leave it behind. While it does have a few risqué scenes in do check this out as it is a meticulously directed and acted movie and the awards it received stand testament to that. Never have I felt such a strong attachment to the lead characters.

Blue Valentine (2010)

Now this is a movie which is classified under the romance category but in reality it is much more of a drama than anything else.

Blue Valentine is dark, brutal and honest to the point where it is almost depressing. Keep in mind that this is not one of those movies you can just shrug right off after watching it. It stays with you and it really does have a deep impact on you. Part of this is due to the incredible acting of Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams.

I recommend this movie simply because this is quite possibly the most realistic depiction of love I have seen on screen.

While this is not a list of all the romantic films I like, this is definitely a list of romantic films which I think are the best. Some of the films that didn’t make the cut were Tangled, Kyss Mig (A Swedish film), The F Word and Ruby Sparks. If you get a chance please do check these out too.

Before I sign-out, like I usually do, I want to take a moment to say that I have set a goal for myself. One blog post a day. This is because my passion is movies. My passion is books. My passion is, most of all, the English Language. Any and all feedback is valuable to me, simply because it makes me a better writer. Feel free to leave your comments and I’ll see you guys tomorrow.

Peace!!!