I did my best to put together my top 10 favorite romantic movies.
“Your Name” (2016)
Makoto Shinkai explains the mystery of loss and love in this Japanese animated sci-fi romance in under two hours. Taki, a 17 year old boy living in Tokyo, and Mitsuha, a girl the same age, living in the fictional backwoods town Itomori, are unpredictably switching bodies. This movie is the depiction of how they cope with this supernatural occurrence thrust upon them. This movie can be hard to follow because along with the characters switches, the timeline jumps around frequently. I had to watch this movie at least six times before I completely understood the plot in its entirety, and I will gladly watch this movie 10 times more. This movie is intelligent in its story structure and overall just tugs at your heart the more you watch.
“The Princess Bride” (1987)
It’s amazing to think that this movie held its own throughout the year it was released. I say that because the classic medieval adventure romance had been made time and time again. This is no surprise because with Rob Reiner (who directed “A Few Good Men” and “This Is Spinal Tap”) taking the reins as director, and William Goldman (who wrote the script for “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”, and “All the President’s Men”) writing the original book and the screenplay make an iconic duo. On the surface, this movie looks plain because of the stereotypical tropes throughout. But what I think makes this movie a classic is how it hints at parody while also taking itself very seriously. Its memorable one-liners and lovable characters, along with its sense of humor throughout, are the main reasons this movie has remained a classic.
“27 Dresses” (2008)
Writer Aline Brosh McKenna and director Anne Fletcher brought their vision to life in “27 Dresses.” Starring the iconic Katherine Heigl, who plays Jane, and James Marsden, who plays Kevin, the two protagonists find love in the weirdest of situations. Jane has been a bridesmaid 27 times, and Kevin is a journalist trying to unveil the story of how Jane managed to be a part of 27 weddings. Jane is obviously embarrassed because she has yet to be married, and to make matters worse, her younger sister is planning to get married. Although the set up seems mediocre, this story perfectly conveys how blind love can really be.
“10 Things I Hate About You” (1999)
This high school centric romantic comedy is a love letter to Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew.” Besides the constant references to Shakespeare’s work, this movie has plenty of original one-liners to keep one quoting them for the rest of their lives. Julia Stiles, who plays the shrew, and Heath Ledger, who tames the shrew, have unexpected chemistry. This movie has everything that made Shakespeare’s original play great while remaining untainted by setting it in the modern world.
“Sweet Home Alabama” (2002)
Melanie, played by Reese Witherspoon, is a New York City fashion designer who returns home to Alabama in order to convince Jake, played by Josh Lucas, to sign their divorce papers. Director Andy Tennant (director of “Hitch” and “Ever After”) perfectly portrays how Melanie realizes how much she has missed home.
“Sleepless in Seattle” (1993)
I hate movies that end at the climax, but “Sleepless in Seattle” manages to explore every option before abruptly ending and leaving the audience with only one conclusion. Sam, played by Tom Hanks, is explaining the loss of his wife on a radio station when Annie, played by Meg Ryan, tunes in to said radio station and she falls in love. The entire movie is ridiculously coincidental but simultaneously carries a lot of logic. One aspect I really like about this movie is its similarities with “An Affair to Remember.” And just like in “An Affair to Remember,” “Sleepless in Seattle” is centered around the Empire State Building. This story about star-crossed lovers on each coast will continue to tug at people’s hearts for many years to come.
“Dirty Dancing” (1987)
This movie is more than just the iconic lift or the relationship between Johnny, played by Patrick Swayze, and Baby, played by Jennifer Grey. Among many themes, it’s about fathers and daughters coming to understand each other. I recently watched a documentary on Netflix about this movie and I learned how much effort was put into the production of this film and it certainly shows. The success of this movie lies in how real it feels watching it.
“The Sound of Music” (1965)
Julie Andrews has a special place in my heart because I grew up watching this movie. Based on the real-life Trapp family, this movie musical takes place in Austria during the rise of Nazi Germany. Somehow a story of love manages to squeeze through history. Along with the amazing plot, each tune is brilliantly composed and quite catchy. Another aspect I like about this movie is that it makes a point to show each character with their weaknesses. What makes this movie a classic is the rich story, spectacular music and relatable characters.
“Pride and Prejudice” (2005)
The movie is an excellent adaptation of the original book. Elizabeth, played by Keira Knightley, doesn’t initially like Mr. Darcy, played by Matthew Macfadyen, from the beginning because he insulted her behind her back. Darcy is more of an introvert, but despite what he says to her face, he’s captivated by her spunk and quick wit. With every interaction, Elizabeth only hates him even more. However, because he showed how selfless his love was throughout the movie, Elizabeth’s heart was able to change. The overall theme of this movie is giving people a second chance and looking past your own pride and prejudices.
“Parent Trap” (1998)
This movie, starring Lindsay Lohan, who plays a set of twins Annie and Hallie, is simply cute. It tells the story of two divorced parents who learn how to be compatible once more. The reason the two divorced parents even manage to meet up again is because of their kids, Annie and Hallie. This movie focuses on the importance of family, and the strength of love.
Please feel free to make a comment with some of your favorite romance movies.
