Holiday Movie Guide! - Valentine's Day--February 14th - Movies

For those of you who read my rant about the shallowness of Christmas and how I hated it will probably expect the same for Valentine's day. Well, I do think there is a lot of idiocy that goes on for this holiday as well, and I still refuse to buy into the commercialization of it. Yes, I do have a heart of stone, but, believe it or not, there are a few movie that have been about romance and actually been a decent movie. Here are my recommendations to snuggle up to on Valentine's Day.

In the theatre:
The End of the Affair--I have not actually seen this one, but every critical review I read seems to love it. With the talents of Ralpf Feinnes and Julianne Moore, how could you go wrong. It's also supposed to be rather steamy, so it might spice up the V-Day a little.

On the rental shelves:

Much Ado About Nothing--One of Shakespeare's great comedies. This battle of the sexes is charming and very witty. Aside from Keanau Reeves (I still wonder why the hell he was cast) the cast is excellent. Kenneth Branaugh, Emma Thompson, Denzel Washington, and Michael Keaton are among the talents here. Great for the romantic intellectual, but not for that dumb blonde you've been dying to take out.
Sense and Sensibility--Jane Austen's tale comes to life in this adaptation starring Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, and Carl Rickman. As is always the case with Austen, it is never too hard to tell who is going to wind up with whom, but the charming way the tale is told and Austen's omnipresent wit make the movie worth watching. And the ladies always melt as Edward says, "My heart is, and always will be, yours."
First Knight--This adaptation deviates from the Authurian legend a bit, and the Hollywood touch is obvious, but it is still a well-made movie. Sean Connery is always brilliant, as is Julia Ormond's Guinevere, and Richard Gere, well, he's tolerable. It's courtly love at its best, and the battle sequences will keep the guys into it.
Wuthering Heights--Finally, there is the latest, and most haunting adaptation of Emily Bronte's classic novel. Here the love affair is torrid between Heathcliff and Cathy and all the stormy tension is refelected in the beautiful cinematography of the stormy heath. Ralph Feinnes and Juliet Binochet team up before they made movie history in The English Patient, and this film is equally, if not more, magic.

Classics:

Casablanca--Do I even need to go into detail here? Many would say it is the most romantic movie ever, and being a huge fan of Bogey, I have to love it. If you haven't seen this one, then you cannot say you've lived.

Don't Miss:

Finally, comes my overall best pick. The honor goes to Shakespeare in Love (In depth review here). This goes beyond a love story in its depth and its parallel to the Bard's plays. Still, mirroring the most romantic story of all times, Romeo and Juliet, the love affair between Will and Viola is touching, witty, and wonderful. In my book, this may be the best movie of all time. The cast is incredible, the writing wonderful, the direction unmistakably top-notch. This Valentines Day, why not lace your romance with a touch of deeper themes while still watching a good love story? This is the flick to acheive it with.

Happy V-Day Everyone, and never forget how Ambrose Beirce defined love, as "a temporary insanity curable by marriage."

Want more movies? Check out my Recommendations Page and find plenty to satisfy your every viewing need.

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Page Updated Wed May 3, 2000 3:41am EDT