BALATUCAN’S VALENTINE’S DAY MOVIES
Its Valentine’s Day and it falls on Saturday. People, I supposed, have mapped out there plans for this romantic day. Well, if you are not the type who wants to go out, maybe you can watch some movies. Since I am a movie buff, I like to recommend stuff that you might want to see or see it again to rekindle the feeling and spirit of this day. There are ten of them which I ranked according to my own criteria which you may or may not agree. But I don’t require viewing them all. That would take your time even beyond Valentine’s Day. Let’s start at the bottom:
10. One Fine Day (1997): It’s a story about two divorce parents who are babysitting their children and in some wrong turn of events put them together. It is starred by George Clooney and one of my favorite actress, Michelle Pfeiffer. I don’t know but the first time I saw it, I can’t just forget it. There is an honesty to it which made me feel the movie as so real and so striking that until now I never get bored watching it all over again. It has some touch of comedy.
9. Enchanted (2006) – A Walt Disney movie starring Amy Adams and Johnny De Costa. It teaches that love is more than a fairy tale. The movie shatters the idea of an ideal Prince Charming or a Princess and that love can be found in the places and time you never expected. It tries to portray that we have to be open minded and we may never know that the love we are desperately trying to find is just staring you at the face.
8. Flyboys (2006) – It is supposed to be an action movie and the love story was just a side story but the latter strikes me more. Here is an American fighting in the World War 1 in the historical Lafayette Escuadrille of the French army. In the course of the war, he met this orphaned French girl and a romance blossomed between them. It is action packed. It is also the first in the list where it had a tragic and sad ending, at least for the love story part. It stars charming but masculine James Franco and Jennifer Decker.
7. The Holiday (2006) – If we talked about time settings, this movie is off as it is set on Christmas. But love is timeless. It’s a story about two women swapping their homes for Christmas on the net. The one goes to California and the other somewhere in England. While they occupy their “new” homes, they find their partners who mistakenly thought the real owner is staying inside. The movie has full of romantic lines which you can use on your own and its about loving and being betrayed in return. Warning: the movie is quite long and lots of conversations. It features a powerful of Hollywood heavyweights, Kate Winslet, Jack Black, Cameron Diaz and Jude Law.
6. Music and Lyrics (2006) – A story about a has-been 80’s pop star and his struggle to revive his seemingly hopeless career with the help of an unexpected stranger. The movie stars romantic comedy icons Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore. The movie boasts of a rich soundtrack led by hit song “Way Back Into Love” sang by Hugh and Drew themselves. This is one movie musicians love watching.
5. Serendipity (2001) – The first time I watched this movie, I went gaga over the story. Serendipity means fortunate accident. And that is where the movie began when two total strangers got to know each other, were separated by miles and time and were finally reunited by fortunate accidents. The movie stars Kate Beckinsale and John Cusack.
4. Tristan and Isolde (2006) – This is another James Franco led movie. The movie’s byline could just give you a hint of what’ s going to come. “Before Romeo and Juliet, there was Tristan and Isolde.” The movie is just similar to the iconic love story. The only difference is that Tristan and Isolde, is less tragic as compared to Romeo and Juliet. It is action packed and has a good story. It has superb cinematography too set in medieval Ireland and England. Tragic? Yes but don’t forget the romantic element on it. Its super.
3. Notting Hill (1999) – Originality wise, I have seen other movies which already have this kind of story. Remember the late 80’s hit Coming to America starred by Eddie Murphy? Its quite similar but the difference is that instead of a person paired to a son of a king, its your ordinary fellow paired with a movie star. I like the way how the story was told. Besides it star biggies like Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts.
2. The Notebook (2004) – Based on the best selling novel by Nicholas Sparks, the film is awesome. You got so many romantic lines there and very excellent cinematography. The story is weaved beautifully though its already a common theme, rich girl going on a vacation, meets poor boy and their love was torn apart because of the rich girl’s disapproving parent. But in the end, love conquers all. It stars Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling.
And the number 1 in my list… Drum roll…
1. The Lake House (2006) – All the other movies I mentioned has one thing they didn’t have which this film has. Time. Of all the movies, this is the one set on Valentines Day. Theres a phrase, “at the right place, at the right time.” This is story about two individuals who corresponds with each other and in the process liked each other. No, they are not separated by distance, they are separated by time. One is living in the present and the other is “living” two years behind. Before they finally met, they have met in the past but since at that time they did not know each other yet, every meeting was just casual only to realize later that it was he or she that he or she saw at that time. Confusing? Okay, you just watch the movie.
It reunites Speed’s Keannu Reeves and Sandra Bullock. It has a very nice soundtrack. It’s the best.
Okay folks. As of the present, these are my list and unless new films will come out to shake this ranking, I am sorry that this ranking will be staying for quite a short while. Enjoy your Valentine’s Day with your loved ones.
