I don’t know how or why it’s happened, but for some reason, since I got engaged, I’ve become a lot more of a marshmallow. Love songs make me smile more, good TV makes my eyes moist and romantic movies leave me completely smitten.
So, because it’s Friday and I’m feeling all starry-eyed, I present to you, my top ten romantic movies!
1 - Benny & Joon – Who would not love Johnny Depp making them grilled cheese sandwiches with an iron? I mean seriously?
2 - Say Anything – Grosse Point Blank and High Fidelity are among my favourite movies, but this is where my love for John Cusack started. Nervous and sweet, he has you rooting for Lloyd Dobler all the way through the movie, so it’s not hard to see how Diane Court could fall for him. And of course, like every other girl on the planet, I love the scene with the boombox. Ten years after I first watched it, I still can’t believe Ione Skye doesn’t go to the window!
3 - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – I not only love how surreal and funny this movie is, but the fact that, even when the two characters know each other’s flaws, they want to try being together anyway kills me.
4 - The Princess Bride – What can I say? It’s got action and adventure and a dashing pirate love interest. Not only is this romantic, but it’s just plain fun!
5 - Dogfight – River Phoenix and Lili Taylor might have looked like an unusual couple, but they play so well off each other, you can’t help but be charmed. The ending breaks my heart every time.
6 - Roman Holiday – Forget Breakfast at Tiffany’s, this is the Audrey flick that gets me. Gregory Peck + Rome + Vespa = 1 very great day (and movie).
7 - Before Sunrise – When I finished college, part of me considered going backpacking, just on the off chance I could somehow magically run across my very own Jesse. Plus I defy anyone who watches this to not want to go to the beautiful city of Vienna afterwards.
8 - Truly, Madly, Deeply – People go on and on about Ghost being so spectacular, but this supernatural story is the one I loved. There’s no sexy pottery scene, but Juliet Stevenson and Alan Rickman are equal parts funny and heartbreaking, you can’t help but feel for them.
9 - The Apartment – Maybe I have a soft spot for this movie because Jack Lemmon reminded me of my grandpa, but I can’t help but love this movie for the snappy dialogue and the journeys that both characters take before they really connect with each other. The path to love isn’t always a direct one but it’s a great feeling when you get there.
10 - Sense and Sensibility – I have a soft spot for Jane Austen after reading a bunch of her stuff in high school and the scene where Willoughby carries Marianne home in the rain always stuck with me (although I completely agree she was better off with Colonel Brandon).
So okay ladies, Mr. Hummingbird and I just moved and with a weekend of unpacking ahead of me and a video store around the corner, I need your help - to keep me in my cheery romantic haze, what are your favourite romantic flicks?
Oh I love Say Anything!!! I always hoped some guy would feel compelled to reenact the boombox scene with me, but it never happened 
My personal favorite is Love Actually– touching, funny, sweet, sad.
Also, my favorite holiday movie - Love Actually…also, The Holiday
“While You Were Sleeping” is my absolute favorite. If I come across it on TV, I can’t turn the channel, even though I have it on DVD and have seen it dozens of times. I love the moment he gives her the snowglobe of Florence.
The Notebook, Wedding Planner, How to lose a guy in 10 days, Kate and Leopold, The Holiday, Sweet Home Alabama, Runaway Bride, Because I Said So … I can really go one. hahaha.
A Walk to Remember, 13 going on 30! okay, I have to stop, told you I’m a chick flick lovah. LOL!
I LOVE the Notebook!!!
ooh… ditto on The Notebook, Love Actually (my fav X-mas movie too!), and While You Were Sleeping.
Also love Sleepless in Seattle and Pretty Woman
When Harry Met Sally, Amelie (MY FAVE), Talk to Her (oddly romantic and touching, definitely about love), While You Were Sleeping is one of my faves. I always think of it when I visit Chicago and ride the El.
How has no one said What Harry Met Sally!!!!
Sigh…
“I love that you get cold when it is 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle in your nose when you’re looking at me like I’m nuts. I love that after I spend day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes. And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night. And it’s not because I’m lonely, and it’s not because it’s New Year’s Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”
Oops. The person above me mentioned WHMS. (sorry!)
I love Serendipity - I’m a sucker for fate and all that good stuff! Plus, you mentioned you like John Cusack ;). It’s not as deep as a lot of other movies, but a nice light romantic movie
oh boy! How did I forget When Harry Met Sally?!?!
I love that one too!
“I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” I’m not a big Billy Crystal fan, but this line gets me every. Single. Time.
Yea, talk about the unlikely leading man, but damn!
Oh, and you love all my fave movies! I wish you lived in LA, Mr. Kiwi would love for me to have a chick-flick friend! He was so ashamed when I forced him to Bridget Jones- Edge of Reason.
Eternal Sunshine- I LOVE IT. The whole thing is kooky, but Clementine? Come on!
One of my favorite movies - it wasn’t very popular, I don’t think…but I promise, it won’t disappoint- it’s called Playing by Heart. Here’s the cast: Angelina Jolie, Dennis Quaid, Gena Rowlands, Sean Connery, Gillian Anderson, Anthony Edwards, Ellen Burstyn, Jay Mohr, Ryan Phillippe. You’ll love it. Even my fiance was hesitant at first - but of course, I pulled the Angelina card and then he was game. He ended up loving it.
I own that one! Angelina looks smashing in that and I love the final “twist.”
Me and my guy LOVE Monsoon Wedding.
Kiwi, if I’m ever out your way, I’ll bring my sappy DVD collection with me. Dogfight is awesome. I laugh at the scene in the restaurant every single time. Dirty bastard salad . . . hehehe.
Alexis, believe it or not, I saw Playing by Heart in the theatre when it came out. I always liked the John Stewart/Gillian Anderson pairing. You’ve got to love the dating as a pre-emptive stike against litigation exchange.
meladoriem, i love talk to her! so sad and hopeful, and it’s almodovar, which i think you really can’t beat.
my faves (besides princess bride) are harold and maude and but i’m a cheerleader. they both have great messages about unconvential love and are sweet/earnest/hilarious to boot.
i think i will need my own romantic movie fest this weekend!
Sleepless in Seattle!
(horses, horses, horses…)
Awesome list. If you added Amelie to the list, you’d have my favorite sappy movie list.
And isn’t John Cusack dreeeeeeeeeaaaaamy? *drools* Um… I mean, he doesn’t come close to our respective stud-muffin fiances. *grins*
I love Harold and Maude and Amelie! I think I need to expand my list now. LOL.
Has anyone seen Stardust yet? If not, rush out and buy your tickets before it’s out of the theatre! It’s the Princess Bride of this generation.
Ok, I’m glad people mentioned “The Holiday” because I love that movie as well.
But it reminded me of one of MY all-time romantic faves that some of you might not have given a go yet. It’s called “Holiday” and stars Cary Grant and the verable Kate Hepburn. From 1938…awesome movie.
I must say that I really like “A walk to remember”…
its so nice to see that the guy changes and actually falls in love with her even though he knows her situation.
I ball everytime i see it.
The song, only hope - by mandy moore… is sooo pretty!
Ohhh I love me some chic movies too. Even though he puts up a fuss when I make him watch them, I think FI might enjoy them too.
My faves…Pride and Prejudice (new one), Love Actually, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Never Been Kissed, Sixteen Candles, The Notebook and a Walk to Remember, The Wedding Date, While You Were Sleeping, Princess Bride, The Holiday…I can keep going too.
My fave of all of these though is Pride and Prejudice. I can watch it over and over and over….
It is also my fave book of all time.
Snookies said it best….When Harry Met Sally.
Em…I get that stuck in my head at the strangest times!
Other movies that I watch to get that warm and fuzzy feeling:
The Wedding Singer (love those eighties couples–but the best part is the the song he sings to her)
Shakespeare in Love (which I haven’t actually seen since I fell in love)
French Kiss (humor and love get me every time)
Little Mermaid (laugh if you will, but it was the first love story I remember. How funny that my guy has the same name)
Sliding Doors (I won’t watch that one too often because it’s so heart wrenching)
Singing in the Rain (there’s something about when Gene Kelly chases a girl)
Moulin Rouge (makes my finger nails tingle, that’s how good this movie is)
Ever After (I love the Cinderella story and this is one of the best…no helpless damsels here)
Titanic (cried like a baby)
Princess Bride (Not just your basic, average, everyday, ordinary, run-of-the-mill, ho-hum fairy tale.)
Both of these were already mentioned, but I’m crazy about the new Pride & Prejudice and Love Actually - they’re my favorite two movies by far.
Some of my faves have already been mentioned, but if u love before sunrise u will love the sequel before sunset. It’s one of my and mr. Bee’s fave movies. I also love 50 first dates and ever after.
I’m a big Meg Ryan fan, so I’d have to say “You Got Mail” is one of my all time favorites. Plus it’s got a rockin soundtrack
I loved Before Sunset and the second part, Before Sunrise as well! *sigh*
50 First Dates, anyone? Love that one. I’d also have to agree with Benny and Joon, so sweet.
Life is Beautiful - especially in it’s original Italian with the English subtitles. It’s got the romantic love, and then it’s also got the love of a father for his son. Great all around!
How can I forget 50 First Dates? Mr. Kiwi and I saw that together on our very first trip/valentine’s day. Brings happy heart feelings when I see it.
Also: Didn’t think I’d like this movie, but The Lake House was so good! I never imagined. Total tear jerker.
Jerry Maguire is pretty romantic to me b/c the characters are so imperfect. =)
I LOVE Notting Hill. I could watch it over and over again.
And hooray for more Before Sunrise/Sunset fans!! The dialogue was SO GOOD in that series.
It’s not super romantic, but Fever Pitch is totally cute. I could be partial b/c Mr. Eggplant is just like Jimmy Fallon’s character. =)
some more good ones…
memoirs of a geisha (one of my all time fav movies)
casablanca
gone with the wind
tristen & isolde
return to me
I got tears in my eyes just reading the When Harry Met Sally quote. Sigh… I also love the Princess Bride! “Mawwwage is what bwings us togevuh today.” Although the tears weren’t really for the couple, Father of the Bride and Steel Magnolias are wedding movies that always get me going. Sabrina is my favorite Audrey Hepburn movie.
If you like Jane Austen, you have to see my favorite:
Pride and Prejudice (the Kiera Knightley version)
Also,
Emma (the Gwyneth version; another Jane Austen winner)
A Room with a View
Like Water for Chocolate
For the guilty pleasure choice, I have to admit that even though the title totally sucks, when Mr. Hanks and Brinkley walk around the corner in the park on the Upper West Side I lose it. I present to you: YOU’VE GOT MAIL. My FI is hooked on THE CUTTING EDGE - I kid you not.
BUT, for romance and inspiration and good writing, you cannot overlook SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE.
I’d also have to say that EDWARD SCISSORHANDS and BREAKING AWAY both really do it for me as well.
Mrs. Hummingbird, Toronto
Age and Occupation: 25, Publishing Coordinator
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Videogame Designer/Cartoonist
Engagement Date: May 4, 2007
Wedding Date: June 28, 2008
Blogging Since: September 18, 2007
Venue: A garden wedding followed by a tented reception on Mr. Hummingbird's father's property.
About Me: I’m a pop culture loving, vintage obsessed foodie living in Canada’s biggest city with my fantastic fiancé and our lovable fluffy cat Bettie. I’m stoked to marry my best friend and to throw what I hope will be
the most fun and colourful party of our lives.
THE NOTEBOOK
(see my post about “no one likes a crybaby”)
So heartwrenching, especially if you have someone in your life with alzheimers. And I kind of have a girl crush on Rachel McAdams. But thats another story entirely!