My Favorite Romantic Movies

1. Pride and Prejudice is a Jane Austen masterpiece and probably her most famous novel of all. The book I loved, and I also loved all the versions of this movie. I've seen most of them Bride and Prejudice (Indian Version), 1980 version, and even the newest Hollywood version. However the best one (in my opinion) was the BBC version with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle as Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet. This one like the 1980 version was true to the book, but it also vamped up the sex appeal and romance between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. It's very long and the DVD is divided in two, but I can assure that it will be 4 hrs well spent, trust me its good. The Bennet's are a middle class family with 5 girls growing up in the English 19th century. Where a woman's only hope of survival and success was to marry well to a man who was her equal or higher in society. This was a great distress to their mother whose sole purpose in life was to ensure her daughters became married. What happens in this movie is nothing short of entertaining, as it reinforces the theme of looks and perhaps characters can be very deceiving.



2. Gone with the Wind- Never could I have imagined that there would've been so much sex appeal in a movie that came out in 1939. Overlooking the racial undertones, this is one of my favourite movies, I saw it when I was younger and hated it. It was long and boring, the only thing I liked about it as a child were the pretty dresses. Somehow I ended watching it recently on one of those nights when insomnia was attacking me and I couldn't get enough of Clark Gable (Rhett Butler). They don't make male leads like that anymore, the chemistry between him and Vivian Leigh (Scarlett) was amazing. I kept rewinding the movie to the parts where they were on screen together (my fave movie couple). The movie tells of the time when America was in the civil war and one woman's struggle to survive this trying period. Scarlett O Hara was a beautiful woman that was used to having her way, all her life, but this comes crashing down when Ashley (the man she thinks she loves) marries another woman. She's spends her whole life using her beauty and charms trying to win him back, using and disposing of men along the journey. Not realizing, until she loses him that Rhett Butler was the one she really loved.



3. Pretty Woman- A modern (well not today) fairytale about a hooker (Julia Roberts) that falls in love and is rescued by the dashing prince/millionaire (Richard Gere). Totally stereotypical, but I love it all the same Julia was amazing as Vivian the prostitute with a heart of gold who ends up hooking up with a bored millionaire John. Edward Lewis is in LA for 1 week and hooks up with Vivian after getting directions from her, he asks her to stay with him for the duration of his trip paying her $4000. He introduces her to a world she's never known, takes her shopping, wines and dines her, even falling in love with her. She possesses something that he hasn't seen in a long time, she's genuine and innocent, and changes him for the better. This was one of the only films I loved the very first time I saw it at the tender age of 5. Perhaps I was able to recognize that this was a fairytale like all the other ones I loved at that age.



4.The Notebook-I love this movie and its perhaps one of the few romantic movies where the couple actually stays together. Its told in flashback style where Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling) and Allie Hamilton (Rachel McAdams) two teens from different ends of the economic spectrum fall in love over the summer. However they're torn apart by pressure from her parents who want her to find someone who's in her social and economic status. Her parents succeed for a little while, that is until faith has its way before her wedding and what happens is nothing short of magical. These two give a Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh serious competition in the chemistry department. Theirs was so real that it transferred into an off screen romance that went on for years.



5. Bright Star- This is the saddest movie I've seen in a long time, and its also the only one in my top 5 that's based on reality. The movie describes famous poet Tom Keats's love affair with his "Bright Star" Fanny Brawne and their relationship through out his short life. He's introduced to fashion adoring Fanny and they form an attachment when he teaches her poetry. As it usually went in that time he loved her, but they were unable to marry because he didn't have the money or the means to do so. The two however continued their attachment despite disapproval from family a friends. Their love was one so strong that Fanny wouldn't eat when he was away and suffered emotional breakdowns if he didn't write, or his letters were too short. Eventually he becomes ill and dies and Fanny has a mental breakdown, and for the duration of her life she remains detached from reality carrying their love until her end. It was very depressing, but the story of their love was beautiful.

Legion

What do you get when you mix a bunch of B list actors in a shitty movie, why Legion of course!!. The critics panned this mess, but I had to see it for myself and for once they didn't lie. This movie was ridiculous the movie's storyline was so far fetched and unrealistic and don't get me started on the characters. God has lost faith in all of mankind so he wants to end the world and he send his angel Michael to kill this one girl's baby, because this baby might be the key to saving mankind???? WHATTTT, when I think about it sounds more stupid I didn't think that was possible. However Michael has a change of heart and wants to protect the baby and save mankind, PURE HIGHGRADE TRASH. I can't DO NOT WASTE UR MONEY ON THIS 1 mango for effort and the cast which were all too good for this crapfest, I sense a razzy nomination or 2 for this 1 next year.,

Dear John

Another one from romance specialist Nicholas sparks,this one however does not compare to its predecessors 'A Walk to Remember', 'Nights in Rodante' and most notably 'The Notebook'. While it must have made for a great read, the movie falls flat with its story line. John Tyree (Channing) a soldier on leave and Savannah (Seygfreid)college student meet over spring break at the beach and quickly fall in love in two weeks (eyes rolling). Break is over and the two part, promising to write each other everyday for the 12 month duration of his army contract and this begins a deep romance between the two. Then 9/11 happens and John finds himself unwillingly enlisting for another 3 yrs or however long causing great pain as Savannah is forced to come to terms with a huge time apart from John. While they both did well in their individual roles the chemistry between them was non existent. And the twist and ending was so ridiculous and abrupt, leaving one movie goer to ask loudly "WHAT THE F#*K WAS THAT" I give it 2 juicy mangoes, it was bad, had a lot potential but it was bad.

From Paris with Love

John Travolta comes back with a bang as Charlie Wax, a secret service agent in this movie. Jonathan Rhys (King Henry in Tudors)also plays and excellent role as his untrained partner in crime. Rhys is an assistant to the US ambassador in Paris, he has everything a dream job, dream girl and the hope of one day joining the secret service. His hopes comes crash landing in his lap when he's given the job of assisting Wax (Travolta) on his next mission. What happens next is nothing but an adventure as Wax turns his partner's whole world upside down. LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT. It was funny & romantic, with thrilling action sequences minus CGI(very refreshing). Famous parts in the movie Wax making it rain cocaine and Asian gangsters. Wonderful movie I give it 4 juicy mangoes

The Lovely Bones

A wonderful movie about a young girl who's coming of age in the 1970s, but her world comes to an abrupt end when she's molested and brutally murdered by a pedophile. She's stuck in a world between heaven and earth as she watches her family and murderer come to terms with her death, while trying to accept this herself. The plot was great and there were excellent performances by all the actors in this movie. The ending was not the greatest for some and it seemed unresolved, nevertheless it was a good film. I give it 3 1/2 juicy mangoes.

Valentines Day

Well I've been looking at a bunch of Romantic films recently and I'll be reviewing some of the classics in honor of Valentines Day. These aren't new ones but old movies that have been around maybe you'll be able to rent them on demand for that special day.

When in Rome

Oh my gosh this movie was filled with romantic cliches and was so lame. I've never seen a movie that was so predictable and cheesy as this one. It was stupid I don't know why I looked at it I somehow expected it to be better. Well as u can tell from the previews Kristen Bell is out of luck when it comes to love and she finds herself in Rome. Well blah blah blah blah I can't even be bothered to go further. It has its cute moments but it was still bad. I gave it 1 mango (it ain't even juicy)

The Book Of Eli

I heard there was so much controversy over this movie and I watched and I couldn't understand why. By no means was this film anti-Christianity in fact in my opinion it reinforces the themes of faith and God's miraculous power. Eli is in a post apocalypse era where humans have become scavengers basically roaming around trying to scrap about for whatever remains of the world is left. As the name suggest he has this book which he's convinced he must carry west and tries his best to prevent anyone from hindering this task. I will stop here because there is a surprising twist at the end which I don't want to ruin. I gave it 4 juicy mangoes it was a good film

The Princess and The Frog

I must say despite all the bad reviews and the negative flack this film got I still loved it. Who cares that our first black princess was a frog for half the film, this very much added to the story line. I believe the film was very realistic to the era and setting in which the story was written for. Fiona is a little girl from two hard working African American parents living in the 1920s era of New Orleans. They teach their little Fiona that she can have all she wants by working for it and so sets the theme of this movie. Which is quite unique and different from the other Disney Films (perhaps as a truth and tribute since black people in America are never handed anything we have to work for all we a achieve). It was a lovely film it took me back to that place when I was young and carefree and it possessed that feel good spirit which all Disney movies have. I gave it 4 1/2 juicy mangoes (even my sister stayed awake and liked this one). Definitely one for the kids especially our kids it our first princess :-).

It's Complicated

A smart film about a woman that finds herself in a severe midlife crises. She's caught between two lovers her ex husband (who cheated on her with his current 20 something wife) and her architect (who's renovating and making her dream home). Meryl Streep did great in this role, this woman can do no wrong and Alec Baldwin was very funny. Its not a film that all may enjoy, (my sis hated it) this is definitely for the older crowd. May be if u wanted to take say your mom out for a lovely entertaining film this would be the one. It was still enjoyable I give it 3 juicy mangoes.

Sherlock Holmes

Sorry guys I saw this movie since last year, but didn't get around to blogging (I've been lazy). Robert Downey jr. gives a lovely performance as Sherlock and so does Jude Law, however I can't say I was completely impressed. It was hyped greatly and I expected more. All the funny parts were shown in the trailer and while the script was believable it still lagged and lulled(I was getting drowsy towards the end). Still a great movie, not the best but entertaining. I give it 3 juicy mangoes.