I know I'm opening myself up to debate here, but I am going to preface this list with the notes that I said Best Movies I have ever seen, not that exist, not that were ever made.
Lists drive some people crazy because I always see comments that say things like, "what about this one?"
"you totally forgot about fill-in-the-blank" "How could you put that movie on your list?!"
It's fine. I am expecting a lot of different opinions, but I will explain my choices today. Say what you will, I love these movies for a reason. In no particular order, 'cuz I know I can't pick a favorite among them.
1. The Lake House -
This is a remake of Il Mare (Italian for The Sea), a South Korean film. Don't ask me why it's titled in Italian if it's a South Korean film ok? I don't know why.
Some critics really hit this one hard. I know since Keanu's in it that automatically he's going to get hit with the normal critique that he has no depth, no inflection in his voice, he's monotone and emotionless. Yes, in one scene he's supposed to be crying and I just don't buy it, he could be crying that he just let a tomato fall off the kitchen counter for all I know, but it's still a good movie. The premise that 2 meant-to-be lovers are kept apart is usually a good start, but with this film, they are separated by years. Him in the past, Sandra Bullock in the future, or at least ahead of Reeves by a couple of years. I know the critics also did not like the idea of the magic time warp mailbox that they communicate through. I didn't get stuck on that plot point, I just accepted it, and it made the movie a lot more enjoyable. I'll let an otherwise good movie get away with little impossibilities if I really enjoy the story, which, I do here. The chemistry that these two share while dancing is my favorite part. By the end of the dance, they seem to be holding on for dear life to each other, and sometimes love is like that. I'll agree with Roger Ebert who said something like never mind the magic mailbox, time paradox stuff, I responded to the romantic threads of the movie.
2. Sweet November -
This is a hard one for me to watch, but not because of the reason you think. The first time I saw this I was sitting wrapped up with the love of my life that eventually left me so I have a strong emotional connection to this movie. That aside, had I seen it alone, I would've liked it just as much. Again for the Keanu critiques see above, and despite him being in it, it's still a great love story. This one is a remake of an older film which I haven't seen yet, but it's on my to do list. The critics didn't like this film, I don't know why, I love it. I feel the story has a lot of gravity, pulls a lot of heart strings, and makes a lot of sense even if you don't agree with the ending. I understand why it happened the way it did. I still cry my heart out everytime I watch this film for many reasons. It is highly recommended by me if you've never seen it. I love the character arc that Reeves character makes through the film.
3. Moulin Rouge
I didn't really know what to expect with this film. I was very surprised that over time, I loved it more. I love the singing (especially Ewan), the visual spectacle, the luxurious overindulgence of the theater dressings, oh my goodness and the wardrobe of Kidman! Some of those dresses are to die for! It's a bit manic yes, but at the heart of the movie is the love story between McGregor and Kidman and it is an epic one. She's torn between being married to a wealthy man she's basically already been promised to by her boss, and the broke man she truly loves. I love, love, love this love story. I can't say enough about it. The tension is high, the drama is there, the story is powerful and sad. I cry at this one too everytime I see it. You just have to see if you haven't.
4. City of Angels
I really don't like Meg Ryan. I never understood why so many other people do, but she just happens to be in this movie. I think it would have been just as good with another actress or better. But anyway, an angel of death (one of many around the world) falls for a human being. The only way he can be with her is if he gives up his special immortal job, and becomes human and mortal. It's been done before, but he's a bit conflicted since he has no idea what to expect. For some reason, she can see him before she's supposed to. Normally human beings don't see these angels until they are dead, but she's a doctor so maybe she's used to seeing death all the time? I enjoy the fact that Cage's character experiences things for the very first time that we take for granted. Things like touching skin, eating fruit, showering, feeling pain, etc. I like the yearning that Cage shows for his lady love, and I like seeing him able to have her fall in love with him too. This is also a remake of a 1987 German film titled Wings of Desire.
5. Sabrina
Lots of remakes on this list I know, I can't help what I like. Anyway, here's another remake by the same name from 1954 which, in turn, was adapted from a play named Sabrina Fair. I have to warn you the first hour of this movie is pure romantic magic. Stuff of dreams, fairy dust, winning the lottery, eating chocolate bars late at night good. The second hour, if you're a true romantic, might bore you a bit. I'm in love with the first hour. Sabrina is a young girl who has a crush on the younger Larrabee brother, but he hardly notices her. She's a bit awkward and she's the chauffeurs daughter. The chauffeur has saved a lot of money to send her to work in Paris and she hates to leave because she will not get to see her love everyday. So she leaves, but keeps him on her mind. While there, she has a romance, gets a job, learns about herself and grows up of course. The movie never says, but she must be there for about a year or a little more. When she comes back, she's blossomed into a woman that the youngest Larrabee can't ignore even though he's now engaged to someone else. Just when all the magic starts bubbling between Sabrina and the youngest brother, the oldest brother and mother steps in to intervene. The youngest brother is engaged to a daughter of a business associate and the family wants to merge the companies. If the youngest brother screws that up now, they will never forgive him. He has a record for being a lazy Playboy and doesn't know anything about the company. The family figures Sabrina must be dealt with. The older brother puts the youngest brother into an extended state of painkillers (don't ask just see the movie) and he's basically comatose so he can't talk to Sabrina. Meanwhile, the older Larrabee starts working his way into her life. This is where the second hour starts and things aren't so magical anymore, they are just ok. Anyway, they start dating for lack of a better term and things work out the way they should by the end, but not for me. I would've liked her to choose who I would've chosen, but alas, it is not my movie to direct. It's well worth viewing for the first hour alone, I'm telling ya! I'm in love with both Larrabee brothers and Sabrina's dress from Paris that she wears to her first Larrabee party. Watch for it. She looks stunning!
6. Ghost
A modern classic for sure. A love so strong that death can't even separate them. The late great Patrick Swayze plays a murdered man who never told his girlfriend that he loved her. He always said ditto, but not I love you too. It's something he comes to regret when he realizes he's dead and can never tell her now. She (Demi Moore) is lonely and lost without him after seeing him murdered before her. His killing was not random and the people responsible are targeting Moore next to get what information they need to acquire a lot of money. Swayze's character finds a medium who he can talk to and help protect his girlfriend. It's a great love story, drama, and comedy all in one. It'll make you cry for sure if you're a girl and it has a happy ending to some degree, so watch it if you haven't yet.
7. (500) Days of Summer
This movie is the most realistic love story that I have ever seen, and the one I've related to the closest. Joseph Gordon-Levitt falls for a new girl at work (Zooey Deschanel who's compelled to sing in almost every movie I've ever seen her in, even though she can't sing worth a crap.) They carry on an office romance and he falls deeper and deeper in love with her all the time. For the entire duration of this romance she's emphasized that she's not looking for anything serious and that she doesn't believe in true love. He should have listened to her more closely. I cried throughout because the story is not linear and jumps from day to day to day of their relationship showing all sorts of stuff out of order. If you haven't seen it, you should. It's honest, refreshing, and written from a place of experience and it shows.
8. Somewhere in Time
A complete polar opposite to the movie above in everyway possible. Oh this movie is so good, as long as you don't mind remembering it was made in 1980 and the wardrobe's a bit dated. It's actually based off a novel of Richard Matheson's titled Bid Time Farewell. It's a science fiction romance. The late great Christopher Reeve (we lose too many too young) plays a very famous and successful playwright who at the beginning of the film is celebrating with his friends after a play of his closes. An old woman who he's never seen, comes up from out of the crowd and gives him a stop watch. She says, come back to me, and then leaves. No one knows who she is and Reeve is dumbfounded and a bit creeped out. He needs some time off. He finds an old grand hotel to take a break and relax for awhile. While he's there he sees a portrait of a beautiful woman (Jane Seymour) and becomes obsessed with her. The portrait is from 1912 and she is a famous actress of her day. He researches all he can about her and self hypnosis (stay with me here, the plot's about to go sci fi on us). He dresses himself as he would for the early 1900's and hypnotizes himself to travel back in time to find her there at the hotel. He's successful and he finds her. They are instantly attracted to each other, but her overprotective manager tries to keep her away from him, thinking he will derail her career and prove to be too much of a distraction. Reeve is determined (we find out how determined by the end of the film) to be with her and he sneaks around the managers back to find time with her. Everything is perfect until something terrible happens. I can't tell you what, you'll have to see it to be surprised, but it's an excellent love story and has a HUGE following from women, men, young and old, and I'm one of them now.
9. & 10. Well, I didn't mean for this to happen. After racking my brain for weeks, I have not been able to come up with any more that are my favorites. I have a list of some left overs that I liked, but they weren't good enough to finish off the list. I guess, it's just my 8 favorite love stories.
Titanic
Down with Love
Wall-e
Kate & Leopold
Pretty Woman
Somewhere In Time is a true favorite of mine. My mother love's it and so I would watch it with her. I've watched it every time its been on. A beautiful love story.
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