Cold Mountain

Released: 2003
Drama, Romance
Director: Anthony Minghella
Starring: Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Renee Zellweger
Running Time: 154 minutes
Rated: R

The breakdown:  During the Civil War, a deserter tries desperately to get back to the love of his life.

This was based on the book of the same name by Charles Frazier, which I totally want to read now that I've seen the movie.  Where as in The Notebook, I had heard great things and it was a total flop, this one I had heard nothing about and it was a great success.
A young couple meets and like each other, but then the Civil War breaks out and they are torn apart without being able to say more than a few paragraphs to each other.
He hates the war and leaves, a deserter, who is hunted down by many people for rewards and such.
She meanwhile, stays on her fathers farm and tries to cope with not knowing whether he's alive or not or getting her letters or not.
He's been injured during battle and finds many obstacles to getting back to her, and even though the film's almost 3 hours long, it never feels long.
All the main cast, and the supporting cast are very well known and strong actors and I enjoyed this dramatic romance immensely.
SEE IT!

4 and 1/2 out of 5 for being damn near perfect.  Sure to go down as one of my favorite romantic films of all time.