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The Most Romantic movies for Singles
Never has a subject been more emotive than when I ran a small
survey to find out which were our favorite top 10 romantic movies of all time. First of all there is the problem of defining
what constitutes 'romantic'. Then there is the era and age of the movie. Then there is the notion of what counts as a movie.
In other words can a made-for-TV program count. Finally, after pulling my hair out with the stress of it all, I whittled the
answers down to a final ten. You may not agree, you may send me your own lists and you may threaten me with violence but the
point is, there is no definitive list. We all have our own top 10 romantic movies based on what we have viewed over the years.
And that is it. Here are our the results of our top 10 romantic moves survey in no particular order.
Love Story (1970)
The music helps I have to say has an amazing impact once again
on recent viewing but that's not the whole story by far. One of the best and most popular and enduring love stories on celluloid
you can find. Ali McGraw and Ryan O'Neal star in a film that will have you reaching for the tissue box without doubt. Its
funny how often romance is linked with sadness but I am not getting into that here. We have everything that a tearjerker can
throw at you- rich boy, poor girl, opposing father, success, disaster, fatal illness etc. Superbly filmed and an emotional
rollercoaster. Fabulous and a must-see, just watch it on your own though of you are prone to tears.
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Titanic (1997)
Would you like someone to die for you, or want to die for someone?
In tragedy we often find the barest soul of romance and so it is with this movie. The romance is not so much in the characters
but in the fact that it is so intense and so brief and so unfairly taken away within a setting of huge drama. Self sacrifice
may be the romantic ideal being portrayed here but there are few us of who watched this without a tear. At 3 hours, we are
overtaken by every emotion and for days afterwards the movie leaves a haunting impact. But it is the drama of the two lovers
that affected the worlds audiences the most. Superb.
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Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
I cannot believe this is only ten years ago. To me it feels
like a film from folklore, certainly in terms of perfect romantic movies. Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks may be too sweet a pairing
for some but in terms of romantic fantasy land this is about as close to heaven as one can get. Beautifully scripted and filmed
and pulling on our heart strings with required, it is the perfect vehicle for the starts of the show to illustrate why they
are both romantic stars. Meeting on top of the Empire State building - well who wouldn't! There are some reviews on the web
that try and analyze this movie as if it was Ben Hur, lets not bother. Instead grab your pop corn and settle in with your
sweetheart.
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Pretty Woman (1990)
When asked, it came back in almost every top 10 I was given.
Maybe it was the dream pairing of Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, maybe it was the story of a girl finally made good. Maybe
it was simply about boy choosing girl just when you think he might not. Whatever aspect you wish to focus on, this is top
class romantic entertainment that over the years has not aged one bit. Critics should take note of the people's view as there
were some unkind reports on this movie. Clearly these guys have no heart. Rent and watch and remind yourself how on screen
romance should look. Yes it may be a re make of Pygmalion but quite frankly, who cares.
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City of Angels (1998)
My personal favorite and one that is hugely successful in terms
of presenting the answer to the complex romantic equation of romance, love and mortality. Meg Ryan again and based partly
on the classic earlier film Wim Wenders' movie, Wings of Desire, City of Angels is beautifully filmed and acted, Meg being
particularly on form. Nicholas Cage as the angel Seth finds himself at odds with the world by falling in love with Meg who
looks almost as angelic as Nick throughout. Ultimately Seth's fall from grace to be with the woman he loves tugs at the heart
but nothing on earth can prepare you for romantic dram of the final moments. From the opening heart breaking scene, to the
angels portrayed as beings of light , aloof in high places, this movie appeals on every level Glorious and gorgeous in every
way with a music score to match.
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Casablanca (1942)
This classic and adored timeless classic is really a romantic
melodrama. Often quoted ("here's lookin' at you, kid" and the always misquoted "play it again Sam"), it has lost none of its
romantic value in the last 61 years. Against a wartime backdrop we are presented as viewers with a classic love triangle where
two men vie of the affections of the same woman. Humphrey Bogart in splendid form as the exiled loner and the film its self
attends to the theme of lost love. The ending is a romantic classic. If it is Sunday evening and raining outside this is the
one for you (both).
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An Affair to Remember (1957)
One of my favorites, the essential romantic storyline is that
Cary Grant, an eligible bachelor is set to marry an heiress. Fortunately or unfortunately depending on your viewpoint he meets
Deborah Kerr whilst traveling alone on a luxury yacht and realizes he's engaged to the wrong woman. Just to complicate matters,
she is engaged to the wrong man. In the end they agree to spend six months apart and if they still love each other they will
reunite six months later at the top of the Empire State Building. Of course the threat of tragedy strikes. Even today elements
of this storyline find their way into modern romantic productions. I have to mention one of the top cinematic romantic moments
when Cary Grant walks into Deborah Kerr's room and sees the painting she had bought but which he had painted. A great romantic
treat.
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The Way we Were (1973)
I have always been a great fan of Robert Redford and it is
easy today for the younger generation to forget not only his but Barbara Streisand 's formidable talents. Here we have two
young lovers with differing political ideologies who come together, one the conservative , the other a radical. Its an odd
thing but there are aspects to the American cinema of the early 1970's that have never been emulated (see The Last Picture
Show for example) anywhere else and this embodies many sensitive romantic ideals that are rarely portrayed today. Miss Streisand
won a deserved Oscar for her portrayal of the woman in love and the music will make your spine tingle. Lovely.
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Doctor Zhivago (1965)
The year I was born was 1965 but Omar Sharif still looks better
today than I ever have. The music is mesmerizing, the, film work unbelievable and epic and the love story, simply stunning.
Recently re-released in special edition DVD format, this is one for a weekend in and perfect for lovers of romantic movies
everywhere. Julie Christie still look as gorgeous as ever and the perfect romantic heroine for this film. Set against the
backdrop of the Russian revolution, Sharif and Christie portray two lovers who are separated and brought together again by
war and fate. Once again it is a movie that combines romance and tragedy as the two appear to be intertwined but for a treat
of cinematic vistas and passion this is a must see.
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Brief Encounter (1946)
Celia and Johnson and Trevor Howard star in this romantic classic.
A housewife by chance meets a married Doctor at a railway station. What transpires is a cinematic masterpiece of inspired
passion and unrequited love between an English middle-class man and woman. Even the title has moved into general romantic
speak. If you haven't seen it then put it at the top of the pile because you cannot be classed as educated in the art of romance
until you have. My own note is that I was told it was filmed at Carnforth railway station at the edge of the English Lake
District.
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Oh and we now want to add the fantastic John Cusack movie,
High Fidelity - just because !
Happy romantic viewing!
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