Romance Movies

<p style=”text-align: justify;”>Let’s face it, romance is an omnipresent theme in movies and nearly every single movie has at least some elements of it. Think about the movies that touched your heart and soul, and it’s likely that many were romance movies. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen the very vast majority of romance movies deemed as classics like Casablanca, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, or even Ghost so this list will be quite short and may contain movies that you may not think as romance movies in the first place.</p>


	12. Braveheart (1995): Produced and directed by Mel Gibson, this movie may not strike you as a romance because it is male-driven but think about it: William Wallace is the consummate romantic hero. He sets his fellow Scottish countrymen on the path to war because the English occupier killed his wife. He also then goes on to have a romance with the absolutely stunning Sophie Marceau (who wouldn't...). Everything came together in this movie to make a masterpiece.
	11. Titanic (1997): James Cameron's epic love story set amidst one of the greatest single disaster in human history. Pretty good movie but only decent romance. If I have one complaint, it was too long! Another movie with a memorable musical score by James Horner.
	10. Slumdog Millionaire (2008): This may not strike as a romance movie but everything that the main character does is to reunite with the love of his life. Very reminiscent of City of God but this one is a love story at heart and features beautiful shots of India and its rapid upheaval. Read my review here.
	9. Across the Universe (2007): This musical has some significant flaws but has some magical moments to compensate. A love story worth watching to the tunes of the Beatles. The songs were sung by the actors themselves and many were on live takes. Read my review here. Two YouTubes for you because I almost forgot how beautiful some of the scenes of this movie were. The second scene is a stunning Gospel version of Let it be. Note that those are not music videos but actual scenes from the movie.
	8. Gone with the Wind (1939): An eight-time Oscar winner and the highest grossing movie ever (inflation adjusted), the sweeping epic is the type of movie that Hollywood just doesn't make anymore. Gone with the Wind follows Rhett Butler and Scarlett O’Hara, two headstrong characters, during the Civil War era. Rhett is madly in love with Scarlett and chases after the one that will never be his over the span of a decade. Scarlett, a selfish and self-centered woman, refuses to acknowledge her love for Rhett until it's too late.
	7. (500) Days of Summer (2009): Using an offbeat and clever non-linear screenplay and elevated by strong performances from Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel, this movie is easily the best romantic comedy in ages. Read the review here.
	6. In the Mood for Love (2000): Set in 1962 Hong Kong, a man and a woman living on adjacent flat become close friends when they suspect their respective spouses of being unfaithful. They are both headed for a doomed romance as both are unwilling to leave their current spouse. In the Mood for Love is the ultimate unconsummated love story and a patient and beautifully crafted movie by Kar Wai Wong.
	5. The Notebook (2004): Directed by the uncompromising Nick Cassavetes, this modern classic is so shamelessly syrupy and somehow it works! Starring Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling, the Notebook is the tale of an old man reading a book to an old woman with Alzheimer's disease about the story of two teenagers falling in love and overcoming social status and lengthy separation. The movie has it all: young love, enduring mature love, true love, separation, longing, heartbreak and even a monologue in the rain. One of those movies that makes you want to believe love is worth everything and anything.
	4. Beauty and the Beast (1991): I think that's the first romance movie I have ever seen. How can I not include it on this list?! One of Disney's best animated movie ever and the first animated movie to ever be nominated for Best picture at the Academy Awards. Falling in love with the soul within, how noble. Timeless movie.
	3. Once (2006): A bittersweet Irish indie that came out of nowhere, Once is a refreshing romance movie mixed into a musical which feels genuine and you don't get your usual "they lived happily thereafter" Hollywood treatment. The real treat are the original songs which are fantastic and literally tell the story, magical movie! Read my review here.
	2. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004): Another underrated movie and one of the very best romance movie ever made in my opinion. The movie stars Jim Carrey as you have never seen him before, the talented Kate Winslet and features a solid supporting cast with Mark Ruffalo, Kirsten Dunst, and Tom Wilkinson. This indie is the story of a couple who undergoes a medical procedure called "Targeted memory erasure" to erase the memories of each other because of a failed and painful relationship. However, during the procedure, the unconscious Joel (Jim Carrey) realizes he wants to hold on to the memories no matter how painful and struggles to keep some of his memories but they are slowly erased before his eyes. The ending is a bit ambiguous adding to the intrigue. This movie blew me away!
	1. The Last of the Mohicans (1992): This Michael Mann movie is set in 1757 at a time when the French and English were still vying for control of North America . The story albeit violent and lead by three tough male characters revolves around epic romances. Starring Academy Award winner Daniel Day Lewis, Madeleine Stowe, Eric Schweig, Johdi May and the awesome Wes Studi. Beautiful photography, violent battles at the most primal level, superior acting and a haunting soundtrack make this movie an overlooked masterpiece and one of the ultimate romance movie ever made. Read my review. Below, the musical score of the movie and one of my very favorite of all-time.