I Kiss You
Movie reviews by Andy Moseley - reprinted with permission from the February 2000 Mariners' Log
Ahhhhhh! It's Valentine's time again. All of the kissing, expensive flowers, dinners, weight gained from all of the chocolate-nothing like it, is there? To celebrate this loving time of year, I'm going to attempt to rank the top ten love movies of all time. Of course, I haven't seen a third of the love movies released, so this list is far from perfect. I also prefer a comedy over a love movie on most occasions. However, we'll take a stab at this anyway. At times, the particular rankings might not be perfect. Maybe movie #4 is better than #3, and so forth. Let me know what you think.
#10 - Dirty Dancing. OK, so it's not the greatest love story out there. However, it's one of the most watched love stories out there. Dirty Dancing is on television almost weekly, which shows just how popular it has become. For you women who just go crazy over Patrick Swayze, he's in the movie. It also has the Oscar winning song "(I Had) the Time of My Life." A TV series was made on it. What more do you need to know?
#9 - Great Expectations. I originally saw this with the rest of Brunswick High's top-notch Rising Surf literary magazine staff two years ago on St. Simons Island, and I didn't really get into it then. It was just too dark and confusing for my simple mind. You can also add in the fact that I was absolutely bored to tears when I read Great Expectations as a freshman at BHS. Well, I gave it a second chance when it came out on video and actually liked it. I understood it this time. The storytelling is impressive. Maybe the best way to review this would be to say exactly what Amazon.com said about the movie, "It's a stylish, sweet valentine."
#8 - Forrest Gump. I know what you are thinking: Forrest Gump isn't a love story! That's what you think. Yes, it is about the life of Forrest. Forrest has a lot of love to share - for his mama, for Bubba, for Lt. Dan, and of course, for Jenny. The movie actually revolves around love (or else I just didn't know what else to put here, whichever sounds better on my part).
#7 - You've Got Mail. What is this, America Online? No, it's another Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks production. The story is a lot like Sleepless in Seattle. Just imagine it happening on the Internet with a few different details.
#6 - Pretty Woman. Yes, it's the movie that made Julia Roberts's career. Julia plays a prostitute who is hired by Richard Gere. Richard apparently wasn't happy enough being married to Cindy Crawford. Geez, what more could a guy want? Anyway, they fall in love and the details are on video. Amazon.com actually lists Pretty Woman as a comedy, which it is. It's a love story, though, and who says you can't laugh at love? Well, somebody probably said that, but that's not the point. Work with me here! (Ms. B. said that if I think Pretty Woman is #6, I need to see Notting Hill, another showcase for Roberts’s talent with the scintillating plot so typical of her movies. Then, she says, I wouldn’t have to pretend Forrest Gump was a love story-those are Ms. B.’s exact words.)
#5 - The English Patient. The critics loved it. I had to watch it a few times to figure out what was going on. The story isn't so simple: a man is very badly burned in a plane crash in World War II. A nurse tends to him, and they start to get that loving sensation. This is based on the novel of the same name by Michael Ondaatje. (I write it; I don’t even pretend to be able to pronounce it!)
#4 - Sleepless in Seattle. Eventually, Meg Ryan had to break the "love list." The only movies I can ever remember Meg being in are love stories. This time, Meg is paired up with Tom Hanks, whose movies are always good. (See #8 above.) Meg plays a recently engaged woman who hears Tom (whose wife died) telling his story on the radio. Meg thinks she and Tom are destined for each other, and the story goes from there.
#3 - Romeo and Juliet. There are a few different versions out there, so you can go for the '90s DiCaprio version (Does he HAVE to be in everything? Pretty obviously not my choice!) or the '60s Olivia Hussey version. The story is simple. Romeo’s and Juliet's families are fighting, but the two love each other. In 2000, it's an idea for an episode of Jerry Springer. In the movies, it's a good love story that ends in tragedy. If you don't want to spend Valentine's evening in front of the TV translating Shakespeare into the English you speak, go find a book with this in it and read. (I'm sure your significant other will be equally appreciative of that.)
#2 - Titanic. What can I say about Titanic that hasn't been said already? Just like Romeo and Juliet, it is long. Just like Romeo and Juliet, it is one of the all time great stories. Leonardo DiCaprio (you know the guy) and Kate Winslet play their parts to perfection, and the special effects are outstanding. However, this is one of those love stories with a sad ending-like Romeo and Juliet-so bring your Kleenex if you are one who cries a lot. (No, I didn't cry.)
#1 - Gone with the Wind. Was there ever any doubt? Maybe if we lived in Maine and not Georgia, another movie would get the nod. Of course, if you’ve lived in the South for more than 20 minutes, you should have seen this movie by now anyway. Clark Gable and the gang made this movie not just the best love story ever but one of the best movies ever, period. You probably know Scarlett O'Hara’s story; if you’re female, you probably know (and have used) several of her classic lines. If not, I want to know where your rock is for the next time I’m trying to hide from a professor. If you have never seen Gone with the Wind, stop what you are doing right now, run to the nearest video store, rent it, bring your loved on over, fix up a bowl of grits (just for the whole Southern motif), and start it rolling. Just a tip: use the bathroom before you start watching, because this is one l-o-n-g movie.
A few honorable mentions include Runaway Bride and any Sandra Bullock movie not involving a runaway bus. And I’m sure some of my older readers have seen some classics that I’ve never watched.
In case you have a few bucks left over after the chocolates, roses, and special dinners, or if you just like going to the movies on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Valentine's Day and spending $10 on popcorn, a few movies will be coming out in February. Some fit the whole love motif; others don't. Check local listings to see if, where, and when the movie is playing.
Scream 3 (Neve Campbell - rated R) Neve equals instant winner in my book.
Simpatico (Nick Nolte - rated R)
Gun Shy (Sandra Bullock - rated R)
The Beach (Leonardo DiCaprio - rated R) He's b-a-a-a-a-c-k and around water again.
Hanging Mary (Meg Ryan, Diane Keaton, Lisa Kudrow - rated PG-13)
Snow Day (Chevy Chase - rated PG)
Enjoy your time sitting in front of the television or in front of the big screen. Most of all, enjoy your time with your loved one. Geez, this is so sappy. Feel free to e-mail me at andy1278@hotmail.com with any movies I should consider reviewing for the March 2000 Log.
