Valentine's Day Movie List - Part 2


So my list continues. It's a bit late now but who says that spending time with your significant other should be saved for special occasions. I realize that my list is fairly long considering how much I decide to write for each so there might even be a part 3 or I might just half-ass the last bit.

Where were we?

- For some reason I always get this movie mixed up with As Good As It Gets, they aren't really all that similar but they have Jack Nicholson being an ass in both. Once you see the premise of the movie and the characters involved you instantly know what the ending will be, but that's okay it's the journey that counts. Jack is good, not great but that's only because he's set his own bar too high. Diane Keaton is amazing and ravishing as ever even at her age. She is versatile actress but usually plays strong willed, independent women, which is no different for this film. I think the biggest surprise is that Keanu Reeves doesn't make me want to scream, vomit, or punch someone from watching his acting. It's not that it's a great performance but he's set the bar so low with his acting in the past that almost anything else would be an improvement. Something's Gotta Give has a lot to offer and it's a feel good movie for everyone....unless you are uneasy about seeing Diane and Jack get it on. Kidding, you don't get to see that much but now the imagery is there, so enjoy.

Love Actually (2003) - (Too many to name)
- Absolutely love this movie. The English seem to do things quite well and Americans like to shit all over them. I am referring to such things as Valentine's Day which is a poorly made rip-off (yet ashamedly still enjoyable for me) and of the newly remade Death at a Funeral. Notice that I have linked the only version there should be, the original UK version. That's all beside the point though. Unlike Valentine's Day, Love Actually flows relatively well, as well as something as complex as this could be. Not the greatest acting here but well put together. Olivia Olson, who plays Joanna, is a ridiculous singer for an 11 year old. She actually had to practice singing more like a child for the movie because the producers feared viewers wouldn't believe she was actually performing. A nice smattering of different types of love in this film which is nice. It shows a different side of things, notably looking at Sarah's (Laura Linney) and Billy Mack's (Bill Nighy) story arc. Rowan Atkinson (for those who don't know that name, it's Mr. Bean....if you don't know that name....watch more TV) plays a Cupid-like character, similar to Eugene Levy in Serendipity (see I knew it would come back around). There is a look he shoots at Daniel (Liam Neeson) near the end of the film that basically explains everything you need to know about his involvement and his intentions in the movie. All in all a very enjoyable, entertaining movie and highly recommended for dates and movie nights in. Sadly, after seeing it like 20 times it has lost a little magic but most things get old if you watch them too much, so watch in moderation.  

- This is an awesome film. The sets and shots make you really feel like you're really there and although it may be historically accurate, it looks pretty; history majors avert your eyes. This won the 1998 Oscar for Best Picture and I believe that was warranted. On another note Gwyneth actually got an Oscar for Best Actress in this film for playing Viola, the lead female, opposite Shakespeare. I liked her performance but personally I'm not sure it was Oscar worthy, maybe a Golden Globe or something. Maybe I am be swayed by the fact that as a whole the cast did an excellent job. If there was an Oscar for Best Cast....but there isn't. Joseph was probably more deserving of an Oscar, he definitely put a lot of emotion and his odd little spin on Shakespeare. Geoffrey Rush comes in a supporting role and he nailed it. Rush is as funny as ever and adds the right amount of comedy and tension relief in this story. Imelda Staunton plays Viola's maid and I only noticed this after watching her in the Harry Potter films as Dolores Umbridge. The contrast in the two roles is uncanny which goes to show how great Staunton really is. A great chick flick with solid performances all around and not to mention an intimidatingly spectacular cameo by Dame Judi Dench as Queen Elizabeth. You know you want to see it.

- Mixing crazy Frat Pack antics and actual romance makes this a great film. Vince Vaughn did a hilarious job as usual overshadowing Owen Wilson even though Wilson's was the clear lead story. Isla Fisher is amazing as the terribly spoiled, overly childish, nymphomaniacal Gloria. You almost forget that Isla is actually Australian. With the supporting cast being rounded out by Jane Seymour, Christopher Walken, Bradley Cooper, and Will Ferrell, how can you go wrong. Hilarious comedy that definitely eases the tension in a date situation...given that your date has a sense of humor.

- Everyone has heard of it but most people don't really know what this movie is about. Bogie plays Rick Blaine, an exiled American running a bar in WWII Casablanca. To be quite honest I forget several things about this movie but I do remember enjoying it. One does have to be careful though, since cinema was very different in the 40's and what appeals to 40's movie-goers may not appeal to you. You can't help to love Humphrey Bogart, he's not afraid of anything and I can put Bogart's Blaine, in a category of awesome movie men along with Connery's James Bond and Ford's Indiana Jones. Ingrid Bergman is simply stunning even in black and white and what it may not show in the movie Bergman was a surprisingly tall 5'9. Bergman is the mother is famous Italian model Isabella Rossellini, who was the face of LancĂ´me well into her 40's. Enough useless trivia.... A classic among classics, producing so many timeless quotes that you've all heard but probably don't even know where they came from. It may not be for everyone but I do urge you to give it a shot, you may be pleasantly surprised. I know I was.

- I love this movie because Miss Hepburn is the epitome of beauty. Yes, she was model thin and had those classic good looks but she seemed to use it in the strangest, most innocent way and she does it flawlessly. It's almost impossible to get angry or annoyed at the immature behavior of Hepburn's, Holly Golightly just because it's Audrey Hepburn. I can't explain it you just have to see it. Apparently since Hepburn was naturally very shy, this role was very tough for her. This was especially difficult for her in the opening scene where just off camera there were hundreds of bystanders watching which caused her to become nervous and make frequent mistakes. For our Oriental viewers, try not to be too offended by Mickey Rooney's Mr. Yunioshi. Rooney is a comedian, just trying to get some laughs and it was a different time in cinema back then. That being said it is one of the most racist roles I have ever seen, that doesn't mean I didn't laugh though. I can't really tell you a whole lot about the movie but just that you have to figure that out for yourself. Just go watch it and you'll see what I mean.    
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Okay....tired of writing again. There will be another part coming and that one will..hopefully..finish this list and include my favorite Animated films with some romance mixed in.

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