We love Valentine’s Day! The simple yet elegant “Dinner and A Movie” is a Valentine’s day mainstay but sometimes the wrong choice in film can make or break a date which is why we here at Dreaming Droids have gone out of our way to help all you love birds out. Here’s a list of movies for the season of romance. Either by yourself or with your main squeeze, any one of these films is a surefire way to tug on the old heartstrings this mushiest of days. We also took the liberty of giving you some helpful and foolproof suggestions on how to get your Valentine in the mood for love.
The Notebook (2004) – Poor boy meets rich girl resulting in a timeless and tragic love story. The very definition of a “tear-jerker” that will leave you clutching your significant other as tightly as you can. James Garner really steals the show in this one. You will need extra Kleenex on hand if she’s a crier.
Say Anything (1986) – Slacker and Valedictorian fall in love. Truly Writer/Director Cameron Crowe at his finest. Considered “one of the best modern romances” by Entertainment Weekly, try having a “boom box” cued up with your favorite love song to woo your Valentine after the movie!
Dirty Dancing (1988) – Sparks fly when Baby falls in love with her secret dance instructor. Nobody puts Baby in the corner and the amazing soundtrack will surely put your significant other in the mood! Also take a moment and try to replicate those dance moves. You know you want to.
Brokeback Mountain (2005) – Two cowboys discover true love in Director Ang Lee’s complex and very moving mediation on the human condition. This movie is less about “gay cowboy sex” and more bout the bonds we form with those we are close to. A good choice for an evening of thoughtful conversation.
Sleepless in Seattle (1993) – Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan are both well cast as a widower and a newspaper woman who fall in love thanks to the machinations of his sneaky 8-year-old son. The first in the Meg Ryan Romance Triple Play.
You’ve Got Mail (1998) – They may hate each other in real life, but competitors Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan sill manage to fall in love over the internet. A fairly accurate embrace of how dating has changed due to technology. Send your lover a friendly text during the film to let them know you care. Second in the Meg Ryan Triple Play.
When Harry Met Sally (1989) – Will sex ruin a good friendship? Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal are going to find out one way or the other. Yes, the Katz Diner Orgasm Faking Scene is famous for a reason. Third in the Meg Ryan Triple Play. Collect them all!
Roxanne (1987) – Steve Martin’s hilariously sweet take on Cyrano De Bergerac in which Daryl Hannah and Shelly Duval shine. The original 1897 play introduced the world to the word “panache” and this film version has plenty of it. Time to take some notes.
Sixteen Candles (1984) – A comedy of errors around coming of age. Perhaps Writer/Director John Hughes’ most iconic film and a must for any student of teen movies or romantic comedies. Plus, all the Molly Ringwald you could ask for! You and your inamorata can take a trip down high school memory lane.
Moonstruck (1987) – Cher and Nicholas Cage try to find love amidst a sea of family complexities in this unabashed Italian American love story. If you want to see why Cher was so revered as an actress, look no further than this movie. You won’t be disappointed. A kiss is more powerful under the moonlit sky.
Love Actually (2003) – Writer/Director Richard Curtis of Notting Hill and Bridget Jones’ Diary fame gives us a two-for-one Christmas holiday movie/love story that’s just right for lovers on Valentine’s Day with a smart cast. Through ten separate but interlinking stories, we are given a panorama of love and its various effects. How intertwined are your own lives and fates?
Ghost (1990) – Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, and Whoopi Goldberg take this love story/murder mystery/fantasy and elevate the premise that, even though separated by death, love can still conqueror all. The pottery scene is good time to snuggle up and make your move!
Titanic (1997) – James Cameron’s epic ode to the doomed cruise ship is a technical triumph and, for a time, stood as the most expensive film ever made. The love story between Leonardo Di Caprio and Kate Winslet outshines the effects and will keep you at the edge of your seat. Throw caution to the wind and belt it out with Celine Dion and your partner will melt in front of you (if you’re any good).
Taming of the Shrew (1969) – Richard Burton and Liz Taylor are on fire with this high energy take on the Bard in this breathtaking picture. Perhaps one of the few real times where art imitates life as this celebrity couple puts more than just a little bit of their chemistry into their roles. No reason to stay tame after the movie, though.