I thought it’d be fun today to talk about our favorite romantic movies. We all have them, don’t we? Yep. :) We do.
I’ll go first, then you.
My favorite is The Lake House starring Sandra Bullock and… um, yeah. Keanu Reeves.
Hold on! Don’t go yet! Yes, I know, I know. We’re not supposed to be fans of Keanu Reeves. Truth be told, I’m not a fan of either actor. (Not a fan of actors much in general, but I digress.) Sandra Bullock tends to do fluffy, silly romantic comedies, and I don’t care for those. But in this one, she is different.
Way different.
And Reeves is pretty likable too.
Bullock is a new doctor who has just finished her residency and takes a job at a downtown Chicago hospital. (No, I don’t love the movie because part of it is in Chicago, although that doesn’t hurt the movie’s cause.) Anyway, when we meet her, she’s very serious. Sad. Somber. We’re not sure why, but she’s lonely and needs… something.
She moves to Chicago from this lake house she was living at in Wisconsin. (Check it out in the trailer — it’s worth watching, just for that.) So before she moves out, she leaves a note in the mailbox for the next renter, giving him her address should the post office forget to forward her mail.
She also dates the letter.
And the next renter, Keanu Reeves, replies back to her. He says, sure he’ll forward any mail, but she’s confused him. She’s mentioned some things about the lake house that just aren’t there. And she also got the date wrong. She dated the letter as 2006 when he knows it’s 2004.
“Ooooo!” you all just said. It’s a time-travel romance.
Yep, but they’re only two years apart. So they can meet.
Yes! I love that part.
I’m gonna go watch this movie right now. Hang on. You watch the trailer.
Okay, I’m back. It’s still great.
So the movie is about them connecting, initially through letters, and then in real life, in Keanu’s time, not Bullock’s. But the question of course is can they have a relationship? How will that work? What will happen when they finally meet?
I’d say more about this movie, but I don’t want to ruin how it all turns out. The one negative I’ll see is that there is a little bit of swearing in it — some curse words and God’s name a few times. (I hate that.) And there’s a bit of cheese here and there, especially early. Don’t let that cheesy bit deter you though. Other than that, it’s a really romantic, sweet yet serious movie with actors playing roles a bit outside their norm.
Now it’s your turn! What’s your favorite romantic movie? Why do you love it? And how many times have you watched it? Looking forward to your answers!
Sally Bradley writes big-city fiction with real issues and real hope. A Chicagoan since age five, Sally has been fascinated by all things Chicago (except for crime, politics, and traffic) for almost as long. She now lives in the Kansas City area with her family, but they get back to Chicago for important things -- like good pizza and a White Sox game. A freelance-fiction editor and former president of her writing chapter, Sally has won a handful of awards for Kept and another work-in-progress. Visit her online at sallybradley.com or on Facebook.
I’ll admit, I’ve never seen Lake House, Sally, but I love most of Sandra Bullock’s movies. One of my favorites is While You Were Sleeping.
Jill, I’ve seen bits of that one, but not enough to know if I like it or not. Everyone raves about that movie. One of these days I’ll watch it!
Good Morning Sally Bradley from the other side of the lake in SW Michigan. I have never seen the Lake House, but I do enjoy Sandra Bullock’s movies, like The Proposal. Two of my favorite romantic movies are You’ve Got Mail with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan and 27 Dresses with Katherine Heigl and James Marsden. Stay warm Sally Bradley – the weather is not nice today with freezing rain. Chicago is one of my favorite cities – lived there in the 1980s.
Renate, we were neighbors! I lived in the Chicago ‘burbs from the late seventies to’97. Then another seven years last decade. I love it–except for the things I don’t like about it, lol.
I do like You’ve Got Mail, but I do think I’ve overdosed on it. Right now I’m watching P&P when I’m doing busy work. I’ll probably be done with that one soon too. :) And then it’s back to The Lake House.
Stay warm there! We really didn’t even get winter down here in our area outside KC. It’s so sad; we miss it. It snowed three times, and not once did it cover our snow. My kids are bummed.
I haven’t seen that one, another to add to my watch list!
I love rom coms, especially some of the older ones from the 80’s and 90’s.
My all time favourite, though more a fairy tale than a romance, would have to be The Princess Bride. “As you will.”
I knew someone would say Princess Bride! :D I love the whole fight scene early in the movie — where he fights the three who took Buttercup. I could watch that over and over. So funny!
One of my fav romantic movies is “Legends of the Fall” with Brad Pitt and Julia Ormond. I cry every time I watch that movie and I have watched it over and over.
Have to say I’ve seen very, very, very few Brad Pitt movies. Not sure why that is. Thanks for sharing your favorite!
My favorite romantic movies are You’ve Got Mail and Runaway Bride, although I haven’t watched either in a long time.
I have never seen Runaway Bride. Hmm. Might have to fix that…
I watch very few movies, but this one looks fun!
Really??? :D Wow! Don’t tell me you’re going to watch it!
I love Gone with the Wind and the Notebook
Gone with the Wind — yes! Do you like the book too? It’s a big one.
Love While You Were Sleeping, Pride & Prejudice and The Lake House
Yay! Another fan of The Lake House. Now do you care which P&P you watch? I end up watching the Kiera Knightley version the most because I just can’t find the other one on TV. Might have to break down and by myself a copy…
I haven’t seen that one Sally. I’ll have to watch it the next time I see it is on t.v. I guess my fave would be Pride and Prejudice. I don’t care how many times I have seen it. (any version) I have to watch it. I also love Jane Eyre too. I’m sappy like that. As far as contemporary It would probably go to You’ve got mail. Now that I think about it. It’s kinda sad. When was the last time a good romantic comedy was out that wasn’t trashy?
I know! Even in You’ve Got Mail, they’re both living with someone they don’t even really like as a person. Which makes me not like Joe Fox or Kathleen Kelley quite as much as I could. :/
I love period dramas so I’m with you, Dana. Have you seen the latest Jane Eyre? The one that came out a couple years ago? I thought it was pretty good.
Merrillee, you reminded me of another favorite — Everafter. It’s Drew Barrymore, and it’s not her best acting, but it’s a really lovely Cinderella version. And it even has Leonardo DaVinci in it as a character (if I’m remembering right). Sweet, romantic, fun. :)
I like that one a lot too. Fave lines…..
“I’m the crown prince of France.”
“And I’m the bastard son of a peasant. What difference does that make?”
and
“Say it again.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Not that. The part where you said my name.” (total swoon, heart melt, awesomeness :)
Yes! The say my name part. :) Must watch soon!
My favorite is a Keanu movie too! A Walk in the Clouds.
It is SO GOOD. So good.
Have not seen that one. Or heard of it. :/
I love Ever After with Drew Barrymore (beautiful soundtrack!) and also Never Been Kissed. Drew’s never been one of my favorite actresses, but I thought she did a great job in both of those movies. Just had to add my two cents here. :)
Now I really really really want to watch Ever After!
I have to many favorites to name. I like “fluffy” romances, the kind that make me cry at the end. “Enchanted” with Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey.
Whoops, Merrillee! Somehow my reply to you ended up above your comment, under Dana’s. Scratching my head over that one…
I do admit to loving While You Were Sleeping and P&P, but one of my favorites is Love Actually (also with Keira). I only wish it was kid friendly. :(
Man, so many movies I haven’t seen! (Love Actually)
Catch the TV version of Love Actually. There were many lovely moments in that movie but perhaps the sweetest couple of all…well, let’s just say it was so inappropriate. Love that soundtrack too! :)
I love the Lake House. I also love Emma the version with Romola Garai and The Inheritance with Cari Shayne.
Yay! Now it’s three of us who love The Lake House. :) I have to say I’m not a big fan of Emma movies–Emma bothers me for some reason. And I haven’t seen The Inheritance. Must check that out. Thank you!
I happen to like Sandra Bullock & the Miss Congeniality movies were my favorite :-) I’ve not heard of this one, but it does sound like a rather intriguing story-line!
I think my favorite “modern” romantic movie that I’ve watched more than once, is “While You Were Sleeping” (see I told you I like Sandra!). I think it’s a funny & warm movie about connecting to a family she never had and falling in love with the “wrong” man :-) My favorite scene was one of the last ones where she goes back to her job collecting train tokens. She’s mighty depressed and doesn’t even look at the passengers going by, next thing you know, a engagement ring is tossed in the token window! She looks up to find Jack smiling at her….wow!! My heart must have skipped a beat or two the first time I saw the movie (and still does).
As far as an older romantic movie, I’d have to say “North and South”. I mean c’mon what’s not to like about Richard Armitage as Mr. Thornton? And I like when Margaret stands up to him to fight for the factory workers…she’s got some spine! The last scene always gets me….well you’ll have to watch it to know! I’ve only watched this once sadly as I had Netflix for the month trial, but I will find a way to watch it again! :-)
I like the romance in a movie, the sweet, slow burning kind. Where the characters get to know one another. I’m the same way with my books, give them depth and anticipation of the “happily ever after” feeling!
Miss Congeniality! Yes, that first one is great. Love it. North and South is good too. I’ve seen it once and I remember the ending a bit. My memory tells me it was nice. :)
And, Trixi, I am so with you on the sweet, slow-burning romance. Love comes from knowing someone, not loving how they look. Looking forward to seeing one of your books someday.
Not my books as in I’m writing any (I am not an author just an avid reader)….I meant in the books I read I like the sweet, slow burning love stories. Sorry for the confusion!
No worries, Trixi! Avid readers are definitely needed. :)
My all time favorite (dating myself) is Murphy’s Romance, with James Garner and Sally Fields. I have watched it so many times, I’ve practically memorized the script. I also like Crossing Delancey and P&P (with Colin Firth) and Sleepless in Seattle and The Affair (remake of An Affair to Remember)
I like James Garner. He was a good actor. I’ll add that one to my list!
I enjoyed the Lake House but I haven’t seen many movies that can compare to a good book!
I will agree to that! (Although I do wish The Lake House had a book version. That’d be fun!)
Sally, I loved The Lake House. It’s hard to pick a favourite romance movie. The Proposal and Notting Hill are long time favourites. I also liked Man Up – I watched it last year during my long haul flight to ACFW and I couldn’t stop laughing. It does have some language and other story elements that are a bit edgy and may not appeal to some viewers. I love British humour and Simon Pegg plays Jack – an unconventional hero who breaks many of the movie hero sterotypes.
Yay for Lake House again! I just love watching that movie, knowing exactly what’s going on when. :) And you’re giving me more movies to check out. Thank you? :D
Being a great Austen fan I have to admit I have 2 favorite movies. One, of course, is Pride and Prejudice. Love all the versions but the series with Colin Firth is first place. The other one I totally love is Persuasion. I especially like the latest version with Rupert Penry-Jones. Why do I love these? It’s the whole era, the expectations of the people living at that time, the quiet reserve and the long awaited declaration of love by both parties. I cannot even count the number of times I have seen these movies. They are my go-to flix when I am feeling nostalgic, or a little down.
I totally agree! I was working on the couch last night after everyone else was in bed, and I put on Kiera’s P&P. Didn’t really watch it except for my favorite parts here and there, but I loved having it on in the background. Of course, I do like the Jennifer Ehle version better. ;)
I love the Janette Oke series, Love Comes Softly, for romance in the old west. And anything with Tom Cruise, of course. ;)
From Love Comes Softly to Tom Cruise. :D That is a wide gamut there. Thanks for sharing, Pam.
So many favorites – Baby Boom, I love that the single mom beats the corporate giant with her ingenuity and Sam Shepherd is cute. But also PS I love you ’cause I love Irish music
Have not heard of Baby Boom. Adding it to my long, long list. Sigh. :)
Can you tell I’m enjoying these conversations? Baby Boom was fabulous!! A must see movie. The kind of movie to curl up with hot chocolate and a blanket and just…absorb yourself in it.
My last comment and then I’m going to bed. LOL. Two of my all-time favorite romances did not end with the H/H together, believe it or not, and yet I was completely satisfied. WITNESS was one of them (the Amish woman and the Philly cop–Harrison Ford). Wonderful movie on so many levels. The other was ROMAN HOLIDAY with the incomparable duo of Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck. Please tell me you’ve seen it! She was the princess who ran away from the limelight for a day and met a newspaper reporter. They have adventures all around Rome (my favorite European city, so I’m sure that has a lot to do with my love for this particular movie). He could turn her in for the story of his life. But does he? And then she must return to her royal duties and her kingdom. The last 10 minutes are among the most poignant and awesome in cinematic history.
Although there are lots of romantic movies I really enjoy, this is a genre that’s never even occurred to me try to decide on a favorite. I would have to go back and watch all the possible candidates, because it’s been so long since I’ve seen any of them. The first ones that came to mind were Shadowlands, though I think that would probably be stretching the definition too much for some people, and Remains of the Day. I’d still have to consider a bunch of others, though, such as Casablanca, The Sound of Music, and even You’ve Got Mail.
My favorite screen romance, though, would probably be small screen and Korean. (Though, I still haven’t been able to bring myself to pick one favorite.) In fact, this time travel choice of yours, Sally, made me think of one of my favorite Korean ones called Operation Proposal. It’s a really wonderful study about how we think we can fix things if we could just go back and do something different.
Chris, you are always so thorough with your movie selections! I’m with you on The Sound of Music. That doesn’t ever get old, although my teenage son would completely disagree.
My favorite is Hope Floats. I accidentally saw it one day and fell in love with it. Along with Sandra Bullock is Harry Connick Jr., Gena Rowlands and Mae Whitman. It’s funny and sad.
You know, I’ve seen bits and pieces of Hope Floats. I’ll have to watch that some time.
I’d have to say my favorite movie for some reason I have no idea why, because I don’t normally watch movies more than once, but for some reason I love Sleepless in Seattle and have watched it many times.
So something about that movie really connects with you. Wonder what that is?
Another vote for While You Were Sleeping. And Ever After.
Also Fifty First Dates, which is another Drew Barrymore movie.
Ever After… Sigh. And Fifty First Dates has some really cute moments.
You definitely picked a good one there!
About the only romance I’ve ever watched was Ever after, the Cinderella story. I loved it, but books always win for me.
Whoops, C! Once again, I replied in the wrong spot. It’s just above you. I might need to go to bed…
JoAnn…I also loved the movie Witness. I had forgotten about it. What a sweet movie. Knotting Hill is another romantic comedy that I have enjoyed besides the usual Sleepless In Seattle and You’ve Got Mail.
Oh my goodness! I love the Lake House. I’m a huge romance, chick-flic movie fan, so I’ve seen ’em all, lol. My favorite of all time is one that wasn’t very popular but it gets me every time. Untamed Heart. It starts Christian Slater and Marasi Tomei. It’s a tear jerker! Another favorite love story is Fireproof. I love reading everyone’s favorite movies. :)
I enjoyed the Lake House too and thought it one of Bullock’s and Reeve’s better acting stints. The time travel twist was well done and had me watching for the letter in the mailbox…so romantic!
Persuasion is way up the top of my list… the version with Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds (even though I love Rupert Penry and Sally Hawkins. Some things in that newer version Jane Austen would never approve of!) It really evokes the longing (sigh!) and creates an “autumnal” mood that matches the story. If you have never watched it put it at the top of your list!
Pride and Prejudice. I love just about any version I have watched of it, but my favorite is the one with Kiera Knightly (I think that’s her name). I don’t even know how many times I’ve watched it. I like it so much I own it and I have watched many times.
Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken was one that I loved when I was younger. Watched it over and over! The Cutting Edge used to be one of my favorite, too! Toe pick!