White Rose: Sincere and Simple Thoughts: Five of My Favorite Romantic Films

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Five of My Favorite Romantic Films - Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day My Readers and Friends!

To commemorate the day I thought I would revisit five of my favorite romantic movies of all time.

A Room with a View (1985)

The first time I saw this film I wanted to find a time machine and go back to Florence in 1900 and be Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bonham Carter). Of course these days I’m more like her chaperone Charlotte (Maggie Smith). This is the ultimate romantic film full of magnificent performances by masterful veteran character actors like Maggie Smith and Judi Dench together with talented future stars of the screen like Daniel Day-Lewis and Helena Bonham Carter. Top this with the gorgeous backdrop of Florence, Italy and beautiful locations in England and you just have to swoon at the love story of Lucy and George (Julian Sand).

Truly, Madly, Deeply (1991)

Imagine the feeling of loss if the love of your life dies suddenly and you become inconsolable in your grief unable to move on. Imagine that he suddenly comes back into your life and home as a ghost. What would you do? How would you feel? Would you try to keep him there forever? Is the man you’ve idealized in your grief truly the particular person you lived with for years? One of the most beautiful and most funny films I’ve ever seen about love and loss. A heartbreaking and hilarious performance by Alan Rickman, and a sweet and sad performance by Juliet Stevenson.

Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

Inspired by another favorite romantic film of mine, An Affair to Remember (1957) with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, this is the ultimate “meet cute” romantic comedy. Tom Hanks plays Sam the perfect regular guy next door and a widower with an adorable son. Oh yes, he lives in Seattle. One day lonely but adorable Baltimore reporter Annie, played by improbably cute Meg Ryan, listens to Sam’s love story with his late wife and his yearning for a new partner to spend his life with. Much mayhem and travel ensues until the meeting scene between them in the Empire State Building (see An Affair to Remember).

Persuasion (1995)

If only we could meet the love we let go in our youth again and persuade him to try again. This 1995 version of Jane Austen’s novel Persuasion is my favorite of all. Amanda Root as Anne Elliott and Ciaran Hinds as Captain Wentworth are perfection in this film. No matter how many times I watch it I feel the yearning of Anne and the pride of Wentworth and wonder why we so often neglect to follow our heart.

How to Steal a Million (1966)

A caper comedy/romance of the type they don’t make any more starring two movie legends, Peter O’Toole and Audrey Hepburn. Both are at their most charming and handsome in this tale of the art thief (or is he?) and the heiress (or is she?) and the greatest museum heist of all time.

Happy Valentine's Day

9 comments:

DEZMONDFebruary 14, 2012 at 9:11 AM
Happy Valentines, Fabo!
My fave romantic film is SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE with Sean Patrick Flannery and Sarah Michelle Gellar. One of the most unusual films ever. Mix of love, magic and food :)
And speaking of romantic, love that pic of Luke and Aidan, looks like a beginning of a lovely romance to me :)))
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FabolaktukoFebruary 14, 2012 at 9:23 PM
Thanks for another new film to look for. I haven't seen Simply Irresistible...magic and food...intriguing.

Agree very cute pic of Luke and Aidan together (Aidan's girlfriend might not think it's that romantic though -LOL).
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Phylly3February 16, 2012 at 8:11 PM
I missed seeing this post until just now. I've seen all those wonderful movies except "How to Steal a Million". I love Audrey Hepburn and Peter O'Toole. I didn't know they had worked together.
As far as Audrey Hepburn goes... my favourite romantic film of hers is Roman holiday!
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bccmeeFebruary 18, 2012 at 4:21 PM
I've seen three of your top five, so I'm thinking I need to see the other two! Thanks for the recommendations. :)
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Gratiana LovelaceFebruary 19, 2012 at 10:31 AM
Persuasion, check. Truly Madly Deeply, check. Sleepless in Seattle/An Affair to Remember, check, Room with a View, check. I've viewed 4 out of 5 of your choices--and I love them, too. I'll have to check out the Audrey Hepburn film with Peter O'Toole. Thanks for the suggestion.

I especially like the Persuasion version you chose. Ciaran Hinds smoulders very well. Though, my all time favorite remains, North & South with Richard Armitage. Sighhh!
Cheers! Grati ;->
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The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Premiere Dates 2014

London, UK---December 1, 2014 ---World Premiere

Wellington, NZ - December 1, 2014 - Special Live Screening on the London Premiere - more info TBA

Paris, France - December 4, 2014 (Richard Armitage attending)

Toronto, Canada - December 6, 2014

Mexico City - December 6, 2014

Sao Paolo, Brazil - December 7, 2014 (Comic-Con Experience with Richard Armitage)

December 8, 2014 - Peter Jackson will get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and many of The Hobbit cast expected in attendance including Richard Armitage

Los Angeles, CA USA ---December 9, 2014

Beijing, China, January 19, 2015 Richard Armitage and Peter Jackson (per Armitage Global)

Hannibal: Season 3 Review by Eric Goldman Love crime -IGN

And wow, was this version of Red Dragon awesome. Yes, it streamlined some aspects – we didn’t get any of the Dolarhyde flashbacks (one tiny glimpse aside) and Will’s role was altered, to some extent. But this was creepy, intense storytelling through and through, with Richard Armitage bringing just the right mix of scary and semi-sympathetic as Francis Dolarhyde, a murderous, delusional monster who was at war with the potentially loving man somewhere deep inside him – a war amplified as Dolarhyde fell for the blind Reba (a strong Rutina Wesley), even as “the Dragon” was coming to life within him, compelling him to kill.

http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/09/04/hannibal-season-3-review

Make-a-Wish and Richard Armitage and The Hobbit Cast- read her post at link below:

http://elvenbutterflies.tumblr.com/post/54881582834/the-moment-weve-all-been-waiting-for-my-day-with

" I GOT A THORIN STAREEEEEEEEEEEE. Then Sebastian walked over and whispered in his ear and literally it was like night and day. His face went from “imma kill" to “Flowers and tea, yay let’s go play" And I got up and walked over to him. He said (in the mst adorable accent on the planet) Hello there, I’m Richard.""

7/7/2013

More Tie-Ins with the Hobbit Films - HarperCollins Publishes Tolkien Illustrations

North & South and Spooks (MI-5) Win Top Spots in BBC America's Top British Drama's of All Time

North & South wins the #2 spot in BBC America Anglophenia Readers Poll of the 10 Best British TV Series of All Time.

I hope BBC America and PBS (US Public TV) will look at the results of this poll and will broadcast this wonderful series in the U.S. It aired only once in only select PBS stations back in 2005, I know because I was one of the lucky ones that saw it then. I don't recall that it ever aired on BBC America.

Also great news that Spooks or MI-5 in the U.S., won the #7 spot in the reader's poll. Another series that has never been allowed the time to find it's American audience on PBS or BBC America.

The time is now PBS and BBC America for US audiences to see these two great British programs.

For the results of the Anglophenia/BBC America poll click on the link below:

http://blogs.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2011/08/16/readers-have-their-say-the-10-greatest-british-tv-dramas-of-all-time/

"The Hobbit" Question of the Month: Sexy Dwarves or Bearded Dwarves?

Unless you've been under a rock lately you know that Peter Jackson and "The Hobbit" group have been very busy making casting announcements about the film. Because of the casting of several very attractive actors (talented actors all) for the Middle-earth dwarves (Richard Armitage, Aidan Turner, and others) there's quite an interesting discussion developing between Tolkien purists and fans of the actors in question, or just movie fans in general about whether the look of the Middle-earth dwarves should remain true to the book, or maybe changed to provide some eye candy for us ladies.

There's a marvelous and very funny article all about this issue on www.theonering.net by Maegwen. You can read the entire article by clicking HERE.

I was just inspired by the article and RA Central (on Twitter) to post the unscientific poll below. So how about it world, do we want sexy dwarves in Middle-earth or hairy, long-bearded, dwarves?

Caravaggio starring Sean Bean was Voted one of 100 Top British Films

TIME OUT London has published a list of the top 100 British Films as selected by the film industry. To see the entire list click HERE.

Caravaggio directed by Derek Jarman is #56 on the list and has been mentioned on this blog because it was Sean Bean's first film role. I wrote a review of the film a while back and you can find the review at the link below:

http://whiterosewritings.blogspot.com/2009/12/caravaggio-film-and-actor.html

Oh, and for fans of Sean Bean, you'll be happy to know his favorite film, Kes, was voted #4!

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Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Five of My Favorite Romantic Films - Happy Valentine's Day

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