On the third day of Valentines Week, my true love gave to me…
A trip to the cinema.
Ah, the reliable dinner and a movie; the stereotypical first date formula. As a piece of advice though, according to Woman’s World magazine and research done by Tulane University Medical Center, action movies are actually more of an aphrodisiac than sappy romantic comedies. Action movies apparently stimulate the nervous system, increase heart rate, breathing, and muscle tone, and help women respond to sexual cues more quickly than when they watch emotionally driven movies. So the next time you go on a date to the movie theater and want to get in the mood, try a movie with explosions, guns, and fist-fights.
That being said, there are still some romantic “chick-flicks” that can not be ignored and that are the staple of a Valentine’s Day spent at home.
So, here’s my top fifteen movies about love and romance, all with a historical setting or production period. Some are funny, some are sad, but all are sure to get you thinking about love, just in time for Valentine’s day. (Order does not reflect rating, it’s just a list.)
- Titanic
- Emma (Romola Garai version)
- Somewhere in Time
- Singin’ in the Rain
- Gone With the Wind
- Pride & Prejudice (BBC edition)
- Breakfast at Tiffany’s
- Ever After
- Casablanca
- The Importance of Being Earnest
- It Happened One Night
- Moulin Rouge
- An Affair to Remember
- Romeo + Juliet (A bit of a stretch with the modern setting, but the story and words are classic Shakespeare.)
- Love in the Afternoon (The ending at the train station is just wonderful.)
So, rent one of these fine films, and spend a night curled up on the couch, reveling in the old-fashioned romances of another time. Warning: tissues, chocolate, and a snuggle buddy may be required.
Sapphire
Cornflower
Indigo
