In the coming days, we all will pay tremendous amounts of money to show our companions how much we love them through material offerings. Heart-shaped candies that look, taste, and write as if they were made of chalk will be purchased by the cartload, along with cheap chocolates and rosy cards. After that, restaurants will fill up with young people. That’s it. Just young people. They will enjoy the dinner, but that’s not the point. The point is that one of them spent this much money for a small portion size, too many herbs, and a hankering for some real food afterwards.
I’m not saying that I’m one of those idealistic hipsters who believes that this is a holiday for commercialism only, but I do think that we should learn to express our love without spending large amounts of money. My plans are to take my girlfriend out to dinner at a good restaurant (not an expensive restaurant, a good one), make her a card, and entice her with her favorite candy--Skittles. After that, we will go back to my house and watch a movie. It will be simple, it will be elegant, and it will be free of chalk dust and expense.
Out of all of that, the best part will be cuddling up and watching the movie together. Beyond that, none of it really matters, so long as we get to spend time together. This is why I recommend that you stay home with your companion, dress casually and comfortably, curl up, and watch a good movie. They have a certain power around this time of year. Whether you’re looking for a romantic role-model, a cautionary tale, or a good sob on your loved one’s shoulder, you can find it in a film.
Nick and Norah’s infinite playlist (PG-13)
An unyielding aura of sweetness and originality drives this small teen movie about one unforgettable night (and the amazing soundtrack doesn’t hurt either). Nick and Norah are two New York teens who are thrown together by chance in a search for a secret gig by a legendary band. Accompanied by a drunken companion and three gay sidekicks, and pursued by Nick’s dreaded ex-girlfriend, they search the New York club scene, and have the time of their life. Michael Cera and Kat Dennings play the title roles, both giving a sense of honesty and realism to such a surreal string of events. See this movie, it will imprint a smile on your face for days to come.
Corpse Bride (PG)
Filled with some of the peppiest dead people you’ll ever see, this twisted, dark, warped, demented... Well, it’s a Tim Burton movie; let me put it that way. When Victor (Johnny Depp, of course) accidentally proposes to a creepy but lovable corpse (Helena Bonham Carter), he is brought to the underworld, where he is to fulfill his promise. There’s only one problem, he’s already scheduled to marry the woman he loves. It’s a unique and entertaining fairy tale, with classic Burton features (count the spirals), and breathtaking stop-motion animation. If you’re a fan of Tim Burton, your’e going to love this.
Once (R for language)
The first time I saw this movie, the elegant simplicity of it all blew me away. But only after viewing the credits and seeing that the two main characters don’t even have names did I realize how stunningly magical it really is. Once is the story of two street performers in Dublin, Ireland, who form a musical partnership, and a strong bond. Musicians Marketa Irglova and Glen Hansard formed a romance on the set of this movie, and the love translates beautifully. If you enjoy the music (which is highly likely) I would highly recommend listening to Swell Season, the band Marketa and Glen formed after the movie.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (PG-13)
Despite all the jokes at this movie’s expense from T.V. sitcom writers and most of my friends, this is a great movie. Sure, it may be a little “Forrest Gumpy,” and it may differ drastically from the short story, but it’s still a good movie. Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt) is a man with a strange condition. He appears to have come into this world as an old man, and he’s getting younger every day. Throughout his long and backwards life, he has many adventures, but the greatest adventure of all is his romance with a beautiful woman named Daisy (Cate Blanchett) and his journey with her through life. Somehow this movie manages to be heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. I remember leaving the theater with a smile, whilst mourning the passing of my favorite characters. Do yourself a favor and put up with the emotional confusion, length, and mockery. See it.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (R for language, drug use, and brief sexual material)
Charlie Kaufman was a lonely freak, as was Michael Gondry, but then they met each other, and made a great movie. Like most things these two make, it’s complicated, surreal, and just plain weird. But keep up if you can, for the rewards are plentiful. Joel Barish (Jim Carrey in a serious and fantastic performance) has just been dumped in a rather harsh way. His girlfriend, Clementine (Kate Winslet), has had him erased from her memory, in order to start a new life. Depressed and tormented, Joel asks to have the same procedure done, but as the memories of Clementine fade away, Joel changes his mind and fights to save the memories of his lost love. This movie is nothing if not evidence of Michael Gondry’s brilliance. Watch it multiple times to find all the nuances and to enjoy it again and again.
When Harry Met Sally (R for language)
This is a romantic comedy that even guys can enjoy. Billy Crystal plays Harry, a laid-back, somewhat childish man who believes that men and women can never truly be friends because of sexual tension. Meg Ryan plays Sally, a neurotic and optimistic woman who first meets Harry on a road trip from Chicago to New York. After gladly parting ways, the two meet again three years later, and then again five years later. I take it that you can see where this is heading (after all this is a romantic comedy), so I’ll just leave it to you to watch the movie, and finish my plot synopsis. In any case, this is very enjoyable for all, and you don’t have to worry about your boyfriend making wise cracks during the movie, he’ll be enjoying it too.
Wall-E (G)
In my opinion (and I’m gonna get flack for this) Wall-E is one of the greatest love stories of all time. Wall-E, is a cleanup droid designed to clean up Earth’s surface after major consumerism overloads the planet with garbage. His existence is fairly mundane, until a spaceship comes down and leaves a small, beautiful search probe named Eve. Wall-E falls hopelessly in love with Eve, but after finding a small sign of life, Eve is retrieved by her ship and brought back to the Axiom, a large cruise ship-like spaceship that is home to most of the human race. Wall-E follows Eve to prove his love for her, and in the process, we fall in love with both of them. It’s proof of Pixar’s genius that they can create two characters who can hardly say each others names, and make us love them as much as we do.
500 days of summer (PG-13)
“This is a story of boy meets girl... but this is not a love story.” That one line summarizes the whole movie. For those of you spending Valentine’s Day alone in your apartments listening to your favorite songs from the 80’s and choking down sobs, this one’s for you. Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Tom, an aspiring architect/current greeting card writer that meets Summer (Zoe Deschanel) an attractive young woman who has a problem with commitment. After 285 days, their tumultuous relationship ends, and Tom spends the remaining 215 days trying to win her back or forget her. I know it sounds heartbreaking, but this movie’s freakin’ HILARIOUS! However, I must warn you not to watch it unless you’re willing to accept spiritual triumph over formulaic plot. Otherwise, it can be… problematic.
Better Off Dead
I learned the secret of life from this movie: “Go straight down that hill as fast as you can. If anything gets in the way, turn.” That may sound like someone giving deep philosophical advice, but it’s only someone giving skiing instructions to a fearful Lane Meyer (John Cusack). After Lane’s girlfriend of six months, Beth, breaks up with him, Lane tries (and fails) repeatedly to kill himself. However, after coaxing from friends and a hot French foreign exchange student, Lane decides to win her back, by skiing a slope that is an even more suicidal exercise. This movie is a coolometer. If you quote this movie, and the other guy knows what the heck you’re talking about, you know they’re awesome. The Princess Bride (PG)
“My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” Mandy Patinkin is far from the star of this movie, but when he says that line, we know that that’s the part we’ll be quoting for days. Set in a child’s fairy tale told to an ill grandson, The Princess Bride is the story of Princess Buttercup, and her lover, Wesley. After hearing news that Wesley has died at the hands of the Dread Pirate Roberts, Buttercup is betrothed to Prince Humperdink. So you can imagine her relief when Wesley returns unharmed, and a dash more charming than when he left. Together, they travel across the land, fighting ROUSes (rodents of unusual size), giants (Andre the giant) and Sicilians. There is nothing I can say, or that anyone can say, that will do this movie justice. It’s just one of those great movies that you either know and love, or don’t know and long for.
Happy Valentines Day.
-- Henry Kaye
Reckless Reviews
Reckless Reviews
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