"In the Mood For Love" - Valentine Movies

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Matthew Macfadyen and Keira Knightly in "Pride and Prejudice"
courtesy of Focus Features

"In the Mood For Love"

Its getting close to Valentine's Day and even though romance in the movies today seems to have been replaced by car chases and special effects, a kiss is till a kiss. Luckily some movies still are in the mood for love. I made a list of my favorite romantic movies a few years ago and now I update it for you.

Let me know if you agree/disagree with me. You can contact me by email at jkershawcooper@aol.com. I will look forward to hearing your opinions.

NUMBER 10: MEET JOE BLACK - Hollywood leading men don't come any more handsome than Brad Pitt and he practically glowed in this film. Opposite him was newcomer Claire Forlani and she had the dewy-eyed beauty necessary to balance his own charm. These two had a rocky road to romance in the film but it was worth the fight. When they kissed the sky exploded with fireworks and audiences sighed around the world. Brad and Claire were visually an almost perfect couple.

NUMBER NINE: MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING - Romantics loved this movie because they felt it was about them and their families. Nia Vardalos was the average looking woman who landed the hunk of the month (John Corbett). Women everywhere swore in unison - if she can do it, I can do it.

NUMBER EIGHT: LOVE ACTUALLY - If any movie is totally about love this one is it. Hugh Grant leads a top notch cast in telling seven stories of varying kinds of love. Each one touches the heart and creates a romantic glow. The film is R rated for nudity and profanity so it is not for everyone. But for the adult romantics among us, this film is one of the best.

NUMBER SEVEN: A WALK IN THE CLOUDS - Now some of you might be saying huh? But remember Keanu Reeves in the wine country in northern California? He and his leading lady, Aitana Sanchez-Gijon burned up the screen with their passion. Who knew Keanu could be so romantic, and what the heck ever happened to Aitana!

NUMBER SIX: UNTAMED HEART - Who can forget the painful love story spelled out in this film. Christian Slater and Marisa Tomei were absolutely perfect as the waitress and the busboy who found true love in the most unexpected of places. It was all about a man with a damaged heart and by the end of the movie he broke the hearts of the audience.

Now we come to the top five. Hollywood turned up the heat as they turned out these next winners. Love was in the air for all ages and that's a real surprise. Even couples who were over fifty could find a movie meant especially for them.

NUMBER FIVE: SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE - This is the exception to the general rule that loves stories have to concern people thirty and under. Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson play the couple who are at the heart of this story and make the movie a wonderful winner. Both of these award-winning actors are in top form and the story is tailor made for their talents.

NUMBER FOUR: RETURN TO ME - David Duchovney and Minnie Driver played the couple in this tear jerker about a man who loses his wife in an accident. Later he meets and falls in love with a woman who has his wife's heart, through a transplant surgery. Now there's a complicated romance but this movie sorts out the plot problems and ends up a making you feel all warm and mushy and happy.

NUMBER THREE: ATONEMENT - Keira Knightley is one of my favorite actresses and she and James McAvoy made a believer out of me as they play a couple whose love was altered by the lie of a young girl. Set against a backdrop of World War Ii and with a twist of an ending this movie was made for lovers of love stories.

NUMBER TWO: MOULIN ROUGE - People either loved or hated this movie musical. Count me in the former camp. Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor were perfectly cast as the star-crossed lovers who sang their way into our hearts. A tragic love story but one that drew me to it. This was a movie to see over and over again.

NUMBER ONE: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE - Keira Knightley again in a Jane Austen classic. Matthew Macfadyen was the perfect Mr. Darcy to her Elizabeth. What was most romantic about the film was when they danced. The whole world faded out and it was just the two of them. This was the "West Side Story" sequence but even more romantic than ever.

There you have them. Let me know if you have other favorites.

Click above to find out more about Jackie's books!