Feature: Top 10 Romantic Movie Moments

When Nicole Kidman starts singing in the sensuous Moulin Rouge club to the heart-broken Ewan McGregor, you can’t help but get goose bumps and sing along with the epic duet. Stunning performances all round, this love story will move, confuse and dazzle its way into your heart.

The story of country singer Johnny Cash (portrayed by the brilliant Joaquin Phoenix) sticks firmly to the reality of the folksinger’s life as we see Cash’s numerous attempts to woo the married June (Reese Witherspoon) through his continuous asking of “will you marry me.” It goes on for a while but eventually June says yes in the middle of a duet and it is the sweetest and most satisfying ending to a tremendous film. A must see!

Who can’t love the scene where Patrick Swayze struts into the room wearing a leather jacket and rescues Baby (Jennifer Grey) from her life of being treated like a child and dull normality to a fantastic musical world of dirty dancing? The moment when Swayze famously says “Nobody puts Baby in the corner”, is easily one of the best lines in cinematic history. Yes this is a ‘chick-flick’ on ultra-scale but no one can resist its toe-tapping wit and flare – Dirty Dancing will still be watched by girls for years to come.

Thank you Disney for producing a film that doesn’t consist of cheesy love, too much computer-generated slapstick humor and another “return”, second installment of a classic. Oh no, Enchanted‘s charming story of a Disney Princess entering the real world and the love triangle between her prince and her ‘true love’ keep you engaged throughout. Its unusually unpredictable ending leaves you smiling and praying for Disney not to produce a sequel and ruin yet another classic.
Grey’s Anatomy’s Patrick Dempsey takes on his role beautifully and falls in love with Giselle (Amy Adams), the princess trapped in New York away from her fantasy kingdom. The dance the couple share towards the end when they know they can not be together is both tragic and desperately romantic. The song playing throughout the dance by Jon McLaughlin, (‘So Close’) sums up the characters feelings of love for one another and heart-ache of not being able to fully express it. Beautiful.

It was brave for director Joe Wright to take Pride and Prejudice on a grander scale, following the much-loved BBC show (staring the ladies favorite, Colin Firth). But the lavish, Atonement director pulled it off and made the film version just as moving as the Austen novel and drama series. Obviously being a romantic story, there was plenty of scenes to choose from for the ‘Top 10 List’ but my personal favorite is when Mr. Darcy emerges from the mist to declare his love for Elizabeth Bennet. Wright’s superb camera skills shine in this scene as does Matthew Macfadyen’s performance of the mysterious Mr. Darcy. Keira Knightley also proves her ability as a leading lady by balancing her desire to be loved with her persistence not to love Mr. Darcy.
But be warned, the U.S. ending is much more satisfying than the UK one. The states got to see a proper kiss shared between Mr. Darcy and Miss Bennet, giving the movie the happy ending it was longing for.

This fairytale, though its gradual increase in predictability, is some what surprising for an audience. James McAvoy’s character, Max, is actually a good guy and truly loves Penelope by the end, snout and all. He is at his best in Penelope and in the eyes of many girls, it spells true romance when he leans towards Penelope (Christina Ricci) and shows that he will love her even with the curse she has been stricken with.
The movie has a highly pleasing ending, an all-around fun story and some grade-A romance. It deserves your attention.

Most romantic comedies these days are usually produced fast with some actors who looked like they just stepped out of an episode of Hollyoaks. They are gold-dust and Breakfast at Tiffany’s is the gold bar.
Classy as always, Audrey Hepburn lights the screen and gives her best performance ever as the wild and alluring Holly Golightly, a girl who eventually falls in love with a struggling writer Paul ‘Fred’ Varjak (George Peppard). Tiffany’s is a timeless classic that, while capturing the fun and glamour of 60’s New York, moves people to laughter and to tears in a matter of minutes. The end kiss in the rain is so dramatic and visually stunning that it warranted a spot in the top five. Overall it is a heart warming movie that will never damage over time.

Commonly blithering idiot and an occasionally romantic fool – Hugh Grant covers both in 1996’s Sense and Sensibility when he finally proposes to Elinor Dashwood (Emma Thompson) near the end of the film. Feeling like it would never happen, a huge relief floods over viewers when Edward eventually declares he is not engaged to someone else and has always loved Elinor. Further capturing the moment is the strangely cute noise Emma makes from excitement afterwards. Awwwww.

Yes, I know, another Austen based movie. But she is the Queen of Romance is she not?! Despite Becoming Jane having some poor reviews, I believe it was a thoughtful and clever movie, packed with romantic scenes that really made it for me. Out of all those scenes, my favorite is when the character of Jane Austen (played by the American, Anne Hathaway) is searching for Tom Lefroy (James McAvoy) at a ball. I love the desperation Anne shows and the clever shots used to make everyone in the room appear to look like Tom. Then, when dancing with another, she spins and Tom is suddenly there with a cheeky smile and charming wit, stepping up to be her hero. It is such a simple idea but in those few seconds it provokes such emotion that it could give a straight man goose bumps.

Now this movie is a tear-jerker and a half. Director Joe Wright’s love for a ‘pretty picture’ doesn’t harm this movie one bit (romantically-wise). Much like his past work with Pride and Prejudice, Atonement is extremely moving, yet it does not have a happy ending. Knightley and McAvoy’s on-screen chemistry is undeniable and the final kiss they share before McAvoy’s character Robbie is taken away to war for a crime he did not commit is beautiful. Real tragic love in war time England – you can’t get more romantic (or more depressed) than that. In Ian McEwan’s novel (on which the movie was based), Knightley’s character Cecilia says to her lover to comfort him, “Come back. Come back to me.” This moves me emotionally the most, as we know they will never be together as he is away at war in France and she is a nurse stationed in London.
This movie marvels at how an incident so small can change and ruin lives forever. It also proves that a film does not have to have a happily-ever-after ending to be truly romantic.