The Feb-ibig month is not just for people in a relationship; it is also for those who are capable of love, so technically, everyone. After all, the upcoming Valentine’s Day is a celebration of romantic love and admiration for our loved ones – be it your partner, family, or friends. But just in case you ought to celebrate by yourself, we got you!
Here are five must-watch romantic movies that would surely suffice the feeling of “kilig” or the so-called butterflies in the stomach:
1. Before Sunrise (The ‘Before’ Trilogy)
I had always deemed ‘love at first sight’ merely absurd and fictional. Yet, when I saw Céline (July Delpy) and Jesse (Ethan Hawke) lay eyes on one another, I knew their story would be different. Strangers to lovers within one night might seem nonsensical, but watching them makes me believe otherwise.
The two met on a train in Austria, with Jesse on his way to Vienna for his flight to the US while Celine was returning to Paris as a student. After a series of mundane yet in-depth conversations, Jesse convinces Celine to go off the train with him to Vienna. With no cash for lodgings, the two set off on a journey of exploring the city together. As they went on in every place, encounter, and story of their own, they found themselves captivated by one another.
Their exchange of ideas and philosophies draws them closer together – their minds forming the bonds of their two young hearts. We can see how love truly is, growing more wistful and yearning for a fleeting experience. With simplicity and no concrete plot, the movie shows the audience a pinnacle of “real romance.”
2. 500 Days of Summer
We are all fond of love stories. But what about a story about love? People might think they are the same, yet this film shows us the difference between the two. It narrates a representation of real-life scenarios of relationships in the modern day.
Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is an aspiring architect but works as a greeting card writer. He immediately fell for Summer (Zooey Deschanel), the new secretary of his boss. Throughout the movie, he contemplates the 500 days of them being together, centralizing the concept of how a man copes with heartbreak and loss while pondering where it all went wrong. As he goes through their memories, he realizes Summer’s point of view and finally redeems his passion in life.
Their moments together demonstrate the effects of unrequited and delusional feelings toward a person in love. This unconventional romantic comedy movie teaches us that unreal expectations can hurt us when slapped by reality. It serves as a “reminder that other people are not responsible for how another individual views them” (Montgomery, 2022).
3. Pride and Prejudice
If you are into the “enemy to lovers” trope, then the most recent and perhaps the best screen adaptation of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" is perfect for you. Amid family, class, and social tradition issues during the early 19th century, two contrasting individuals find a way to overcome their hatred of one another – by falling in love. Elizabeth Bennett (Keira Knightley), a witty, confident, and straightforward maiden, has a repulsive animosity toward Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfayden). He, on the other hand, is a rich, mysterious, and reserved bachelor who sees her as tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt him. The overall plot deals with their defiance in the company of one another and how they govern their respective pride and prejudice to marry.
This romance period drama remains a timeless classic story and is relevant today. Because, in a way, we all have a little bit of Elizabeth and a tiny ounce of Darcy in ourselves. With hints of romance and sarcasm, the movie teaches us how we can simultaneously conquer social conventions while developing our personal character.
4. 10 Things I Hate About You
To relieve the feeling of infatuation, puppy love, or any romantic relationships during your high school days, then you should watch this hilarious and adorable film. Based on William Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew,” we find Cameron (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) starstruck with one of the untouchable Stratford sisters – Bianca (Larisa Oleynik), who has no dating history. With the modified house rule of their dad, Bianca urges her sister Kat (Julia Stiles) to date someone so she can be Joey’s (Andrew Keegan) girlfriend. As the jerk he is, Joey bribed Patrick (Heath Ledger) to date Kat so he can finally be in a relationship with her sister. However, Kat remains clever, ill-tempered, and determined to destroy the patriarchy, with no intentions of dating a guy.
As the plot progresses, we can see the development of each character while maintaining its romantic-comedy genre. Unlike the typical American teen romance movies, the film deals with women and the way they are treated by both their peers and viewed by society, with hints of promoting feminism. If you are someone who may feel like they are misunderstood, this movie is for you.
5. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
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