By Julissa Treviño/south news editor
Tony and Maria Taking a cue from the classic romance of Romeo and Juliet, the 1961 musical West Side Storyfollows two young lovers, Tony and Maria (played by Richard Beymer and Natalie Wood), from rival NYC gangs, as they struggle to be together. Despite the strong gang rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, Tony and Maria manage to see each other in secret. Throughout the film, the musical sequences highlight their feelings. But as trouble arises, Tony and Maria are pulled apart by the conflict between the gangs, leading to their love-filled demise.
Sam and Andrew In Garden State, Andrew (Zach Braff) returns for his mother’s funeral nine years after leaving his upsetting past in his hometown. Even so, his trip back home leads him to meet Sam (Natalie Portman), with whom he falls in love. Despite the life he’s made in Los Angeles, Andrew realizes he loves Sam as he says, “You’ve changed my life, and I’ve known you four days.” Together, they decide to figure out the rest of their lives and the uncertainties that come with love.
Clementine and Joel No one can deny that Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a clever, witty film. But amid the crazy plot, dysfunctional characters and knowledge of their break up, flash backs of Clementine and Joel (Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey), as a couple, are a reminder of their love. And even if they decided to erase each other, the procedure is what reminds and lets them rediscover what they had before. It reminds them that they were in love, that they had a great relationship and that they do want to be together.
Westley and Buttercup In the 1987 film The Princess Bride, Westley and Buttercup (Carl Elwes and Robin Wright Penn) redefined love as a pure, eternal and powerful lifesaver. After Buttercup realizes her stable boy, Westley, means, “I love you” every time he says, “As you wish,” he goes to sea to seek his fortune. Soon, the prince tells Buttercup that Westley has disappeared, and she is kidnapped to marry him. However, she knows that her true love will save her. Despite the seemingly impossible obstacles Westley has to overcome, true love conquers all.
Princess Ann and Joe Roman Holiday, the 1951 classic, explores the spark of romance between a beautiful, sheltered princess and an American journalist. While touring European capitals, Princess Anne (Audrey Hepburn) escapes her restricted and boring life for freedom in Rome. When Joe (Gregory Peck) comes across her sleeping on a bench, he realizes he can get a personal interview with her for his paper. However, as the two explore Rome and get to know each other, they begin to fall in love. Despite her disillusionment as she finds out about his planned article, the romance between them remains.
Brick and Maggie Tennessee William’s play, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, was brought to life in the 1958 film starring Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman. With a broken leg and a drinking problem, former star football player Brick can’t seem to stop arguing with his wife Maggie. With Brick’s family passing judgments and the expectation of future grandchildren, Brick and Maggie struggle to make their relationship work until they finally express their love for each other and announce the news that Maggie is expecting. Newman and Taylor, as Brick and Maggie, are quite perfect in this steamy romance.
Cyrano and Anne The 1990 remake of the timeless French play Cyrano de Bergerac is without a doubt a beautiful love story. Shamed by his enormous nose, the brilliant poet and soldier Cyrano de Bergerac (Gérard Depardieu) hides behind another man when declaring his love for his beautiful cousin Roxanne (Anne Brochet). He writes poetry for her, expressing his feelings, and helps the other man court her. While Roxanne falls in love with the poetry, she finally realizes, on his deathbed, that it was Cyrano with whom she is in love.
Anna and Dan Caught in a complicated situation, Closer is a look at four characters dealing with their struggles to find the person they truly love. Among the four, on-again-off-again couple Anna and Dan (Julia Roberts and Jude Law) explore their limits of love by remaining with other people. Despite love at first sight, the couple remain uncertain about their circumstances. Closer’s Anna and Dan, rather than portraying a fairy tale romance, tell a realistic, adult love story. Though it is much more restrained, their love is consistent and perhaps eternal.
Amélie and Nino Quirky, idealistic and beautifully developed, Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain creates great anticipation for a great romance. Imaginative 22-year-old Amélie (Audrey Tautou) has now devoted her simple life to making those around her happy, becoming a matchmaker and a guardian angel. Along the way, she becomes fascinated with a young man, Nino (Mathieu Kassovitz), who collects photographs of strangers left behind at photo booths. After Nino drops his photo album, she plays a cat-and-mouse game with him around Paris until she returns it. When she finally overcomes her shyness, the two meet and start a relationship.
