{"id":1673,"date":"2012-02-10T00:00:12","date_gmt":"2012-02-09T15:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hyogoajet.net\/hyogotimes\/?p=1673"},"modified":"2012-02-20T16:28:27","modified_gmt":"2012-02-20T07:28:27","slug":"not-your-average-valentine%e2%80%99s-day-movies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hyogoajet.net\/hyogotimes\/2012\/02\/not-your-average-valentine%e2%80%99s-day-movies\/","title":{"rendered":"Not-Your-Average Valentine\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Day Movies"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not big on Valentine\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Day. Even if I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m in a relationship, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not my thing. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not big on people walking really slow while holding hands and not letting anyone pass on the sidewalk, and I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not big on people complaining to everyone and their mother about a) their significant others not getting them [insert irrational demand here] or b) not having a significant other to get them [insert irrational demand here]. Conversely, I LOVE chocolate, so I try to keep my mouth shut. Without Valentine\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Day, the distance between Christmas and Easter candy-selling peaks is that much more painful.<\/p>\n

As much as I would love to spend tons of money on an expensive club entrance fee and painful shoes and make a fool of myself on the dance floor, I prefer to curl up under a blanket with some popcorn, some chai, and a good movie. We know all the classic choices that would be good for this time of year \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Amelie, Love Actually, Brokeback Mountain, yeah yeah yeah \u00e2\u20ac\u201c but if your skin crawls when you hear the words \u00e3\u0192\u00a9\u00e3\u0192\u2013\u00e3\u201a\u00b9\u00e3\u0192\u02c6\u00e3\u0192\u00bc\u00e3\u0192\u00aa like mine does, fear not. There are lots of good movies to watch for Valentine\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Day, with or without a significant other. Here\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a list of recommendations to make you appreciate the love you do have in your life \u00e2\u20ac\u201c be it from family, friends, your bromantic partner. You can also scroll all the way down for something that will make you grateful to be single (we all know in Movie Land, life can always get worse*).<\/p>\n

If you prefer a good laugh over the mushy stuff:<\/p>\n

\"\"Cashback<\/em> (2006) \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Sean Biggerstaff (Harry Potter\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Oliver Wood) breaks up with his first real girlfriend. To get over his insomnia, he gets a job at a 24-hour supermarket with a mishmash of crazy personalities. If only work were always this entertaining.<\/p>\n

Coming to America<\/em> (1988) \u00e2\u20ac\u201c On his 21st<\/sup> birthday, an African prince named Akeen (Eddie Murphy) decides he doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t want to go through with his arranged marriage. He\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d rather travel to America to find his real queen. Appropriately, he starts his search in New Yorks \u00e2\u20ac\u201c in Queens. Get it? Get it? (Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t worry, Eddie was still funny back in 1988.)<\/p>\n

\"\"Muriel’s Wedding<\/em> (1994) \u00e2\u20ac\u201c there are only three things 22-year-old Muriel (Toni Collette) wants to do: listen to ABBA, get out of her podunk town, Porpoise Spit, and get married. Well, maybe four \u00e2\u20ac\u201c do something about those so-called friends she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s been taking crap from since high school. What are the odds she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll do all four by the end of the movie? You might be surprised! O.O<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Family\u00e2\u20ac\u009d movies for Valentine\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Day (warning: tear-jerkers):<\/p>\n

Joy Luck Club<\/em> (1993), Imitation of Life<\/em> (1934 or 1959), and The Color Purple<\/em> (1985) are all good choices. Nothing like the undying bonds between mothers, daughters and sisters to tug at the heart strings. All of these movies have longer, complicated plot lines than the others on this list because they run through at least a couple of decades, but I can assure you they are all amazing. Just be sure to have lots of tissue and a phone to call home after because\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 I can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t describe them\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re just so\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m sorry.<\/p>\n

If you firmly believe in \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Homies over Hos\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (or you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re in the mood for some serious eye candy ;D)<\/p>\n

\"\"Y Tu Mama Tambien<\/em> (2001) \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal as hedonistic teen slackers on summer vacation take a beautiful older woman on the road trip of their lives. Fantastic story telling against the gorgeous backdrop of Mexico. (Warning: some parts of the movie are sexually graphic. Make sure your TV is turned down when the movie starts.)<\/p>\n

And finally, the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153good\u00e2\u20ac\u009d stuff:<\/p>\n

Fatal Attraction<\/em> (1987) \u00e2\u20ac\u201c You saw this one coming, didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t you? Michael Douglas learns the hard way that one-night stands aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t so easy to get away with when Glenn Close won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t (can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t?) take no for an answer. A messed-up movie that really makes you think\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6and jump out of your skin every now and then.<\/p>\n

\"\"Valentine<\/em> (2001) – Four Friends start to receive morbid valentine day cards from someone they all rejected when they were younger. The stalker is counting down to Valentine\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Day \u00e2\u20ac\u201c the day of revenge. David Boreanaz to the rescue! Cheesy teen horror flick, but still\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6come on! David Boreanaz! :D<\/p>\n

The Crush<\/em> (1993) \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Before Alicia Silverstone was a cute fashionista playing match-maker with all her friends, she was fourteen and madly in love with Cary Elwes \u00e2\u20ac\u201c you know, before he was trapped in a bathroom with a chain around his ankle. But he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s such a good guy, he knows better than to reciprocate or take a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153schoolgirl crush\u00e2\u20ac\u009d seriously. Big mistake, man. BIG mistake.<\/p>\n

\"\"Laura<\/em> (1944) \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Everyone was crazy about Laura (Gene Tierney) \u00e2\u20ac\u201c she was young, intelligent, beautiful, and found murdered in her own apartment. Detective McPherson (Dana Andrews) is hired to investigate the case of the woman with whom every man fell in love. Being a diligent kind of cop, McPherson is committed to questioning every suspect, searching every nook of Laura\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s apartment, staring at her portrait every day\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 yep. ^__^<\/p>\n

This is one of my favourite movies to watch on Valentine\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Day. Yes, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s in black-and-white, and yes it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s mad-old, but it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s still quite a thrill ride. Just when you think everything is all wrapped up in a pretty little bow, sh*t gets real.<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

*(No matter what your relationship status is, enjoy the moment. If you find yourself grumbling this month, keep it in mind that life can always get better. But count your blessings now because WOW, can it get worse. I mean, just look at some of those last movies. People are crazy.)<\/p>\n

Happy Valentine\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Day, and to all a good night!<\/p>\n

Sifton \u00e2\u2122\u00a5(\u00e2\u2014\u2022 \u00e2\u2014\u00a1 \u00e2\u2014\u2022)\u00e2\u2122\u00a5<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not big on Valentine\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Day. Even if I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m in a relationship, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not my thing. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not big on people walking really slow while holding hands and not letting anyone pass on the sidewalk, and I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not big on people complaining to everyone and their mother about a) their significant others not getting them…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":1693,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false},"categories":[231,244,107],"tags":[241,240],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.hyogoajet.net\/hyogotimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/Valentine-2.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hyogoajet.net\/hyogotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1673"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hyogoajet.net\/hyogotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hyogoajet.net\/hyogotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hyogoajet.net\/hyogotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hyogoajet.net\/hyogotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1673"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.hyogoajet.net\/hyogotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1673\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hyogoajet.net\/hyogotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1693"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hyogoajet.net\/hyogotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1673"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hyogoajet.net\/hyogotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1673"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hyogoajet.net\/hyogotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1673"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}