Hopeless Romantic

This collection of films is from the genre many girlfriends love to make their partners watch in the hopes they will come true - romance. 

1. The Age of Adaline; Lee Toland Krieger Click here to see trailer

I'm not going to lie, I had to trick my boyfriend into seeing this movie with the promise of Indiana Jones and the a guy off Game of Thrones - but even he enjoyed this fantasy romance. When Adaline (Blake Lively) is 29 she has a bad car accident but with the help of some magical lightning, instead of dying she stops aging. She is forced to go throughout her life and throughout many decades at the same age - seeing her children grow old and seeing lovers move on. A big selling point for this movie is the amazing costume, hair, and makeup that Adaline wears throughout each decade. 

2. The Lucky One; Scott Hicks Click here to see trailer

This is your very typical Nicholas Sparks white romance, but was entertaining none-the-less. Logan (Zac Efron) is fighting in the Iraq war and finds a picture of a woman, as he bends down to pick it up he is missed by a missile explosion and his life is saved. He sets out to find this woman and thank her, but ends up getting a job at her ranch and falling in love - keeping his secret as to how he found her in the first place. 

3. The Princess Bride; Rob Reiner Click here to see trailer

Don't let the title of this film put you off - this a tale of sword fighting, comedy, revenge, poison, murder, and a little romance. A young boy is sick in bed when his grandfather comes to babysit, bringing with him a large book called The Princess Bride. The boy is not keen at first, but quickly gets into the story of Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright) trying to escape the evil king and be with her one true love, Wesley (Cary Elwes).Wesley fights high and low to reach her, meeting all sorts of deranged and helpful characters along the way. 

4. Atonement; Joe Wright Click here to see trailer

Not all romances can be happy and whimsical. Set just before World War 2, budding playwright Briony (Saoirse Ronan) watches her older sister Cecillia (Keira Knightley) fall in love with local boy Robbie (James McAvoy). But Briony's imagination gets away with her and she accuses Robbie of committing a horrible crime. He gets taken away and sent to war, and Briony is forced to keep thinking about her mistake and whether or not it cost Cecillia the love of her life. 

5. A Walk to Remember; Adam Shankman Click here to see trailer

When 'bad boy' Landon (Shane West) is forced to move schools and encouraged to make better grades he meets sweet, smart, and shy Jamie (Mandy Moore) and employs her to tutor him. She ends up teaching him more about life and love, than about his school work, but she has a secret. This film is extremely corny, but has some nice musical tracks by Mandy Moore and good morals. 

6. The Time Traveler's Wife; Robert Schwentke Click here to see trailer

Although a slightly creepy start to their relationship, this was a magical and sweet film. When a time traveler (Eric Banner) meets the love of his life and marries her, they struggle to stay in the same decade as he loses control of his ability. Things get even more difficult when she gets pregnant with babies who also have his strange gift. 

7. Silver Linings Playbook; David O. Russell Click here to see trailer

This quirky and romantic film has some strong messages about mental illness and how it effects people, their families, and their life. Pat (Bradley Cooper) has just been released from hospital after losing his wife and job because of a dangerous outburst caused by what we can guess is a bipolar disorder. His friends are trying to be accommodating, and invite him to a dinner party with Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence) who has also just lost her partner and job. The pair, although seemingly despise each other, encourage each other to try new things, like entering in a dance competition or trying a new therapy. 

8.The Notebook; Nick Cassavetes Click here to see trailer

When people think of the romance genre, they think of this movie first. An old man reads to an old lady in a nursing home a story about poor country boy Noah (Ryan Gosling), who meets rich and well-educated Allie (Rachel McAdams) and although he has to fight to have her go out with him, they fall deeply in love very quickly. But, Allie's parents disapprove and the pair are split. That is until Allie is preparing for her wedding to someone else, and she sees a picture of Noah in the paper - who has built a house for her as he had promised years before.