My husband has odd taste in movies. His DVD collection includes the likes of Steven Seagal, Sylvester Stallone, Charles Bronson, even Jean-Claude Van Damme. Lots of action, fight scenes, car chases and explosions. He’s also a huge romantic, though, and lately he’s watched “Sense & Sensibility” about three or four times over the last few weeks.
I’d like to get some more movies like this for him—any recommendations? I threw “Pride & Prejudice” out, but he’s not crazy about the cast in the versions that came to mind. Then I suggested “Wuthering Heights” or “Jane Eyre”. I’m not sure how he’d do with Brontes, though.
Any suggestions for romantic movies, perhaps set in a by-gone era, bonus points for Hugh Grant and Emma Thompson (I love Emma Thompson). He really liked “Love, Actually”, speaking of Mr. Grant and Ms. Thompson. Now that I think of it, they don’t necessarily have to be Jane Austen adaptations or even period pieces, but some more movies with the kind of “sensibility” of “Sense & Sensibility”. He also likes movies where the pure of heart triumph and justice prevails. And happy endings, of course. But nothing too pat or saccharine.
We watched “Truly, Madly, Deeply” years ago, so maybe I’ll pick that one up again, but I welcome suggestions! Bring on the romantic movie suggestions! I have an Amazon gift certificate, and I’m ready to click and spend!
Since Chow Yun-Fat is in CTHD, how about a twofer: The Killer: Boy shoots girl. Boy protects girl. Girl sings really awful songs. Boy gets girl. Then it ends like most John Woo movies, but romantically!
You said your husband wasn’t crazy about the casts in the versions you knew, but are you familiar with the BBC Pride and Prejudice miniseries? It’s pretty much the best adaption of Austen I’ve ever seen; light years better than the terrible Keira Knightley version. Seriously–I can’t recommend it enough. It has Colin Firth, which is practically like Hugh Grant, but better. And Jennifer Ehle is amazing as Elizabeth.
I’m a guy who enjoys **Sense and Sensibility ** as much as Sin City, so I’ll throw in my two cents:
I enjoyed the version of Emma with Gwyneth Paltrow. I’m sure there are other worthy versions, but this is the one ‘period’ version that I’ve seen and I liked it. Speaking of Gwyneth, Shakespeare in Love is one of my favorite movies, has he seen that? And speaking of Emma, Clueless is a modernized version that I really liked a lot.
Amelie and A Very Long Engagement are both very romantic and beautifully filmed movies. They are both French movies (made by the same director and both starring Audrey Tatou of The DaVinci Code)
The Twelfth Night film with Helena Bonham Carter is very good, but it might depend on if you like Shakespeare.
Definitely check out Dangerous Beauty, a great little movie set in 16th century Venice. Great chemistry between the two leads and it has a serious story underlying the romance. One of my favorite movies to recommend to people.
I found Little Women to be somewhat in the vein of S&S. Plus its got an all-star cast: Winona Ryder, Kirsten Dunst, Claire Danes, Susan Sarandon, Eric Stoltz, Gabriel Burne etc.
Since he liked Love, Actually he might like Four Weddings and a Funeral. Also the first Bridget Jones’ Diary movie.
I love Remains of the Day (with Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant and Christopher Reeve) and Howard’s End (Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson and Helena Bonham Carter) but those don’t exactly have happy endings.
I loved Sense and Sensibility, too. I don’t know if your husband would go for my other favorites with this feel, as they aren’t Jane Austen or Hugh Grant movies, but how about these:
Gosford Park
The Remains of the Day
Howard’s End
84, Charing Cross Lane
Hmm, that list is kind of heavy on the Anthony Hopkins. What can I say, I adore the guy.
I second the vote for the BBC Pride & Prejudice miniseries. It’s a masterpiece. In particular, Colin Firth makes Darcy simply walk right off the pages and onto the screen, and even improves a bit on the character, if that’s possible.
I’ll second almost all of these, particularly Gosford Park, Emma, Dangerous Beauty, Shakespeare in Love, Howard’s End and Much Ado About Nothing. Let’s see, I can also throw in Wings of the Dove, Elizabeth, *Quills *(a little more disturbing - don’t watch with the kids around) and for an oldie but goodie, Anne of the Thousand Days. And, while it’s not a corset movie, let’s add *Dead Again *for good measure.