What 8 films Taught me About Love
Everyday is a day to love those around you, but since today is valentines day, I thought I might break down real quick some of my favorite romantic films and what they taught me about love.
And even though I'm single as a pringle, romance films always find a way to my heart <3 There is just something so magical ( and a little painful) to watch about them . . . 😀
10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU
10 Things I Hate About You is probably my favorite romcom of all time. I have seen this film 5 times, I think, since my first watch 2 years ago, and it hits the feels every time. When it comes to love, this film teaches me that love is a chaotic, messy ride where questionable choices are made, but ultimately love triumphs. It's a nice case of 'all is fair in love and war.' Patrick and Katherine’s relationship is intense but ultimately very sweet, and it makes you feel because of how compatible they are from the start. They were truly meant to be, and their relationship also exemplifies that you can find love in the strangest ways because of how they came together.
500 DAYS OF SUMMER
Joseph Gordon Levitt. Joseph Joseph Gordon Levitt. Joseph Gordon Levitt.
I watched 500 days of summer for him and he didnt disappoint, but rather Tom did. This movie knows itself as it starts of with a warning “ this is not a love story” but rather it ends up being a story about love.
500 Days of Summer teaches what loves look like when you have your head up in the clouds about it rather than being grounded. Tom’s character is a depiction of when you treat love as a fantastical concept rather than something that is real. It creates a shrouded, toxic relationship under the guise of “nice guy” that in reality is manipulative. Yeah 500 days of Summer taught me precisely the red flags I should be looking for in love.
THE PRINCESS BRIDE
Princess Bride is such a beautiful film. When it comes to love, this film taught me that true love always wins. The love that you are meant to have you will ultimately come and it is worth fighting for , sword fights and all. The definition of :
“If its meant to be, let it be, let it be. . .”
LA LA LAND
La La Land has to be one of the most painful, lovely stories I have ever seen. It is a heartbreaking, beautiful story about the reality of love. In some ways, it is the opposite of The Princess Bride (then again, Princess Bride is a fantasy film!) because the story of love unravels perfectly in the film. In La La Land, what you didn't expect happens with that excruciating ending, but it’s important in showcasing that not all is fair in love and war. Love is not a dreamlike fantasy that will play out exactly like we want it to (I'm looking at you, Tom from 500 Days of Summer). No, love is delicate and uplifting, but it can go in unexpected ways, and that is okay, even if it hurts."
CRAZY RICH ASIANS
Crazy Rich Asians is a luxrious love story to say the least. This film taught me that if you love someone, it is worth fighting for. Cliche? Absolutely! But Crazy Rich Asians does not make it feel that way, with how rich the movie is. The slipping tense character dynamics, the gorgeous cast, and of course the ever alluring Henry Golding and Constance Wu make it a love story you are actively rooting for.
JAB WE MET
I believe Jab We Met is the first romcom I remember falling in love with. It's a long two hours thirty minutes, but it never feels excruciating. On a rewatch, Jab We Met has taught me that before you can love someone, you have to know someone. It breaks the traditional standard of “love at first sight” with its own spin of “friends at first sight, then love towards the last night.” I love how Geet and Aditya’s relationship develops as they influence each other on the turbulent lively journey they go on. You don't really know how much you love someone until you realize how much they have changed you, and the movie exemplifies this idea really well. "Tum Se Hi" remains one of my favorite Bollywood romance songs of all time, and this movie, like Aditya, will always be fine 😍
WEDDING SEASON
Wedding Season is so adorable. My biggest reason for including this film is that it is like all the cheesy romcoms we usually see in Western films but with thriving brown people in the leads. That’s why I love it so much! Ravi and Asha have strong chemistry and play off each other so well but my favorite part of the film is how they support each other. This film showcases the importance that true love comes when both people are committed to it.
SET IT UP
Set It Up is a sweet little classic story that sweeps you off your feet. Also, Glen Powell and Zoey Deutch can do absolutely no wrong. Set it Up is another one of those stories about how we can find love in the most unexpected chaotic places, but also about finding the person that brings out the best in you. The film works really well because of how Harper and Charlie are united from the start and grow closer through the film, eventually realizing how much they are meant for each other. However, they also have their own priorities they want to meet and never sacrifice that, even if it means crossing ethical boundaries. This is about the balance of love!
These are eight romantic films I absolutely love 😉 and what they taught me about the most powerful emotion that binds us all. Love does not just have to be romantic though! These lessons can be applied across all relationships in life: platonic and romantic. Keep those you love close to you <3
Happy Love Day everyone!