Don't you just love love?
Ah, February. It truly is one of the best months out of the year, isn't it? It's the shortest month, entails a week-long break for many of us still in school, and is the month of the best holiday of them all: Valentine's Day.
I'm guessing most of you don't agree with me that Valentine's Day is the end-all be-all holiday, the crème de la crème, if you will. I'm sure you believe that Valentine's Day is just another holiday created by companies to sell products such as unnecessarily large boxes of cheap chocolate and weirdly colored stuffed animals that say seductive things like "You're a wild thing."
Maybe you even hold the opinion that there shouldn't be just one day a year to show your affection to those you love; you should make an effort to portray these feelings every day. And to those of you that feel this way, I have one thing to say: I completely agree.
However, because Valentine's Day unfortunately is acknowledged every year, and did in fact occur this year, I thought I might take the chance to share with you all some of my favorite romance films. And no, they're not films such as "The Notebook" or even "Dirty Dancing," because I feel that they are just too predictable.
The films that I enjoy are unorthodox, because life is not always perfect and predictable, and therefore, neither is love.
And with that, let me share some of my favorite unconventional romance movies:
"When Harry Met Sally" is a film that was written by Nora Ephron and stars Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan. Made in 1989, the movie follows two characters, Harry and Sally, from their meeting after college graduation through about 12 years of friendship.
The major conflict is introduced by Harry when he tells Sally on a cross-country road trip to New York City that men and women can never really be friends, because romance always eventually gets in the way. For a while, we watch the slow progression of their relationship develop from mutual dislike to acquaintanceship and then a full-fledged friendship.
However, when Harry and Sally become intimate, it appears that Harry's early warning about the inevitable incompatibility between men and women when it comes to friendship is correct. The aftermath of the film helps the audience decide whether this truly is the case. My favorite parts of the movie are the scene shifts that show different couples rehashing how they wound up together.
"Crazy, Stupid, Love" was in the theaters just last summer, and was recently released on DVD. The movie follows three different storylines that all seem to intertwine: Cal (Steve Carell) finds out that his wife Emily (Julianne Moore) has cheated on him and wants a divorce.
The film shows what happens after he moves out and meets a young bachelor, Jacob (Ryan Gosling) who gives him a makeover and helps him gain his confidence back. Cal in return shows Jacob the benefits of a monogamous relationship. as Jacob discovers his feelings for a law student, Hannah, played by Emma Stone.
At the same time, Cal's son, Robbie is trying to win the affection of his 17-year-old babysitter, who sees him as just a little kid. Despite the central theme of love, this film is one of the funniest I've seen in a long time, and the ending isn't necessarily happily ever after, but works for the storyline perfectly.
The 1980s' Brat Pack classic "Pretty in Pink" stars Molly Ringwald and Jon Cryer and challenges the seemingly impenetrable social circles in high school, and throughout society. Andie is a working-class girl who has a crush on preppy Blane.
Once they begin dating, the backlash from their two different groups of friends causes conflict within their relationship. Jon Cryer stars as Duckie, Andie's friend and constant shadow who appears to be infatuated with her. The ending, which shows Duckie making the ultimate sacrifice and giving up the girl due to his strong love for her is the ultimate romance to me.
A modern-day classic, "(500) Days of Summer" is a movie that portrays the tumultuous relationship between Tom and Summer, played by Jonathan Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel.
The two meet while working at a greeting card company, which serves as a very comical background to the sometimes-saddening plot. Tom is an endearing character, and the charming Gordon-Levitt easily wins over the audience's sympathy due to his heartache stemming from the confusing Summer.
The movie teaches the hard-to-learn lesson that sometimes, you just have to accept that no matter how much you love someone, or think you love someone, that you just may not be compatible.
I believe that these movies show that no matter who you are, whether you write greeting cards or are desperately in love with someone who just sees you as a friend, there are all different kinds of love, and they are all just as important as another. Whoever you were with this Valentine's Day, I hope you were able to show them how much they really mean to you.
Maggie McVey is a senior at Oneonta High School. 'Teen Talk' columns can be found at www. thedailystar.com/teentalk.
Teen Talk
Weekend Reviews: All romance movies aren't mushy and traditional
- Teen Talk
-
-
A Word of Advice: Learn to appreciate what we have
By Melissa Flathmann "When I was a kid ... we had to walk to school, barefoot, in two feet of snow ... uphill, both ways!" How many of you have heard this line so many times your eyes automatically roll? I've heard it lots and as I get older, I realize that maybe as kids, we missed the point.
-
On The Go: Public speaking and I don't get along
By Adrian Adamo If, for some reason, you ever happen to be invited to attend an event where I am scheduled to be doing some sort of public speaking of any kind, do us both a favor and politely decline.
-
Weekend Reviews: Pottermore offers lots more Potter
by Maggie McVey I'm not typically someone who looks for the biggest sensations on the Internet. Frankly, I usually have way too much going on to be able to sit down and "surf the 'net" as the kids call it these days.
-
Teenhood Today: A nudge toward humility or confidence
By Miriam Thurber A problem that many people face is the issue of self-esteem. We either hold ourselves too high or we push ourselves too far into the mud.
-
A Word of Advice: Teens can make a difference
By Melissa Flathmann
-
Teen Talk: I'm becoming a pro at procrastination
There are a lot of dangerous things out there in the world, but of all of them, procrastination might be the worst. Why is that, you ask?
-
Weekend Reviews: May the odds be ever in your favor
ByMaggie McVey The newest tween sensation sweeping the nation is none other than "The Hunger Games" trilogy, written by Suzanne Collins. Many believe this series to be the next "Twilight" or "Harry Potter," but I think "The Hunger Games" is interesting in its own right.
-
Teenhood Today: You, too, can overcome technological difficulties
By Miriam Thurber I was planning on writing about stress. However, in the middle of writing it my computer died and that column disappeared into the other dimension.
-
A Word of Advice: Make eating fun and healthful
By Melissa Flathmann Eating healthy can be a challenge.
-
On The Go: A tale of an 18-year-old knitter
By Adrian Adamo When people hear of "knitting," the image that comes to mind is probably one of a bunch of elderly women, their glasses halfway down their nose, sitting around in a circle in rocking chairs, rocking back and forth with a ball of yarn trailing on the floor.
-
Weekend reviews: True hipsters don't try to be hip
By Maggie McVey The newest epidemic that seems to be affecting our nation's youth is one that may surprise and perhaps even disturb you. Yes, folks, teenagers all across the country are becoming hipsters.
-
Teenhood Today: If you can't laugh at yourself ...
By Miriam Thurber People need to learn how to laugh at themselves.
-
A Word of Advice: Being kind, honest goes a long way
By Melissa Flathmann We all have someone in our lives who has a problem owning up to their mistakes; it could be you, a friend or a relative. No matter who does it, be aware that in no way is it a good thing.
-
On the Go: I'm lovin' my jam-packed, stressful life
By Adrian Adamo Right now, it's exactly 1:22 p.m., which means I have exactly 20 minutes before I should leave for class, allowing a three-minute grace period. should there be any traffic when I'm crossing the street to get to class. And of course, I'll need to plan an extra 30 seconds or so to have on hand just in case the stairs are crowded today.
-
Teenhood Today: School "¦ Need I say more?
By Miriam Thurber Name one person who enjoys school _ one person who wakes up pumped each morning, finishes all assignments three months before they're due, and starts a club called "The best day of my life was the day my first teacher pried my arms off of my mom's legs and forced me to learn my ABCs!"
-
A Word of Advice: Little changes can make big difference for our earth
By Melissa Flathmann Every year our earth becomes more and more polluted. The sad part is that not many people try to stop it because they may think "How would one person make a difference?"
-
On the Go: Why do puzzles have to be so darn puzzling?
By Adrian Adamo Life isn't always easy. We are mere humans, trapped in this game we call "life," just trying to make our way through relatively unscathed.
-
Weekend Reviews: The Nook versus the book
By Maggie McVey Ever since electronic books or "e-books" as some like to call them, have risen in popularity, I have solemnly rejected ever feeling the necessity or desire to buy into the idea, undoubtedly created to make companies such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble copious amounts of money.
-
We'll all find our place in the world ... eventually
by Miriam Thurber I'm starting to think about my future, and it's scary.
-
A Word of Advice: Learn to appreciate what we have
