Nihiki Reel - 10 Movies to Watch this Valentine's Day

It's our first collaborative post—yay, us!

Image © Sarah Anderson

Valentine's Day is fast approaching, so grab a loved one (person, pet, toy or pillow) and kick back to the following list of movies that have been selected by us! FYI, Boo loves rom coms but Charlotte thinks 99% of them are terribad, so this isn't a list that's chock full of romantic, tear-jerking flicks, but rather just movies that we both think would be absolutely great to watch with that special someone/pet/toy/pillow.

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1. Love & Other Drugs (2010)

"Sometimes the things you want the most don't happen and what you least expect happens.

I don't know - you meet thousands of people and none of them really touch you.

And then you meet one person and your life is changed forever."

— Jamie Randall

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, Josh Gad, Oliver Platt, Hank Azaria

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance | Runtime: 112 minutes

Based on the non-fiction book Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman by Jamie Reidy, Love & Other Drugs (2010) takes place in the 1990s when Viagra was bursting in the marketplace. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal as Jamie Randall, a charming pharmaceutical salesman who sells Zoloft, Viagra and even love, he is determined to sell his way out of Ohio even if it means flirting with every receptionist at the doctors' offices. Jamie then meets patient Maggie Murdock, played by Anne Hathaway, while he was permitted to observe Dr Knight (Hank Azaria), his doctor friend, at work and accidentally sees her disrobing. It’s then followed by a series of intense arguments and sexual encounters as casual partners till they fall in love and discover Maggie’s worsening Parkinson’s disease. I’ll leave the rest of the movie for you to uncover when you watch it!

I absolutely love this movie as it’s more than just having sneak peeks at Anne's perfectly shaped boobs and Jake’s hot bod but more so, having the classic plot of lust turning into love. While teaching us that love and relationship are far better than casual sex, it brings across the serious message of Parkinson’s disease and how it may affect the ones you love. Albeit filled with mindless sex acts, Love & Other Drugs (2010) actually brings across the worthlessness of casual sex and how love triumphs in the end - even if it means getting that carnal desire out of the way by caving in to it. When better to watch than on Valentine’s Day - be it with your boyfriend/girlfriend or a buddy *wink wink*.

2. Savages (2012)

"I looked up the definition of the word savage. It means cruel, crippled, regressed back to a primal state of being. One day, maybe, we'll be back. For now, we live like savages... beautiful, savages."

—O.

Starring: Aaron Johnson, Taylor Kitsch, Blake Lively, John Travolta, Salma Hayek, Benicio Del Toro

Genre: Crime, Thriller, Drama | Runtime: 131 minutes

Savages is director and screenwriter Oliver Stone's glorious and explosive return to the world of drug cartels, politics and ultraviolence, after his widely-acclaimed screenplay for the cult-classic, Scarface (1983). Originally a pulp crime novel of the same name written by Don Winslow, this movie opens with an introduction about a pair of best friends—the hot nerd Ben (Aaron Johnson), and the gritty ex-SEAL, Chon (Taylor Kitsch)—and their booming marijuana cultivation/retail business in sun-kissed Laguna Beach, California.

Upon hearing about their miracle strain of weed, a Mexican drug cartel decides that they'd like in on the business and its secrets, and confronts the boys to strike up a partnership to enlist their expertise. To force their hand, the gang targets and kidnaps Ben and Chon's weakness—their shared girlfriend, Ophelia (Blake Lively). The terms? Their compliance or her death. The movie subsequently progresses into a seemingly-typical rescue and recovery mission akin to the likes of Taken, where Ben and Chon begin to take radical and brutal steps to retrieve their damsel.

The vivid cast and impressive acting alone is commendable, but the true beauty of this movie lies in the multi-dimensional approach in character development and conflict, as well as Stone's clever knitting of geopolitical and economic themes into a highly-stylised, drug-induced haze of a revenge run spurred by a borderline amoral romance.

Not quite the fan of sappy love stories about amnesiac girls and cancer-ridden guys struggling to love and be loved? This movie is for you! Look forward to a sexy (lots of cues to... ahem), action-packed movie that still has comparatively more mental and emotional depth than most Hollywood blockbusters these days. As Corliss of TIME aptly comments: "it’s a very alive movie about people who probably ought to be dead."

3. Warm Bodies (2013)

"There's a lot of ways to get to know a person. Eating her dead boyfriend's brains is one of the more unorthodox methods..."

— R

Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, John Malkovich

Genre: Comedy, Horror, Romance | Runtime: 98 minutes

Before you think it’s yet another zombie movie, please give Warm Bodies (2013) a chance to prove itself wrong as it has the warmest and cutest zombie plot ever. Embrace the bizarreness of the movie as the main character, a zombie named ‘R’ (Nicholas Hoult), falls in love with a human, Julie Grigio (Teresa Palmer), right after eating the brains out of her boyfriend. Being able to “feel alive” through the memories of those he devoured, R is particularly drawn to Julie and felt a strong need to protect her and rescue her from the fleet of zombies. It’s then followed by a series of Romeo and Juliet moments as he finds it impossible to be with her even though it eventually ends with a happy ending (that I’ll leave it to you to find out once again!)

Other than having depth to the characters, the movie is filled with funny and embarrassing scenes with no lack of frightening scenes - it’s a zombie movie after all. The authentic chemistry between Hoult and Palmer also gets your heart racing and makes it an ideal date movie for adults and teens. I wouldn't recommend to watch with kids though. That said, for those who enjoy romantic comedies, zombies and the apocalyptic world, it’s the perfect rom-zom-com to watch this Valentine’s Day!

4. Dhoom 3 (2013)

"I am God's man, who could dare to defy me?

The Sun of Hopes is out in all directions;

My intentions are solid,

And there is courage in every step.

I have set forth today

To write my own destiny."

—Sahir.

Starring: Aamir Khan, Abishek Bachchan, Katrina Kaif, Uday Chopra, Siddharth Nigam, Jackie Shroff

Genre: Action, Thriller, Musical | Runtime: 172 minutes

From the get-go, Vijay Krishna Acharya's Dhoom series has been likened to Hollywood's Fast & Furious franchise, and for good reason. The word 'dhoom' itself alludes to noise, or an uproar, which perfectly summarises the trio of highly-charged blockbusters that have grown to be infamous for their epic action scenes—often involving moving vehicles—and dramatic storylines. In the history of Western cinema, empirical data has often verified the age-old theory that sequels suck balls. On the contrary, the same evidently doesn't apply to Dhoom, and each and every instalment paves the way to a bigger and better follow-up in all aspects.

Dhoom 3 sees the series' regular good-cop-bad-cop duo, ACP Jai Dixit (Abishek Bachchan) and Ali Akbar (Uday Chopra), in yet another scintillating manhunt for yet another brilliantly charismatic criminal: Sahir Khan (Aamir Khan), a circus artist with a vendetta against the owner of a large chain of banks in Chicago. It's terribly difficult to delve much further into the story here without compromising the delicious twists and turns of the plot, but rest assured that it is indeed a magnificent work of art, matched only by breathtaking acting. Though this film fares well enough as a standalone (they aren't connected by a singular plot), it also fully retains the essence and charm of its two predecessors.

There is absolutely no reason why anyone should take a pass on this movie, and you'll have to watch it to understand why. If a fervent recommendation doesn't cut it for you, consider this: Dhoom 3 is one of the highest grossing Bollywood movies in the world, and it broke the record for being the first ever Hindi film to gross more than US$74m worldwide; truly an outstanding victory for Asian cinema. The film also contains one of the most expensive music videos in history (US$740,000), made for the addictive number titled Malang; it is an extravaganza of a performance that would have made Baz Luhrmann himself weak at the knees.

Dhoom 3 boasts of sheer, uninhibited effort and hard work, so buckle up (in bed), and prepare to be blown away this Valentine's, with a true visual spectacle, and one that is well worth the three hours you and your companion are going to be spending glued to the TV!

5. 50 First Dates (2004)

"Nothing beats a first kiss."

— Lucy

Starring: Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, Rob Schneider

Genre: Comedy, Romance | Runtime: 99 minutes

Despite its low ratings on major movie reviews sites, 50 First Dates (2004) remains as one of my favourite shows due to its very important lesson on love - there has to be effort made to win each other over everyday. In this case, Henry Roth (Adam Sandler), a veterinarian who fell in love with Lucy Whitmore (Drew Barrymore), is made to chase her everyday as she has short term memory loss.

Shot in Hawaii, Henry is a veterinarian at Sea Life Park and has a bad rep for bedding women while they are on vacation. He showed zero interest in committing to any relationship until he met Lucy at the Hukilau Café. With no recollection of their meetings, Lucy could have been the perfect girl whom he can have a fling with but instead, they hit it off so well that he decided to chase her despite all the obstacles. Even though he manages to make her fall in love with him almost every single day, her Goldfield’s Syndrome made it difficult for any promising relationship. However, he eventually found the perfect solution and they live happily ever after!

Wanna know how he did it? Watch the movie this coming Valentine’s Day and have a great time laughing and tearing to 50 First Dates whether it's your first or hundredth date. Guaranteed a feel-good film.

6. I Saw the Devil (2010)

"When you're in the most pain, shivering out of fear, then I will kill you.

That's a real revenge. A real complete revenge."

—Soo-Hyun.

Starring: Lee Byung-Hun, Choi Min-sik

Genre: Slasher, Thriller, Horror | Runtime: 141 minutes

Known for his impeccable cinematic style and his unparalleled penchant for awe-inspiring versatility in film-making (think A Tale of Two Sisters; The Last Stand; The Good, The Bad, The Weird, etc.), internationally acclaimed director Kim Jee-Woon strikes hard and fast once again with the likes of I Saw the Devil.

Adapted from a screenplay by Park Hoon-Jung, the Guignol-esque film presents the character of Kyung-Chul (Choi Min-Sik), first seen brutally attacking a woman in the middle of a bleak, wintry night. Her husband, NIS agent Kim Soo-Hyun (Lee Byung-Hun)—upon receiving word of his wife’s murder—sinks into a trauma-induced pit of unbridled rage, and goes in pursuit of Kyung-Chul, which eventually develops into a sadistic, vengeful game of catch-and-release.

Gorgeously shot in graphic hues of blue, black and red, Kim does a stunning job capturing the poignant sense of dissolution as we witness the protagonist’s evolution from an anguished vigilante into a deranged beast. While its revenge-centric premise is relatively simple, the prime force of the movie lies within its mysteries; you’ll never know what’s going to hit you next.

Ultimately, this movie gives its audience a lurid exposition on the psychology behind the intensity of human emotion—appropriately embodied as the titular devil—and how it can all too easily damage the dignity of human values. Do not be so hasty to write this movie off as yet another mindlessly gory horror flick! Pure horror isn’t in a slew of jump scares or visceral splashes of blood and guts. It’s realism, and the growing awareness that all this could actually happen in real life.

So, looking for a night of chills, thrills and a million and one reasons to hold on to your lover (or whatever) for dear life? This movie will surely not disappoint you.

7. Shrek (2001)

"They judge me before they even know me - that's why I'm better off alone..."

— Shrek

Starring: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, John Lithgow

Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy | Runtime: 90 minutes

Who wouldn’t love a classic animation on Valentine’s Day?! Debuted in 2001, Shrek (2001) is the first of its series and is to date, one of my favourite movies ever. Serving as a (somewhat) parody film, Shrek (2001) adapts numerous children’s fantasies and made it uniquely Shrek. Many of the characters bear resemblance to Disney characters - the Three Little Pigs, Three Blind Mice and even Pinocchio - and many props and events as well - Magic Mirror in Lord Farquaad’s castle and the princesses, Cinderella and Snow White.

Once upon a time, there lived an ogre named Shrek who lived alone in his lonely swamp. His life was then disrupted by many fairytale characters who are all banished from the evil Lord Farquaad’s kingdom. In order to save his home (as well as theirs), he sets out on a journey to strike a deal with Lord Farquaad which is to save the beautiful Princess Fiona and make her Farquaad’s bride. It was only then when he found out a dark secret of Princess Fiona and that turn of events led to their very own happily ever after.

After its success screening in 2001, sequels such as Shrek 2 (2004), Shrek the Third (2007), and Shrek Forever After (2010) as well as a spin-off film Puss in Boots (2011) came into play. There has been news of a fifth film to be released in 2019/2020 too! But first, start with the first Shrek and hope you find your happily ever after like they did.

8. Crazy, Stupid Love (2011)

"I'm really mad at you for what you did. But I'm mad at myself too. Because I should not have jumped out of that car— I should have fought for you. Because you fight for your soul mates."

—Cal.

Starring: Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Julianne Moore, Marisa Tomei, Kevin Bacon

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama | Runtime: 118 minutes

After making their debut with the box office success I Love You, Phillip Morris, director duo Glenn Ficarra and John Requa land their second feature film to a warm reception and eminent popularity. Crazy, Stupid Love is a masterful depiction of Love: how silly, senseless, yet magical it all can be.

After his wife (Julianne Moore) spontaneously announces her affair and her ever-growing lack of affection for him, watch as the throes of divorce tear through the daily lull of Cal Weaver’s (Steve Carell) white picket fence dream. Defeated, he begins to frequent a bar, at which he crosses paths with the narcissistic lothario, Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling). The two men develop an unlikely friendship, and Jacob takes on the role of an Obi-Wan to Cal’s padawan self in the pick-up game.

The movie then diverges to show several other wacky, romantic subplots across all three generations of the Weaver household, which all converge over the span of the film into a climatic scuffle that lends itself to the theme so effectively epitomised by the feature title. Although there are borrowed elements from other classic movies of the same genre, this film commendably shows its audience a refreshing and hilarious array of inventive twists, and satirical dialogue that will leave you in fits.

Rom-com buffs beware, Crazy, Stupid Love is a star-studded, unconventionally truthful number that is sure to leave you feeling warm, fuzzy and thoroughly satisfied.

9. Love, Actually (2003)

"But you know, the thing about romance is... people only get together right at the very end."

— Sam

Starring: Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy, Gregor Fisher, Rowan Atkinson, Martin Freeman, Andrew Lincoln

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance | Runtime: 135 minutes

A Christmas-themed romantic comedy that can most definitely be watched anytime even if it’s not Christmas. Featuring an ensemble cast, various types of romantic relationships - be it sweet or totally wrong - are interweaved together, leading up to Christmas. With 10 different love stories going on at the same time, it is hard to peel your eyes away from the screen.

Opening the movie at the airport, the message of ‘love is all around’ quickly gets thrown to the audience as it explores different types of love between family, friends and lovers. Each story is linked in one way or another, other than Billy Mack (Bill Nighy) and his manager (Gregor Fisher) even though they appeared frequently on other characters’ radios and TVs. Even so, there is no problem in keeping up with the multiple storylines and the epilogue definitely gives you a heartwarming ending.

I would go into detail on every couple in the movie but I wouldn’t because it’s up to you to go figure! Although there are various mixed reviews (as usual) about Love Actually (2003), I still think it’s a rather realistic portrayal of love and completely agree that you can find love at the most unexpected places.

10. 3 Idiots (2009)

"Dude, if you fear the future so much, how can you live? And how can you focus on today? I've got strange friends, man. One of them is living in fear, and the other one is not living at all!"

—Rancho.

Starring: Aamir Khan, Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Boman Irani, Omi Vaidya

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance | Runtime: 171 minutes

3 Idiots is a charming, coming-of-age movie directed by award-winning (and box office breaking) writer-director Rajkumar Hirani. It is based loosely on the novel Five Point Someone by Chetan Bhagat and is yet another highest grossing Bollywood movie that has received worldwide recognition and the affection of its audience across all demographics.

In this tuneful, high-spirited movie, we play witness to the college life of Rancho (Aamir Khan), Farhan (Madhavan), and Raju (Sharman Joshi). Enrolled at the esteemed Imperial College of Engineering, their days are filled with countless episodes of tomfoolery and drama, during which they learn precious lessons of life that cannot be gleaned through textbooks, classrooms, and mindless rote memorisation.

The kooky main character, Rancho, is the evangelist of the movie’s mature and serious theme of self-actualisation, but he effectively disarms even the most stubborn of viewers with his witty comebacks and endearing personality, then hands them a new perspective on life, much like he does to influence his two best friends.

3 Idiots is a true gem of a motion picture that encompasses an overwhelming number of factors that other films are often hard-pressed to squeeze within the confines of a movie format. It’s strewn with clever soliloquys, utterly amusing antics that never fail to entertain, characters that undergo admirable and inspirational personal development, and lavishly decorated musical sets, all meticulously curated to deliver an eloquent, earnest message.

This is definitely a movie you’ll finish with a smile on your lips and a lightened mood, so it’s a perfect one to watch with that special someone (there’s romance here too but not really the main point LOL).

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Now that you've got 10 different movies recommended by us, we're pretty confident you can have a smooth movie date this Valentine's Day! Head over to our Facebook page and leave us a comment on which is your favourite. We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Bonus activity: Take a guess at who recommended what to see if you know us well enough :p

Love, Nihiki

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