Top Non Sappy Valentine's Day Movies

If Valentine's Day in your area bodes anything like it does in mine, you and yours will be trapped under several feet of snow. You might make it out of the driveway and out to a local restaurant or pub. But anything else? Not too likely. So how about picking up a few flicks, a bottle of Shiraz, a six pack of Guinness or some herbal tea, and some snacks. You can cuddle on the couch or haul out your camping mattress. Turn on the TV and enjoy some new movies or some old favorites.

Oh what a novel idea, you groan. Why didn't I think of that? I hate 'heart-warming',stupid romance movies, you object. Well, so do we (my husband and I); we know just how you feel. Here is a list of alternative Valentine's Day movies that are funny, film-noir, avant-garde, adventurous, occasionally bizarre or steamy, but definitely not candy-coated. Don't look here for 'Somewhere in Time' or 'The Notebook'.

Moonstruck (Cher, Olympia Dukakis, and Nicholas Cage in his salad days) My analysis: 'They expected to fight; in fact they rather enjoyed the shouting. It made a perfect aphrodisiac. But what about his brother, her betrothed and the family?' My husband and I saw this in our dating days and nominated it our movie.

Much Ado About Nothing (Denzel Washington, Kate Beckinsale, Michael Keaton, Robert Sean Leonard, Keenau Reeves) My analysis: 'Hot, luscious, sharp wit and repartee, expected romance falls apart, unexpected romance thrives. Comedy, Lust, Betrayal, Violence, Seduction and some surprising and juicy Love.'
Whose Afraid of Virgina Woolfe? (Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor) This is early 1960's psycho-drama film noir at its best. My analysis: 'What binds these two together? Vicious words, vituperate anger and enough repressed sexual energy to start WW3.' I saw this in college; I felt the tension and intensity.