Best Romance Scenes

[crumpeteer]

When dreamybritactor brought up my favorite scene in North & South, I knew I had to do this post.

I'll probably keep this down to only my very favorites. I'm trying to prove that while my heart is not entirely made of stone, I don't want to go overboard. So, in no particular order...

Comments

[meganbmoore]

*glares at the never-cheap-enough North and South*

And really, we're happy Elizabeth was strong...if he'd given in then, that man's ego never would have been controllable.

And I think you nailed why I ADORE the Kate Bickinsale Emma but only like the Gwyneth Paltrow version...Paltrow's Ema begins and ends perfect and with no need or inclination to mature and grow up. Beckinsale's(more accurate) Emma is amazingly nice and well intentioned, but thoughtless and snobby,though she'd be horrified to learn that she was, so that you can't help but adore her and understand why people like her(in contrast, while still nice, Paltrow's Emma is almost a Prince Perfect) even if they occassionally want to yell at or smack her.

[crumpeteer]

The thing about Paltrow's Emma is that the movie tries so hard to make Emma likable that she seems to have no flaws, which makes Knightley's criticism of her seem harsh. The book paints Emma in an entirely different light as she IS sweet and caring, but can be a real snob and catty just as much as any Bingley sister when she wants to be. She dislikes Jane for no other reason than that Jane isn't as outgoing and doesn't appeal to her (and later it's a bit of jealousy), she snubs people, is inadvertantly rude to people and would fit right in with the Mean Girls on some occassions.

[meganbmoore]

Exactly. And really, the flaws are WHY we like her, because we can see how sweet and nice she is, we just want to give her a bop upside the head for her attitude at times.

[dreamybritactor]

P&P - I love the first proposal in the way that Darcy loves her and hates himself for loving her. I think Lizzie is right for saying no to him

[crumpeteer]

I understand Lizzie's no completely, but you do feel for Darcy for just bungling it so badly. He's obviously completely in love with her, but he hasn't found his heart yet

[witchofthedogs]

Little Women almost isn't worth watching past Laurie's aborted proposal for me. He and Jo are so perfect together that I've never understood why they aren't.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!! Yes, yes, yes.

Though, the are the epitome of love that never was and there are certain relationships in cinema and television (such as Josh and Donna on The West Wing) who also encompassed this very sad, very evocative feeling... (except, they put Josh and Donna together and ruined it).

[crumpeteer]

I think it was possibly a case of the right couple at the wrong time. The Professor is basically Laurie only much older, which makes me think that had it been at a different time and place, she and Laurie would have been perfect for each other.

I have a feeling that Laurie and Jo were almost too modern of a relationship for the time period that the book was written.

[jedishampoo]

LOL! Y'know, in all my conversations about "historical romance" with friends this issue has never come up, so I'm gleeful to find I'm not the only one. I've never watched the movie because of my intense dislike for Winona Ryder and Jo was my favorite charcter; but I remember being 10 years old and reading Little Women, and when Jo so harshly rejected Laurie I tossed the book aside and cried. It was weeks before I finally finished the book and it was with half the joy I had at the beginning. And I could never be happy about the Professor (though the comments below certainly make sense to me now). Romance is so important! Even when it's not the point of the book! :)

[dangermousie]

Love your list (except P&P because I hated that version:)).

But the S&S is just so...gorgeous. It's the voice.