With St Valentine’s Day just one sleep away Amanda asked me to do a post on my five favourite valentine’s movies. Just five. Hhmm.

So I called together my band of trusted movie aficionados, my brains trust, my peeps. Otherwise known as ‘the girls at work’.

We came up with a shortlist of 25, amidst protests from the only man we work with. I could have asked his opinion but he was scoffing too loudly. So if you want to know which romantic movies men like there’s a cute little post on the Huffington Post this week.

Given that I can’t review all 25 movies mentioned I got to thinking – what makes a romantic movie and why do we (or at least ‘I’) enjoy them?

Is it the beauty of the protagonists? Or their wish fulfillment jobs and clothes and lives? Is it the hardships they endure so true love can win the day? Is it a fine caboose in well fitting trousers? Great hair and an I-have-no-live gym chest? Sparkley eyes and a winning smile?

Each to his/her own I say but as we discussed these movies at work, I noticed that the girls each responded to each other’s suggestions with a line from the film or described an action. ‘Aha’ I thought – I may be on to something here. Not anything as complete as a formula (because that would be like catching lightning in a bottle and I would be on the podium accepting my Oscar in a few weeks), just a thought.

Does the whole romantic film stay with us after the credits – or do we treasure THE moment that lifts our hearts and enjoy the rest of the film for those moments? If you’ve read any of my other posts you will already know I love Love Actually. Yes, pretty much all of it, but the two moments that stand out every time I see it are Emma Thompson straightening the bed cover (tragic) and Andrew Lincoln offering his ‘wasted heart’ to Keira Knightley forever (awww).

That moment, whether it is a song, an action or a truly great line of dialogue, that romantic gesture is what gets me every time. The baring of one’s heart to another is the most frightening thing we will do in our lives and when we share that moment with characters on the silver screen, we can be transported.

So, in no particular order, I thought I would share some of my favourite moments with you – and I would love to see your suggestions of others!

PS – if I get the quotes slightly wrong, sorry.

The Princess Bride: ‘As you wish’ – the three most romantic words in the English language.

The Notebook: ‘Hell, it ain’t over yet,’ from Ryan Gosling as he wraps Rachel McAdams in THAT kiss.

An Officer and a Gentleman: scooping her up from the factory line and walking out.

Ghost: everyone loves ‘Ditto’ but for me it is the incredible effort he goes to raising that penny up the door.

Salmon Fishing on the Yemen: taking a woman a sandwich when you know she needs it. Best. Idea. Ever.

Once: Buying a woman a piano and letting her go.

Young Victoria: yes, Albert takes a bullet for her, but for me it is when he says ‘you are my whole existence’.

My Girl: bee stings – sorry, can’t say more or I will cry.

You’ve Got Mail: offering a woman a bunch of fresh pencils (love that smell).

Say Anything: John Cusack + a boombox. If I need to say more you need to see the movie.

An Affair to Remember: Deborah Kerr hiding her injury and then apologising by saying ‘I was looking up, it was closer to heaven because you were there.’ Sniff.

Ice Castles: he helps his newly blind girlfriend to regain her ability to skate, then win a competition, THEN he calls out the locations of the flowers people have tossed onto the rink so she can collect them. Yes, they made movies like this in the 70s.

Blade Runner: ain’t no kissing like young Harrison Ford kissing – and he takes a chance on the future, even knowing their time might be short.

Edward Scissorhands: the moment when Winona wraps her arms around Johnny and his eyes roll back at the wonder of human touch. Pretty much when I decided I would love him forever.

Brokeback Mountain: when Ennis breathes in Jack’s scent from the shirt hanging in the closet.

The Horse Whisperer: when they dance it is the most powerful vertical description of a horizontal intent on celluloid.

The Ghost and Mrs Muir: he stays with her all her life, invisibly, so she can have a ‘normal’ happy one but makes himself visible again at the end, to ease her transition. That description just doesn’t do the moment justice!

The Proposal: the naked scene. As Sandra Bullock said – she owed it to all women. If you have Ryan Reynolds in your film he must be naked at some point. Sisterhood!

The Breakfast Club: the shy first kisses, the essay, the fist pump.

Four Weddings: the funeral poem. Sniff.

And before I get carried away – have you noticed how many gorgeously romantic moments there are in kids’ films? Eva showing Wall-E all his stuff so he gets his mojo back … the Beast and Belle … Amy Adams rescuing McDreamy from the dragon … the whole opening title sequence of Up? That last one is enough to make grown men cry.

Happy Valentines Day!

Ros