The ink of my newly penned New Year resolutions has barely dried, and already I’m being bombarded by that most dreaded of holidays, Valentine’s Day. Christmas is still warm on the commercial operating table, yet Valentine's is already creeping into the waiting room of the bereaved like some sort of hideous organ harvester.</p> Unless you have a geniune reason to celebrate Valentine's Day, it’s a holiday that sucks. On a scale of sucking I’d put it somewhere in between <i>Spiderman 3 </i>and <i>The Room</i>. So, if you are considering taking your beau to the cinema this Valentine’s, just don’t because unless, like me, they enjoy seeing Bruce Willis yipie-kay-aying some unsavoury mother-truckers, the chances are you’re both going to be disappointed.</p>

The last decade hasn’t been great for Valentine releases, which begs the question <i>why</i>? Surely someone moderately sensible would have thought about it, put two and two together, and come up with something good? Who thought that <i>Daredevil</i>, <i>Star Wars The Phantom Menace 3D</i>, or - God help us - Justin Bieber’s <i>Never Say Never</i>, would have the loved-up public flocking to the cinema? Who could fail to envisage a romantic evening watching <i>Inside Deep Throat</i> (yes its about porn) or <i>Final Destination 3</i>? The notion it seems, of a good romantic film on Valentine’s Day has definitely escaped the powers that be.</p>

Thankfully, all is not lost: if you fancy a-wooing with a good film you’re spoilt for choice as long as you step back a few years. There are so many fantastic romantic films out there to choose from and here are just some of the best:</p>

<strong>When Harry Met Sally </strong>(1989)</p>
Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan and <i>that</i> diner scene. A film about how sex can make or break a friendship, and how it very nearly does. One of Norah Ephron’s greatest screenplays. </p>


<strong>Annie Hall</strong> (1979)</p>
The ever neurotic comedian Alvy Singer (Woody Allen) falls madly in love with equally ditsy Annie Hall (Diane Keaton). A testament to love in 70s New York and a very nervous romance indeed.</p>

<strong>Say Anything </strong>(1989)</p>
Ione Sky stars as the lovely valedictorian with John Cusack. They fall in love over the summer before she starts college. A great film  from the trench coat, the ghetto blaster and the line "I want to be with your daughter. I’m good at it."</p>

<strong>You’re Got Mail </strong>(1998)</p>
Another Norah Ephron classic. Two business rivals, Joe Fox and Kathleen Kelly (Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan), hate each other but fall for one other over the internet. Thank god for AOL and a good book.</p>

<strong>Pretty in Pink</strong> (1986)</p>
The choices poor Molly Ringwald has to make! Who to choose? The rich boy Blane (Andrew McCarthy), or childhood sweetheart with amazing hair Duckie (John Cryer). Did I mention the superb soundtrack?</p>

<strong>As Good As It Gets </strong>(1997)</p>
“I might be the only person on the face of the Earth that knows you’re the greatest woman on the Earth”. Grumpy author Jack Nicholson, sassy waitress Helen Hunt, and gay artist Greg Kinnear make this a rom-com classic. </p>

<strong>An Affair To Remember</strong> (1957)</p>
From Europe back to NYC by sea, Deborah Kerr and Cary Grant fall in love, and vow to meet each other six months later at the Empire State Building (Sleepless in Seattle fans will love this). Cue a heart wrenching plot twist, and a film widely considered to be one of the most romantic.</p>

<strong> Notting Hill</strong> (1999)</p>
Everyone loves 90s Hugh Grant with his flustering and his floppy hair, and Notting Hill does not disappoint. He owns a book shop, Julia Roberts is the famous film actress on location, and a relationship develops in amongst Grant‘s oddball crew of friends. Written by Richard Curtis and featuring a stellar British cast, it’s a Valentine‘s staple.</p>

<strong>City Lights</strong> (1931)</p>
Before you roll your eyes at a silent film, give it a chance. Chaplin plays the Tramp who goes through all manners of misadventures to give a blind girl her eyesight back. The fact there’s no dialogue is so worth those last final minutes when the two are reunited, and the look on Chaplin’s face when she realises who he is, is priceless.</p> 

<strong> WALL-E </strong>(2008)</p>
Don’t laugh. I have a soft spot for animated films, and this Pixar great is no exception. WALL-E is a little robot with a pet cockroach, designed to clean up Earth and make it habitable again. He falls in love with robot EVE and they go on adventures through the universe, changing the destiny of man. </p>

<strong>Amélie </strong>(2001)</p>
For those sophisticated international film buffs, or lovers of Audrey Tautou. Amélie is all about a lonely waitress with a big imagination discovering love and doing good to those around her. In French with subtitles, it won 4 César awards, including Best Film. Why not opt for this French fancy.</p>

<strong>Jerry Maguire</strong> (1996)</p>
Pre-crazy Tom Cruise stars as a high-flying sports agent. He also ends up falling for Renee Zellweger, and the film contains possibly one of the most recognisable quotes all time - “Shut up, just shut up. You had me at hello!”</p>

<strong>The Ghost and Mrs Muir </strong>(1947)</p>
Having had enough of her insufferable in-laws, young widower Lucy Muir (Gene Tierney) finds a new lease of life in Gull Cottage. However, the cottage also comes with the ghost of Captain Daniel Gregg (Rex Harrison) and together they make quite the unlikely duo. Then, children's author Miles Fairley (George Sanders) comes to town. If you don’t cry at the end then we’ll presume you have no soul.</p>
