Ryan McNeilWhile it is indeed a bit of a manufactured holiday, I can’t help but be a believer in Valentine’s Day. It is after all, an excuse to tell those special to us that we care about them…or if you’re hollywood, it’s an excuse to make the all-star chick flick, sit back and laugh at what suckers will be dragged to it (Lady hatter and I have plans for WOLFMAN by the way).
But back to love. More than any other detail, the part of love that I thought the movies always got right was the kiss. Tender kisses, deep kisses, sad kisses…kisses involving a superhero hanging upside down. In an age where many are obsessed with turning on the jets to get to second or third base, it seems as though hitting a solid single and enjoying first base has become undervalued.
Thankfully, the movies have always known the joy that comes from a really good kiss, and they’ve given us some good ones over the years. So in honour of all the overpriced roses and cavity inducing chocolates we tend to clamour over, allow me a moment to celebrate some cinematic snoggin’. I give you…
#5. Lena & Barry, PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE… It’s actually just the shot that makes me smile here, which is cool since we don’t really get a great look at the kiss itself. there’s some real charm to their embrace: the way Lena’s leg has that classic “pop” starting, and Barry seems to be awkwardly hunched like the sort of guy who really doesn’t get to kiss someone so beautiful all that often. It has a sweet clumsiness to it, while being shot so elegantly.
#4. Josie & Sam, NEVER BEEN KISSED… In a small way, this selection is a Valentine’s Day wink for Lady Hatter since it’s a movie she likes a lot more than me. That said, I can’t say I’m opposed to the idea of kissing a lovely lady on the pitcher’s mound in front of a ballpark full of people, though I was a backstop when I played so home plate would likely be my first choice. Still, kissing that special someone anywhere on a diamond as The Beach Boys are playing on the soundtrack is nothing short of pure romance.
#3. Mitch & Mickey, A MIGHT WIND… When the veil of dreams has lifted / And the fairy tales have all been told / There’s a kiss at the end of the rainbow / More precious than a pot of gold… I’m deeply in the minority in claiming this as my favorite Christopher Guest movie, but I think it’s because it gives us this brief moment of tenderness amongst all the lunacy that seals it for me. By the time Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara reach this final chorus, you really do find yourself hoping for this kiss to happen. And when it does, it doesn’t disappoint.
#2. LADY AND THE TRAMP… I would have put their names, but that seemed redundant. This kiss celebrates the innocence of young lovers, and the excitement that can come from not knowing the kiss is coming until it’s happening. It’s a kiss that takes a perfect evening…food, music, moonlight…and seals it into romantic perfection. Unfortunately, it also turned a really young Hatter into “That boy who keeps kissing the girls in class”.
#1. Karen & Sgt. Warden, FROM HERE TO ETERNITY… This is the gold standard. the moment of unbridled passion that we should all strive for. Of course, nowadays, who knows what debris those waves would drag up to these lovebirds, but that’s not the point. the point is that these two find a place of perfection on earth and do the impossible…they make it even more perfect. If you’re honest, you know deep down that you’ve always wanted to live out this moment with someone special (and if you have – kudos!). For that, this takes the cake as my favorite movie kiss.
Did I miss one? Feel free to leave comments with your favorite movie kisses, along with suggestions for the next top five.
Hmm interesting selections. If I had to throw out a couple just as thoughts: Gone with the Wind, the big first kiss. The final kiss in The Princess Bride. Overall though I can't complain about your selections, and I don't think many are going to fight From Here to Eternity as #1.
nice list Hats
Hats off to you, as it were
i also like the Walle-Eve kiss, the Cruel Intentions kiss, the Roger Rabbitt kiss when the lips fly off and smack Bob Hoskins in the face (have i got the right movie there?)
You really can't go wrong with number one, anyway you swing it. I remember liking the Cold Mountain kiss and the Titanic kiss [duh].
re the next top 5: Sex Scenes. Obviously.
I know it’s a blokey cliché but I have to go for this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAXvPLWrMSo&feature=related
Not what you were looking for but this is a great scene:
And for comic value, a great scene from one of my all time favourite movies.
@ Univarn… Never been the biggest fan of GONE, but it does have a few good smackeroos.
@ McG… You are indeed remembering ROGER RABBIT correctly, good call! Was there a kiss in WALL-E? Why am I forgetting this?
@ Andrew… I think you're the first person to say you liked anything about COLD MOUNTAIN. And btw, I nominate YOU to do the sex scene five.
@ Number Six… Gonna have to come back to your suggestions (No YouTube on this particular computer).
Can't argue with #1, as you said "the gold standard"
IMO the best kisses usually come when the characters have apparent attraction for each other but the kiss never really comes until late in the movie. Hard list to compile though since just about every movie have people kissing.
Good list Mad
Jesus, I need to review Punch-Drunk Love already. What a great movie and what a great makeout session. Good list there, even though I still haven't seen From Here to Eternity.
::hangs head in shame::
My vote? PUNCH DRUNK LOVE.
Hands down.
What a creative idea for a list. I love it! And I'd be lying if I didn't say that kiss at the end of "Never Been Kissed" didn't make me all teary-eyed.
The kiss in "The Cutting Edge" was excellent, and as much as it pains me to admit it the Kristen Stewart/Robert Pattinson smooch was the only good thing about "Twilight."
@ Castor… Yeah, it feels like kisses that have been building for the entire runtime of the film seem that much sweeter when they happen. Good point!
@ Aiden… Don't sweat ETERNITY. It's a classic, but not one that I'd say is one of the tope ten or twenty films of all time. Do give it a watch though – Sinatra is so friggin' cool in it.
While we're at it, get writing about PUNCH-DRUNK too!
@ Sasha… Got any favorites of your own besides PDL?
@ Meredith… Ah yes, THE CUTTING EDGE. That's a good'n. Am I remembering it wrong, or aren;t there fireworks or sparklers behind them as they kiss as well.
As for Edward and Bella – sorry, I try to keep this space a TWILIGHT-Free Zone.
Definitely ones I need to catch up on here, but at least I've seen (and loved) Punch Drunk Love. Beautiful shot.
I thought about this and I got my own submission.
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN. The kiss that Velma sees through the window.
The list of unmentionables is up, Hatter. I do not envy your task of picking five, such a small number.
@ Danny… It is a nifty shot, isn't it? What would some of yours be?
@ Sasha… Ahhh…good choice! I forgot about that one.
@ Andrew… I like working in fives. I subscribe to the Nick Hornby/Rob Gordon philosophy that tens get too taxing to complete – fives are more concise. I'll go check out your post momentarily, but glad I could inspire such a post!
@ Number Six… Finally got to watch those clips, and thank you SO much for including CINEMA PARADISO. It's easily one of my favorite moments in movie history, and such a beautiful scene. I'm kinda kicking myself now for not remembering it, as it could have actually given FROM HERE TO ETERNITY a run for its money.
Well played!
Ryan and rachel in the Notebook? Come on! I mean, I am not the queen of chick flicks or anything but that chemistry nearly set my TV on fire. To put that below never been kissed kind of hurts me.
I offer:
Bridget Jones D- Firth's expression when he finally kisses Renee on the street corner (her reckless abandon in her knickers)
The Notebook- when they kiss fevereshly in the rain. Its Rachel's moment indeed!
Any woman wishes for that kiss that takes her breath away and sweeps her off her feet– boys start practicing!
I totally agree with #4, and what a build-up that was which made the kiss all the more amazing! Speaking of build-up, this one at the end of the BBC miniseries North & South always takes my breath away (#16 on this list http://wp.me/pxXPC-7K) and also the doorway kiss in Dear Frankie (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7lA0cEFxPM) Ooo la la!
@ Po… That was *this* close to making my list. I probably scratched it at the very last moment, so it's the invisible number six. Three others that almost made the list were Han & Leia in THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, Spidey & MJ in Spider-Man, and the Bridget Jones kiss Cutie mentioned.
@ Cutie… Good to hear from ya! Like I say, I'm with ya on both of those, so we're on a similar wavelength. Hope all is well over there – been far too long since you've written. Get at it – inquiring minds want to know!
@ RTM… Yeah, that was a cute kiss wasn't it. I like both of those clips too – first time I'd seen either of 'em!