Love on the silver screen
Living at my apartment has been pretty boring over the past week. On the first day of the new year, my home computer died and I don't have cable, so my options of by-myself-at-home entertainment have been pretty limited. As a result, I've been watching lots of movies, and most of them have been chick flicks.
I've watched The Perfect Man, A Lot Like Love and most recently A Walk to Remember. And after watching all of them, I began to wonder if Hollywood was causing me to have unrealistic expectations of love. I have a guy friend who once told me that he hated movies like A Walk to Remember because no guy could ever live up to the ideal guy in the movie. The ideal guy is romantic, yet tough, loves unconditionally and will do anything for the woman of his dreams, including sticking by her in the toughest of times, even if it makes him an outcast.
At one point in A Walk to Remember, Shane West's character tells Mandy Moore's character that she inspires him. As a result of seeing this, my friend has made it her goal to inspire someone. She has a bracelet with the words "inspire" engraved on it. I hope someday that perfect guy will come around and tell her that she inspires him.
But how likely is that to happen? Are romantic comedies, love stories and chick flicks altering our perception of what love is? Are those movies too perfect and too ideal? Is there any reason to believe something like this can happen in real life?
I've watched The Perfect Man, A Lot Like Love and most recently A Walk to Remember. And after watching all of them, I began to wonder if Hollywood was causing me to have unrealistic expectations of love. I have a guy friend who once told me that he hated movies like A Walk to Remember because no guy could ever live up to the ideal guy in the movie. The ideal guy is romantic, yet tough, loves unconditionally and will do anything for the woman of his dreams, including sticking by her in the toughest of times, even if it makes him an outcast.
At one point in A Walk to Remember, Shane West's character tells Mandy Moore's character that she inspires him. As a result of seeing this, my friend has made it her goal to inspire someone. She has a bracelet with the words "inspire" engraved on it. I hope someday that perfect guy will come around and tell her that she inspires him.
But how likely is that to happen? Are romantic comedies, love stories and chick flicks altering our perception of what love is? Are those movies too perfect and too ideal? Is there any reason to believe something like this can happen in real life?
posted by Anonymous at 9:59 AM
4 Comments:
I often wonder the same thing, and a good friend always poses the question: what happens after the credits roll?
We don't get to see what happens after the characters actually start a life together - the bills they have to pay and the real problems that arrise.
Oh my gosh — I had the exact same thought about unrealistic love the other day while watching my Melrose Place on DVD. I absolutely loved that show when it first came on the air, but as I watched the other night, I thought, "I think this show gave me the wrong idea about what love is." It has sweeping love scenes and the characters fulfilling the every wishes of their partner — I mean, it's what every woman wants, but it doesn't always work out like that.
And I think it starts young too, with the Disney movies about a Prince saving the day each time! The poor guys out there — they have a lot to live up to when girls start having a very precise idea about love from age two!
It's important to separate reality from fiction, especially in a relationship. Or you will undoubtably be disappointed!
In response to Anon #1: Last night I watched an independent flick called "Before Sunset." The end of the movie is left completely ambiguous as to whether the characters get together, which parallels the ending of one of the character's books. The author explained: Romantics believe that ultimately they will get together, and true love conquers. Cynics will believe that they will go their separate ways. What you think happens at the end can tell you what type of person you are.
I think the same goes for what goes on after the credits rolls. Romantics believe it's perfect, and cynics doubt they stay together. Me, I'm a believer in happy endings. I like to believe they stay together. But that's not necessarily real life, is it?
I actually lost my "inspire" bracelet, but do plan to get it tattooed on me. I intend to inspire more than just someone who loves me though.
A couple movies had a similar line in it, so someone real must have said it once!
I think lately there have been more realistic love movies where the quirky girl gets the guy or the love isn't perfect. The Last Kiss is a new favorite of mine because it shows real love in an imperfect world.
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