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Alternative romance films for Valentine's Day

» Break the norm with non-traditional classics

Cazzy Lewchuk
Staff Writer

 

alentine’s Day is the perfect time to watch a love

movie. However, the traditional romantic comedy
isn’t to everyone’s tastes. Whether youre part of a
couple that’s bored with the same typical plot or you’re
spending the holiday alone, there are many great love
movies still available.

  

I Love You, Man (2009)

This buddy comedy features Paul Rudd as Peter
Klaven, an engaged man who realizes he’s never had
areal “man” friend. Enter Sydney Fife (Jason Segel)
to teach him about the fine art of beer drinking and
Rush concerts—and maybe even a thing or two about
relationships. It’s a true bromantic comedy.

500 Days of Summer
(2009)

An essential subverted
romantic comedy, this
sleeper hit features

Joseph Gordon-Levitt,
Zooey Deschanel, and an
absolutely amazing hipster-

early on that “this is a story
of boy meets girl—but it is
nota love story.’

 

 

Image of ‘Love You, Man’ :

 

Image of ‘Moonrise Kingdom’ :

: Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

: As is typical with director Wes Anderson, this movie
: features quirky characters and stunning visuals.

: Against the backdrop of a New England town in 1965,
: two 12-year-olds in love run away together, promptinga :
: local ruckus and search party. :

Punch-Drunk Love
(2002)

This movie is extremely
colourful, artistically
scored, and features Adam
Sandler as an unstable
man-child who falls in
love. But unlike most
Sandler flicks, this one is
much more dramatic and
critically acclaimed.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  

: Gone Girl (2014)

: In this extremely gripping thriller directed by David
esque soundtrack. We learn Fincher, after Nick Dunne’s (Ben Affleck) beautiful

: wife Amy (Rosamund Pike) disappears, the media and
: viewer ask the question: did Dunne kill his wife? This
: one will make you wonder if you can trust a romantic

: partner ever again.

 

The Princess Bride (1987)
: A fairy tale story of swordplay, revenge, pirates, an

: evil prince, and shrieking eels awaits in this quotable
: classic. This epic adventure is a movie everyone must
: see at least once, and most will want to watch it again
and again. It’s great to watch with a family member

: or friend—just be sure to tell them “As you wish”

: afterwards.

 

Image of ‘Gone Girl’ :

: The 4o-Year Old Virgin (2005)

: Andy Stitzer (Steve Carell) is a healthy, socially

: awkward but very caring fellow who also happens to

: have never been with a woman. Upon discovering this,
: his crass friends immediately work on finally getting

: him some action. Along the way, everyone learns a

: thing or two about relationships, with plenty of crude
: humour, of course. The hot wax scene is a classic.

The Room (2003)

Often praised as and
considered to be one of

the worst films of all time,
this confusing and bizarre
movie is filled with drone
acting, irrelevant lines and
subplots, and cringe-worthy
cinematography. This alleged
romantic drama must be seen
to be believed. It’s sure to be a
great laugh fest either solo or
with friends

 

Image of ‘The Princess Bride

   

Image of ‘The 40-Year Old Virgin’

 

Comic Corner: Looking for love

» ‘Love*Com: Volume I’ review

Brittney MacDonald
® Life & Style Editor

y Milifeandstyle

J @theotherpress.ca

90000

   

ve never reviewed a traditional :

: friend, Chiharu.

manga for Comic Corner
before, but now that we're
entering the month of love, I
thought it would be appropriate
to look at a romantic comedy.
Love*Com is adorably fun with
a unique sense of humour and a
story that’s easy to get into.

Risa has some problems

finding love: she’s too tall and

while forced to attend summer
school, she meets Suzuki, a

: handsome boy who's taller than
: she is. It’s love at first sight, but

: getting close to Suzuki proves to
: be difficult. Enter Otani, a loud
: mouth boy with the opposite

problem to Risa: he’s too short!
But after some scheming, Otani
agrees to help Risa if she will
help him get together with her

Love*Com (short for “Lovely

: Complex”) is written and

: illustrated by Aya Nakahara.

: Unlike Western comic books,

: itis not unusual for manga

: to be written and drawn by

: the same person. I found the

: plot fun, even if it is a little

: predictable. This graphic novel
eS 0 : was very obviously produced
all the boys are intimidated! But and marketed for women, which
: was an unusual but welcome

: change.

The art is definitely

: different. If you are not

: familiar with the manga/anime
: aesthetic, you might want to try
: out some free samples online

: before purchasing a full graphic
: novel.

That being said, as someone

: who has read manga before,

: the art for this one seemed

: a little simplistic. The pages

: were sparse and empty, and

: everything—even the character
: forms—was a bit circular.

: Nakahara’s style is not without

: its appeal though. I was pleased
: to see a variety of feminine body
: shapes.

Altogether I enjoyed

: reading this manga and would
: definitely recommend it to my
: girlfriends if they need a good
: laugh.

 

Image illustrated by Aya Nakahara