Please join us today in welcoming Carrie Lofty to Book Binge. Carrie has written some pretty fantastic Victorian romances that you should have already read but if you haven’t, why the heck not? Today she’s here to talk about those one kiss movies that we all know and love.
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One-Kiss Movies
By Carrie LoftyFirst off, thanks to Book Binge for letting me stop by! I’m excited to talk about “A Little More Scandal.” At just $.99… Take a chance! This is an adorable intro to my Christies series of Victorian romances.
It’s one of Pocket’s first original digital releases. You can read more about those fabulous new originals here [http://pages.simonandschuster.com/pocketstar/a-little-more-scandal], including an extended excerpt of “A Little More Scandal.”
But there. Aside from the blurb, that’s my sales pitch.
As romance readers, we’re pretty used to kissing and much, much more physical contact being part of the journey toward a happy ending—inspiration romances aside, of course. But so many romantic comedies feature only one kiss. The finale kiss. The kiss that says everything will be just fine for the rest of forever, even if we never see them gasp and scream. (Although sometimes? Damn I wish we could see that!)
So here they are. My top ten one-kiss movies, in no particular order.
Pride & Prejudice: Either version! Darcy and Lizzie are the quintessential romance couple, complete with meddling families and the snappiest of banter. Whether Firth/Ehle or Macfadyen/Knightley, the romantic tension is so fabulous that the kiss is like being able to breathe again.
Return to Me: OK, yes, it has a tremendously sad beginning. That only makes the kiss and the sweet, swoon-worthy embrace between David Duchovny and Minnie Driver all the more beautiful. In Italy. Perfection!
Love Actually: Tons of characters, tons of fabulous storylines, but I always watch in anticipation of Jamie’s awkward, adorable proposal to Aurelia. That Jamie is Colin Firth never hurts.
Leap Year: Don’t tease. It’s a formulaic, often painfully ridiculous movie, but I adore Amy Adams and Matthew Goode. They were too good for the script, but that doesn’t mean I don’t savor their kiss on the Irish coast.
North & South: Technically it’s a miniseries, but if you hold that against me, we can’t be BFFs. Richard Armitage, people!! Amazing how, after four hours, something as simple as an undone cravat is enough to leave me breathless.
10 Things I Hate About You: Julia Styles plays vulnerable, bitchy, and brainy to perfection, and Heath Ledger (RIP) is the epitome of youthful charm. They were perfect together. Oh wait! Drat! They kiss after the paintball scene. But too late now—I’m not taking it off the list.
The Cutting Edge: Oh, I could write a thesis on this movie’s perfection. Moira Kelly and DB Sweeney have never had more memorable, more adorable roles. Knowing Olympic skating, they probably didn’t win the gold medal anyway, but who cares? Kissing! On the ice!
While You Were Sleeping: Sandra Bullock at her cutest, Bill Pullman with his rough-edged sincerity, and one of the best ensemble family casts ever. Who knew kissing in a CTA toll booth could be so melty-happy?
Clueless: The modernization of Austen’s Emma features quick-fire banter, a young Paul Rudd, and dated references to designer clothes. I suddenly realized I’m probably dating myself with these choices.
The Decoy Bride: Ha! I won’t date myself! This is a 2011 independent romantic comedy featuring David Tennant (of “Doctor Who” fame) and Kelly Macdonald (of Trainspotting and “Boardwalk Empire”). There’s lots of adorable Scottishness. And a near-drowning. And an author whose fiancé is certainly not the girl for him. I highly recommend it as the best “one kiss” movie of the last year.
I really encourage you to add your own, because I’m such a huge fan. I can never get enough of the promise that a single lovely, perfect, long-awaited kiss will seal the romantic deal forever.
Next up for Carrie:
STARLIGHT is the second full-length romance in the Christies series, set in Victorian Glasgow. It was just given 4 ½ stars and chosen as a Top Pick from RT BookReviews. It’ll be released in paperback and digitally on June 26 from Pocket.
HIS VERY OWN GIRL is a historical romance set in WWII England. Seriously. Not women’s fiction. Not literary fiction. A full-on honest to goodness historical romance. Another Pocket Star digital original, it’ll be available September 4.Carrie on the internet:
http://www.carrielofty.com
Twitter: @carrielofty
http://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarrieLoftyGIVEAWAY ALERT: Carrie Lofty has graciously offered to give away a copy of FLAWLESS [http://www.carrielofty.com/Flawless.html], the first of the Christies series from Pocket. To be entered to win, leave a comment letting us know what your favorite movie kiss is.
Good luck!
Thanks so much to Carrie Lofty for stopping by today, it’s been such a pleasure. The giveaway is opened to everyone so have at it in the comments! And just so you know, Leap Year was great because of Matthew Goode and Amy Adams! 😉
At the top of the list, the kiss in “North & South” FTW. I can’t even think of any other movie kiss that may have had such impact…oh wait, there is another one, when Han solo kisses Leia … it was a standing ovation moment! 😀
Although there is no kiss and the ending was seriously altered in the movie I am going to mention, one of my two favorite versions of “Persuasion” (the 2007 one) does have a kiss at the end that I felt was wonderful. The 1997 version is more truthful to the book and also beautiful, btw.
M.
I love the kiss at the ending of “Never Been Kissed”. Something about waiting to see if Michael Vartan will make it to Drew Barrymore before the clock runs out….it gets me every single time I watch it 🙂
The new Pride and Prejudice movie had that memorable kiss in the early morning meadow.
The kiss on the beach in From Here to Eternity.
I love the kiss in Pride and Prejudice and the kiss in Return to Me (which is a great movie). I also love the kiss in The Notebook.
I’ve seen most of the films on your list and loved them (even “Leap Year”!), and the kisses, of course. I will check the others out. Thank you for the recommendations!
Recently, I’ve seen and liked “New in Town” with Renée Zellwegger but I can’t promise there’s only one kiss. But I think “Penelope” with Christina Ricci and James McAvoy has a kiss at the end and the film was very sweet.
Some great ones have been mentioned–Estella is right about From Here to Eternity’s beach kiss. Carrie’s mention in her column of While You Were Sleeping reminds me that film is on my list of “movies I have to watch when I’m flipping channels and find it on.” And I still love the spaghetti kiss in Lady and the Tramp.
The kiss from spiderman where spiderman is upside down.
I would say the kiss from Gone With the Wind.
mce1011 AT aol DOT com
When Jimmy Stewart was kissing Donna Reed in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ as he was trying to pull away to leave town & finally get on with his life.
I know the movie wasn’t the greatest but in Bridget Jones’ Diary…when Bridget and Colin met in the snow…she was only wearing a tank and boyshorts…and he was walking under the street lights….
Just kinda goofy I guess…
sandy@thereadingcafe.com
I can’t think of any movies offhand that just had one kiss. Maybe I don’t watch enough movies, or else I just don’t remember them well enough.
jen(at)delux(dot)com
My favorite movie kiss is the Spiderman upside down kiss in the rain. It’s the one that sticks in my head as the most unusual kiss I ever saw. 😀
Barbed1951 at aol dot com
Thanks for a lovely post and giveaway! Flawless is at the top of my wishlist!
My fav movie kiss would have to be the new Pride and Prejudice w/ Kiera Knightly when she finally professes her love for Mr. Darcy in the meadow at sunrise and they kiss ….*happysigh*
In the movie PRACTICAL MAGIC, Aidan Quinn & Sandra Bullock kiss (or the characters do). It’s such a great build up then **KISS**.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Just one??????
Okay, mostly random (meaning, no thinking involved, just popped up in my head), Richard Gere and Julia Ormond in First Knight.
(I don’t think that meets the requirements but there you have it)
All really good choices. My daughter and I watched 10 Things I Hate About You just the other day.
The kiss in Breakfast at Tiffany’s is one of my favorites, also.
The one from The Notebook.
bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
For heat factor, I go with Mr. & Mrs. Smith. jepebATverizonDOTnet
Sorry, I forgot to leave my email address my above comment (sorry)
latomli (at) yahoo (dot) com
Wee! I’m totally late checking in here! Sorry about that, folks. I love all the suggestions, and I’m nodding along with the ones I forgot to mention (or more likely, had to narrow down). I just watched 10 Things I Hate About You last night. Still as funny and adorable as I remembered.
Thanks for stopping by, and best of luck in the drawing!