Staff Picks: Favorite Movies to Watch on Valentine's Day

Stranger Than Fiction (2006)
Will Ferrell stars as ordinary IRS agent Harold Crick who begins to hear a woman’s voice narrating the minutiae of his life. Upon hearing the narrator utter this gem of a soundbite, “Little did he know that events had been set in motion that would lead to his imminent death,” he seeks answers and meets Professor Jules Hilbert (Dustin Hoffman) who teaches him to truly live.
Who picked it: Heath Loshbaugh, digital production associate
Why: “I will watch this movie anytime because it reminds me that we choose our life and what makes us happy and we don’t need to be perfect, just honest.”

Legends of the Fall (1994)
Three brothers, one of whom is played by a dreamy Brad Pitt, live in the Montana wilderness circa the early 1900s with their father, played by Anthony Hopkins. This epic film is chock full of war! death! lovers! bootleggers! more death! a murderous grizzly bear!–essentially all the makings of a grand Valentine’s Day film.
Who picked it: Darien Parish, digital editor, TigerOak Media bride titles
Why: “If you love heart-wrenching melodramatic period romances with a heaping side of Brad Pitt (arguably his sexiest role), this one’s for you, although my college roommates and a handful of critics might disagree. Haters gonna hate. To give a firmer idea of just how much I love this movie: I walked down the aisle to its opening score.”

(Editor’s Note: We cried watching this clip while adding it to the article.)

His Girl Friday (1940)
This classic screwball comedy stars Cary Grant as The Morning Post editor Walter Burns and Rosalind Russell as Hildy Johnson, his ex-wife and ace reporter who is about to marry insurance salesman Bruce Baldwin and quit the publishing world to be a wife and mother. She of course doesn’t do that because she’s a badass writer and lives to get the scoop. Then (duh) she remarries Cary Grant and they go on cooking up great stories together.
Who picked it: Lauren Mang, digital editor, Seattlemag.com
Why: “I’m not much of a Valentine’s Day gal; it’s been said that I have a heart of stone. So, naturally, I adore this film. My favorite line? ‘If you want me, Bruce, you’ve gotta take me as I am instead of trying to change me into something else. I’m no suburban bridge player. I’m a newspaperman. Darn it.’ Damn right, Hildy!“

Top Gun (1986)
Before he was jumping on couches declaring his love for the much-younger-than-he Katie Holmes, Tom Cruise was starring as headstrong and often reckless fighter pilot Maverick in this intense drama. There’s an unforgettable volleyball scene with a shirtless Iceman (Val Kilmer), set to a sanguine Kenny Loggins track, naturally; ultra hot love scenes; extreme rivalry; and the death of a comrade.
Who picked it: Sara Jones, Seattlemag.com food writer
Why: “Forget Fifty Shades of Grey“; kick back to 1986 for one of the steamiest film scenes on record and a reminder of why we all (yes, admit it) loved Tom Cruise once–especially as a silhouette.”

Saving Face (2004)
Saving Face is a romantic dramedy about a semi-closeted young Chinese American surgeon (Michelle Krusiec) who falls for a ballet dancer (Lynn Chen), while dealing with social pressure from her widowed mother (Joan Chen), who has romantic secrets of her own – including an unexpected pregnancy.
Who picked it: Sarah Warn, vp of digital media for TigerOak
Why: “It’s funny, sweet, and romantic, and explores the cultural challenges of first and second-generation Chinese American immigrants as well as the nuances of complicated mother-daughter relationships. The acting and writing is solid, the characters are likeable, and the story has just enough intrigue to keep you guessing. The ending is unrealistically positive, but that’s kind of perfect for Valentine’s Day, isn’t it?”

Center Stage (2000)
Ah, the competitive world of ballet. This dance-filled film centers on 12 teenagers from various backgrounds who are all enrolled in New York’s American Ballet Academy and deal with personal and professional struggles along the way.
Who picked it: Jaclyn Norton, Seattlemag.com editorial assistant
Why: “Because it has romance and dance and a killer soundtrack, all intertwined with New York….And nothing says Valentine’s Day like those red pointe shoes.”

Nicholas Sparks Marathon
In order of importance: The Notebook (obviously); A Walk to Remember (Mandy Moore and those overalls get us every time); Dear John (not because it’s good, just because it stars Channing Tatum); The Lucky One (we can’t really take those two seriously after seeing High School Musical and Orange is the New Black); and of course… The Last Song (even Liam Hemsworth doesn’t have enough redeeming qualities to make up for Miley’s “acting”).
Who picked it: Lauren Madeja, marketing and events manager
Why: “I’d start with the best and work down to the worst, so by the time I’m watching The Last Song I’ve had enough wine to slightly enjoy it, or at least enjoy making fun of it.”