Chick Flicks & Romcoms: More Indulgence

First the Wiki definition, "Chick flick is a slang term for a film genre mainly dealing with love and romance and designed to appeal to a largely female target audience. Although many types of films may be directed toward the female gender, 'chick flick' is typically used only in reference to films that are heavy with emotion or contain themes that are relationship-based (although not necessarily romantic as many other themes may be present). Chick-flicks often are released en mass around Valentines Day". Chick flicks are also 'gal films'. This sub-genre of film was traditionally known as woman's films - melodramas in the 30s and 40s.

My favourite film genre is the romcom (romantic comedy) and romantic dramas, very definitely chick flicks! So I am a hopeless romantic! I dislike horror movies and cannot really appreciate 'guy/man movies'. My favourite actors are mostly female - Meryl Streep, Sandra Bullock, Keira Knightley, Drew Barrymore, Meg Ryan.

Here are films considered chick flicks as gleaned from the Internet, most of which I have watched and enjoyed. This tedious filmography of chick flick romcoms and romantic dramas is only because I have nothing better to do love lists and ticking against them. And the movie buff in me will try to seek out those films not yet viewed while the bookworm in me will track down the books/novels associated. It is good to note that many, if not most, of these films are adapted from popular novels and literary classics. Chick flicks have become the "prominent staple of films beginning in the mid-80s".

Before 1960: Morocco 1930 - Camille 1936 - The Women 1939 - His Girl Friday 1940 - The Philadelphia Story 1940 - Rebecca 1940 - The Shop around the Corner 1940 - The Lady Eve 1941 - Notorious 1946 - Black Narcissus 1947 - All About Eve 1950 - Born Yesterday 1950 - Pat and Mike 1952 - High Society 1956 - An Affair to Remember 1957 - Island in the Sun 1957 - Imitation of Life 1959

The 60s: Breakfast at Tiffany's 1961 - Lolita 1962, 1997 based on the 1955 novel by Vladimir Nabokov about an adolescent girl who is attractive and sexually responsive and a middle-aged man obsessed with her. - My Fair Lady 1964 - Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf 1966 - Funny Girl 1968 - Romeo & Juliet 1968, 1996 based on Shakespeare's tragedy. - Belle de Jour 1967
The 70s: Love Story 1970 - Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore 1974 - Julia 1977        

The 80s: Somewhere in Time 1980 - French Lieutenant's Woman 1981 - An Officer and a Gentleman 1982 - Terms of Endearment 1983 - The Colour Purple 1985 based on a 1982 epistolary novel by Alice Walker about women of colour in Georgia in the 1930s focusing on their low position in American social culture - Desperately Seeking Susan 1985 - Smooth Talk 1985 - Aliens 1986 - She's Gotta Have it 1986 - Earth Girls are Easy 1988 - Beaches 1988 - Working Girl 1988 - Steel Magnolias 1989 - Dirty Dancing 1987 - Sixteen Candles 1987 - Bull Durham 1988 - Say Anything... 1989 - When Harry Met Sally 1989.

The 90s: Ghost 1990 - Pretty Woman 1990 - Daughters of the Dust 1991 - Fried Green Tomatoes 1991 - Thelma and Louise 1991- The Bodyguard 1992 - A League of their Own 1992 - Joy Luck Club 1993 based on the 1989 novel by Amy Tan about the relationships between Chinese-American women and their Chinese mothers - The Remains of the Day 1993 based on a 1989 novel by Kazuo Ishiguro about the perfect English butler and his fading insular world postwar England and his relationship with a former colleague, the housekeeper Miss Kenton - Sleepless in Seattle 1993 - What's Love Got to Do With It 1993 - Four Weddings & a Funeral 1994 - Little Women 1994, 1949 based on the 1868/69 novel by Louisa May Alcott. - Before Sunrise 1995 - Clueless 1995 - French Kiss 1995 - How to Make an American Quilt 1995 - Mad Love 1995 - Now and Then 1995 - Sense & Sensibility 1995 based on Jane Austen's 1811 novel about the life and loves of the Dashwood sisters. - Waiting to Exhale 1995 - While you were sleeping 1995 - Bridges of Madison County 1995 based on a 1992 best-selling novel by Robert James Waller about a married but lonely Italian woman and her affair with a National Geographic photographer who is visiting Madison County to document the covered bridges in the area. - The English Patient 1996 based on a 1994 novel by Michael Ondaatje about fate, romance and tragedy in World War II Italy. - The First Wives Club 1996 - The Truth about Cats and Dogs 1996 - Eve's Bayou 1997 - My Best Friend's Wedding 1997 -  Romy and Michele's High School Reunion 1997 - Titanic 1997 - One True Thing 1998 - City of Angels 1998 -Ever After; A Cinderella Story 1998 -   Hope Floats 1998 - Practical Magic 1998 - You've Got Mail 1998 - The Wedding Singer 1998 - 10 things I Hate about You 1999 - Never Been Kissed 1999 - Notting Hill 1999 - The Story of Us 1999 - The Virgin Suicides 1999 - A Walk on the Moon 1999.

2000s: Girlfight 2000 - Miss Congeniality 2000 -Where the Heart is 2000 - Bridget Jones Diary 2001 based on a 1996 novel by Helen Fielding about a woman determined to improve herself while she looks for love in a year in which she keeps a diary. - Kate & Leopold 2001 -  Legally Blonde 2001 - Lovely & Amazing 2001 - Monsoon Wedding 2001 - Princess Diaries 2001- 40 Days and 40 Nights 2002 - Bend it Like Beckham 2002 - Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood 2002 - The Hours 2002 - Laurel Canyon 2002 - Life or Something Like It 2002 - My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2002 - Whale Rider 2002 - Rabbit-Proof Fence 2002 based on the novel 'Follow the Rabbit Proof Fence' by Doris Pilkington Garimara about the true story of the author's mother and two other mixed-race aboriginal girls who walked 2,400 km to return to their community while being pursued by white law enforcement authorities. - How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days 2003 - Love Actually 2003 - Mona Lisa Smile 2003 - Something's Gotta Give 2003 - 13 Going on 30 2004 - 50 First Dates 2004 - Along came Polly 2004 - Before Sunset 2004 - Little Black Book 2004 - The Notebook 2004 - Raising Helen 2004 - The Perfect Man 2005 - Pride and Prejudice 2005 based on the 1813 novel by Jane Austen (the first film adaptation was made in 1940). - The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants 2005 - The Breakup 2006 - Catch and Release 2006 - The Devil Wears Prada 2006 based on the 2003 novel by Lauren Weisberger about a graduate who lands a job as co-assistant to a powerful fashion magazine editor. - The Holiday 2006 - The Lake House 2006 - 27 Dresses 2007 - Enchanted 2007 - Music and Lyrics 2007 - The Jane Austen Book Club 2007 based on the 2004 novel by Karen Jay Fowler about a book club formed specifically to discuss the six novels of Jane Austen - P.S. I Love You 2007 - Sex and the City 2008 - Twilight 2008 - Bride Wars 2009 - Ghosts of Girlfriends Past 2009 - Grey Gardens 2009 - He's Just Not That Into You 2009 - The Proposal 2009 - The Time Traveler's Wife 2009 - The Ugly Truth 2009.

2010s: Going the Distance 2010 - Life As We Know It 2010 - Remember me 2010 - The Switch 2010 - Valentine's Day 2010 - Sex and the City 2 2010 - Eat Pray Love 2010 - Friends with Benefits 2011 - Just Go with It 2011 - The Help 2011 adapted from Kathryn Stockett's 2009 novel. - No Strings Attached 2011 - Water for Elephants 2011 - Anna Karenina 2012 adapted from Leo Tolstoy's 1877 novel. - One for the Money 2012 - The Vow 2012 - The Lucky One 2012 - The Perks of being a Wallflower 2012 - .The Five-Year Engagement 2012 - Brave 2012 - Salmon Fishing in the Yemen 2012 - Hope Springs 2012 - What to Expect When You are Expecting 2012 - The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 2012 - Austenland 2013 - The To Do List 2013 - About Time 2013 - The Big Wedding 2013 - The Bling Ring 2013 - The Call 2013 - The Heat 2013 - The Spectacular Now 2013 - The Butler 2013 - The Great Gatsby 2013, 1974 based on the 1925 novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald - Her 2014 - August: Osage Country 2014 - The Other Woman 2014 - Belle 2014 - -

Refs: 1. www.filmsite.org/greatchickflicks.html          2. www.chickflickguide.com
(In progress)