Romance might be a bit thin on the ground in the street - but it's certainly alive and well at the movies. To celebrate the release of Australia starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, we remember our favourite romantic moments - in movies as epic as they were passionate.
1. The Notebook
There's nothing like seven years of separation and misunderstandings to get the passion flowing - and The Notebook's star-crossed lovers Allie (Rachel McAdams) and Noah (Ryan Gosling) certainly made the most of it in their award-winning rain scene. "Why didn't you write me?" she wailed, only to discover he did write to her. Every day. For a year. Cue swelling music, steamy snogging and a big fat tear running down our cheeks. Gets us every time.
2. An Officer And A Gentleman
This Oscar-winning epic screamed romance from the off, but nothing would prepare us for that dream-come-true finale when Richard Gere strode into the factory in his uniform and quite literally swept Debra Winger off her feet. Altogether now: Love Lift Us Up Where We Belong... sniff.
3. Australia
When Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman meet in this epic romantic love story they despise each other but after crossing the rugged, harsh outback and fighting for their lives and everything they believe in they fall together in a loving embrace, just as the rain showers down, signalling the end of the dry season and the start of a steamy love affair.
4. Ghost
Who knew pottery could be so seductive? A bare chested Patrick Swayze, that's who. It was cute enough when he crept up behind Demi and spoiled her vase-making in the most delicious way possible - but watching it knowing he was going to die, well, sob...
5. Dirty Dancing
Before he got naked and covered in clay, sexy Swayze charmed us with his swoonsome dance scenes with Baby, whose summer holiday turned into the romantic adventure of a lifetime. We're spoilt for choice when it comes to heart-spinning scenes in this film, but the climactic moment where he lifted her up in front of the audience has to clinch it.
6. Titanic
Doomed love really hits you where it hurts, doesn't it? Knowing Jack's destiny just made his romance with Rose all the more heart-wrenching, and when the pretty pair embraced on the prow of the ill-fated ocean liner, he really was King of our world. Don't try this one on holiday though kids.
7. Pretty Woman
Opera. Flowers. A white limo. High flier Edward (Richard Gere) really knew how to say sorry when he conquered his fear of heights and scaled the fire escape to win the heart of the lovely Vivian (Julia Roberts). The white knight fantasy came with a heart-warmingly modern twist, too, when Edward asked what happened when Vivian was rescued in her fantasy. "She rescues him right back." Ah....
8. Sleepless in Seattle
The whole of Sleepless In Seattle was building up to this one moment: the meeting of our hero and heroine, and boy was it worth the wait. As Sam (Tom Hanks) followed his matching-making son Jonah to the Empire State Building, he narrowly missed Annie (Meg Ryan) - agony! -but fate brought them together at last in a truly heart-stopping finale.
9. Romeo + Juliet
How cute were Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes in this movie? The ending is obviously heartbreaking, but the meeting between Romeo and Juliet is classic love at first sight. Gazing at each other through a fish tank, the two young beauties were instantly struck by cupid's arrow - and we were instantly won over.
10. Four Weddings and a Funeral
No, we're not talking about the scene in the rain at the end - we agree with Carrie: Charles' first stammering declaration of love was really romantic. "Er, I really feel, er, in short, to recap it slightly in a clearer version, eh, the words of David Cassidy in fact, er, while he was still with the Partridge family, er, ‘I think I love you'." Funny, but also heart-stoppingly brave and romantic.
To see the trailer for Australia, tips on how to get Nicole Kidman's look and to be in with a chance at winning tickets to the Australia premiere, click here.
