We all know a trip to the movies is a tried and true date excursion. You probably could have figured out something a little more elaborately romantic, sure, but if you’re reading this, you need some help. We’ve considered a few different (if very specific) scenarios, so read on for last-minute inspiration.
If nothing here quite cuts the mustard, well, you’ve only brought this on yourself – but you’re on Flicks, you probably know how to find a movie to go and see without our help anyway. Still, hopefully, we can be of service…
You meant to get Auckland City Limits tickets as a gift (except you didn’t get around to it)
Maybe Valentine’s Day snuck up on you financially, and music festival tickets are a bit of a stretch. Auckland City Limits is still a couple of weeks away (Saturday March 3 – full lineup and tix here) so there’s still time to take care of that.
In the meantime, get a head start on the festival bill with a doco about its most idiosyncratic artist, the one-of-a-kind, unmissable, Grace Jones.
Bloodlight & Bami plays two special screenings at Auckland’s Capitol Cinema, and while you’re in Balmoral a tasty (and cheap) dumpling dinner date will help your festy budget, too.
You bought ‘Black Panther’ opening day tickets without realising it was also Valentine’s Day
You’re fine, pal. If you can make your error seem like a thoughtful gift, then, by all means, do your best.
It might not be romance-heavy (though there is a low-key subplot of mushy stuff hovering around the edges of the main narrative), but don’t worry about the suitability of Black Panther for Feb 14th.
While much has been made of the film’s cultural representation, it’s also got some strong female characters packing strength and sass if that’s any help, and it’s a bloody fun trip to the movies, even if you’ve got a bit of super hero fatigue.
You’ve already helped ‘Fifty Shades Freed’ to #1 at the box office
Perhaps it was best to get this out of the way and keep Valentine’s Day free for something more romantic ie pretty much any other movie playing anywhere at all.
But hey, if you enjoyed this franchise’s final fling more than the reviewers who’ve ushered it to an 11% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, then more power to you.
Get back there if you must, for an experience about which the Chicago Reader’s J.R. Jones says “all we want is a little coitus, but all we get is interruptus”.
You think Dave Matthews Band wrote the most romantic song ever
The rush of first love is certainly present in Lady Bird, but it’s not the sole focus of this accurately observed coming-of-age tale. Greta Gerwig’s charming debut, starring Saoirse Ronan, channels familiar feelings of adolescence, quite possibly putting the film on track for Oscar glory.
As Lady Bird strives to find her place in the world, picking up a five star review here on Flicks in the process, young men come in and out of her orbit – including a pretty douchey Timothée Chalamet (Call Me By Your Name).
But how does Dave Matthews Band figure in this? Gerwig’s semi-autobiographical film is set in the early 2000s and has the music to match. Read what she wrote to Mr Dave Matthews about including ‘Crash Into Me’ in the film:
(Image too small? Click here)
Lady Bird opens Feb 15, but we’ve spotted an advance screening on the 14th at Wellington’s Lighthouse Petone. Get tickets here
You are a bit of an emotional vampire who feeds on your partner’s energy to fuel your creative process and spits them out when all used up, plus you think you might have a bit of a funny tummy
Easy. Go see Phantom Thread.
