You might be tempted to visit the Redbox on Feb. 14, looking for a good romantic film to watch with your sweetie. My advice? Don’t.

The current Redbox “Top 20” list of movies has lethal viruses, assassins, crooked politicians (imagine that), paranormal activity, genetically modified chimpanzees and other chilling topics. How can you enjoy a good date night with that gruesome stuff? There’s not a decent love story in the lot.

A better option is to plan ahead. Visit Blockbuster, Netflix or the old-time movie rental places where you might find some of these great movies. Check out Family Video in Pacific, MO, at 1700 West Osage Street, (636) 257-8004 or visit their website. They have a great selection. 

Ghost is a great Valentine’s Day film. It’s a very sexy movie with Demi Moore, Patrick Swayze and an award-winning music score. I don’t know about you, but I’m getting tired of all the “time warp” movies we’re seeing in recent years, where people in one era fall madly in love with someone from another time. Realistically, has that happened lately? I say to the Hollywood writers and directors, what are you smoking out there? Give us something we can relate to, OK? 

Now I can really relate to Love, Actually (2003) with Hugh Grant, Colin Firth and Liam Neeson, along with some other assorted actresses, but who cares about them? This is a romantic, fun movie, plus those three guys are so cute they would get rave reviews even in a Roto-Rooter commercial.  

Even though it’s a bit far-fetched, most of us can relate to Sleepless in Seattle, (1993) so it’s a great choice for the “love holiday” viewing. If you and your sweetie like to live on the dark side, consider “Twilight,” a quirky movie starring a tubercular-looking Robert Pattinson. This is love from the vampire's point of view.  

True Lies (1994 with Jamie Lee Curtis and Arnold Schwartzenegger is a great love story. Here’s an action movie to suit the guys, yet, it doesn’t get too bogged down with violence. Another good romance is When Harry Met Sally (1989) with Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan.  

Valentine’s Day movies often have Cinderella-style characters. Pretty Woman, a 1990 hit with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, is a delightful movie with this theme. 

Another movie made in 1990 is an often-missed gem, one with a fun love story. My Blue Heaven with Steve Martin, Rick Moranis and Joan Cusack is a film that the whole family can enjoy. With plenty of action, lots of laughs, a great plot and music score, it is a great choice for Valentine’s Day.  

The 1982 hit An Officer and a Gentleman is a perennial date movie, and for good reason. A feel-good ending and a great Joe Cocker/Jennifer Warnes title song, "Up Where We Belong," makes this movie both thought-provoking and uplifting. The Oscar-winning Love Story, (1970) with Ryan O’Neal and Ali McGraw is another good choice, but be sure to have a box of tissues on-hand for that one.

Titanic, the top-grossing 1997 flick, would be on my list of romantic movies, but the axe scene, along with that downer ending where Leonardo DiCaprio dies, is just too much angst and heartache for me. I always find myself standing in front of the TV yelling:  “Jack, grab a deck chair or any one of those 4,000 doors on the boat, man! Anything that will float! Use the axe to chop one of those fancy newel posts off! The ship is going to go down!” So instead, I always turn it off right after the sexy scene in the car when Jack was very much alive. If that scene doesn’t raise your blood pressure, nothing will.

One of my all-time favorites is Romancing the Stone, with Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. This rollicking tale is a great adventure story from beginning to end. It’s also very funny, with Danny DeVito playing as a devious and bumbling crook. But its strongest appeal is the hot love story between the two leading characters.

And my top pick for unadulterated, sweet and sappy romance, you just can’t beat The Princess Bride. Like all good love stories, it has a happy ending. Made in 1987 and directed by Rob Reiner, it never won awards or fame and initially didn’t do well, but since then it has become a perennial favorite. To its fans, it’s the ultimate love romp with a big dose of adventure and memorable one-liners thrown in for lots of laughs. You can watch this movie without fear of scarring even the youngest of your lil’ sweetie Valentines, too, because it’s rated PG.  

In addition to a star-studded cast and a gorgeous leading man, Cary Elway, it has flaming rodents in a fire swamp, a giant, a magician (Billy Crystal’s best role ever), a beautiful bride (Robin Wright), flashy swordplay with Mandy Patinkin, and a handful of truly despicable villains who are bent on destroying true love. This movie has so many memorable and funny scenes, it is impossible to list them all here. You won’t find a classic like this on Redbox.

Whatever you choose, set the scene with candles, flowers and popcorn, and then snuggle in with your favorite Valentine for a memorable movie night.