It seems as though the Hollywood is putting out more sequels and remakes than original ideas nowadays, and if it’s this bad now, we can only imagine how bad it’s going to be 30 years from now. Oh well, even if the writers of the future are even more out of ideas than they are now, at least there are a few recent movies that they could remake and then play on TBS during Saturday afternoons.

What movie would you like to see remade and which movie should Hollywood never touch again? What movies do you consider to be the classics of this generation?

So let’s be real, we all cried a little bit when we found out Brad and Jen were splitting, and some of us are still sticking pins in our Angelina Jolie voodoo dolls not over it. In fact, thanks to our obsession with celebrities, faux-lebrities and TV/movies, we often find ourselves more invested in Hollywood/fictional couples than we do in our own relationships.

But who can blame us? It doesn’t take a Patti Stanger to know that our hot-wings-eating, HALO-playing, Edward-40-hands-lovin’ boy toys pale in comparison to the romantic, doting, sexy Prince Charmings we see in our weekly tabloids and primetime TV shows.

What girl wouldn’t yearn for her very own vampire (think True Blood, not Twilight)? Or an Upper East Side romance? The picture perfect couples are everywhere we look, and even if we aren’t half of one, it’s the holiday of looooove (duh, Valentine’s Day, people) so let’s melt, ooze and swoon over some of our favorite duos.

The holiday seasons are all about eating too many dips, spending way too much money on frenemy gifts, and watching Elf on repeat. This year we’re prepared to take the stress and the frustration out of holiday gift giving by giving you the ultimate gift guides to buying the perfect presents for your favorite people (and we’re splitting into 3 different price ranges so you can choose the gift based on how much you actually like the person!). So set this series as your favorite because all week we’re bringing you the best.

It’s tough to buy gifts for the friend who loves to read. The choice should seem obvious, shouldn’t it? Buy a book. But what type of book? What has she read? What does he want to read? Hardcover or paperback? New or used? The questions are endless. And that’s before you even get into accessories. Are bookmarks too cliché? Will she even use them? Are all those gadgets really necessary?

All valid questions. But more importantly, all answerable questions. College Candy is breaking down the answers for you. With prices ranging from $11.99 to $139 we’ve got all your bases covered, from the books, to the book lights to the book shelves.

So no more standing in the middle of Barnes and Noble staring at the stacks of bestsellers attempting to figure out which one is actually worth reading. I’ve done the hard work for you and scoured those (cyber) shelves to provide you with the best gift options for the bookworms in your life.

Get even more gift giving inspiration in CollegeCandy’s Holiday Central!

Glamour had listed their top six movie kisses of all time. And I have to say, I was a little disappointed.

The kisses they chose were certainly swoon worthy, but I didn’t think all of them deserved a top spot. And there were other kisses that were most definitely missing. Lots of kisses missing. Kisses that needed to be mentioned. So I selflessly spent hours and hours poring over YouTube video after YouTube video to compose this list for you, my top ten movie kisses of all time.

10. Jack and Rose, Titanic. Leo has come a long way since his days of freezing to death alongside a glacier, but I don’t think our generation will ever let him forget his days as a teen heart drop. This kiss, though not particularly impressive, sums up our teeny bopper days perfectly. It’s nostalgic and sweet and we’ll never let go.

9. Blane and Andie, Pretty in Pink. This list wouldn’t be complete without at least one Brat Pack shout out. And for me at least, it couldn’t be anything other than this movie. That final scene in the parking lot when Jack and Andie reunite at the senior prom after a huge fight just epitomizes everything I love and hate about teen angst and chick flicks. It’s cheesy and incredibly cliché but I would be lying if I said I didn’t wish something like that had happened at my high school prom.

8. Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth, Pride and Prejudice. Maybe it’s just the literature geek in me, but I find the kiss between Darcy and Elizabeth at the end of the 2007 adaption of Pride and Prejudice to be so romantic. It’s not particularly passionate or steamy, but it’s intimate all the same. It’s a kiss viewers have been waiting for throughout the entire movie. The buildup-from the angry rain arguments, to the subtle hand holding, to the forehead touching makes it totally worthy it.

7. Edward and Vivian, Pretty Woman. This one is here more for the dialogue that accompanies the kiss than the kiss itself, but I still felt like it needed to be mentioned. Richard Gere’s character has just climbed up a fire escape to get to Julia Roberts even though he’s desperately afraid of heights. He reaches Vivian and asks, “So what happens after her climbs up and rescues her?”  She says, “She rescues him right back.”  Then they kiss.

6. Edward and Bella, New Moon. I debated putting this one on here, really I did. Because there’s just so much “OMGz” drama that comes along with anything Twilight related. It reminds me of screaming teenage girls and Robert Pattinson’s hair, and Kristen Stewart’s inability to smile (and lots of articles I read in my feminism class last semester). But I put all of that aside, and I’m asking you to do the same. Because that kiss they shared at the end of New Moon, that was hot.

5. Lady and Tramp, Lady and the Tramp. I can never hear the lyrics to “That’s Amore” without thinking of these two. Just the sweetness and innocence of these two little dogs sharing meatballs and slurping on the same piece of spaghetti is too adorable for words. Cutest kiss ever.

4. Peter and Mary Jane, Spiderman. If it’s iconic enough for Seth and Summer to reenact on The OC, then its iconic enough to make this list. Upside down and in the rain, that kiss had every girl wanting to meet Toby McGuire in a dark alley.

3. Rhett and Scarlett, Gone With the Wind. Plastered on every movie poster ever made for this movie, this one is a classic. Against a bright red and orange sunset, Scarlett kisses Rhett just before he goes off to war. These two may not have a happy ending, but this kiss almost makes that worth it.

2. Fred and Holly, Breakfast at Tiffany’s. I apologize to those of you who are not fans of Audrey, but this kiss just had to be here. It had to. Its Audrey and George, looking fabulous in their trench coats, as rain comes down around them and they scream about not belonging to anyone at all. Then, all of a sudden they’re professing their undying love for one another. And kissing. This is the stuff of romance, folks.

1. Noah and Allie, The Notebook. I tried to be objective when ranking these kisses. But before I even sat down to write this, I knew Noah and Allie were going to be my number one. When I think of movie kisses, this is what I think of.  In my opinion nothing can quite compare. I mean first off, it’s raining, and second of all they’re fighting, and third, these two have been pining away for each other for years.  All that pent up emotion, and anger and passion finally explode. In the best way possible. They just can’t be beat. Period. The end. Cue the hot sex.

I don’t know about you ladies, but Sixpence None the Richer’s Kiss Me is on repeat in my head right now. And I’m just going to go with it…and maybe head over to YouTube and check out some of those movie clips again.

Sigh.

[Check out Jenn's other musings-in-the-form-of-a-list here.]

Obviously, most girls will agree that The Notebook is the most romantic movie of all time. We love the passion, the romance, and idea of ever-lasting love. We cry every. single. time, we watch it. We want our very own Noah, a guy who wants us badly enough that he’ll dangle from a Ferris wheel just to ask us out.

I’m with you, sisters; I watched that movie alone on a Friday night once and sobbed into a large order of Pad Thai. And that was my 6th viewing. But yesterday when I watched it again (yes, I stayed at the nail place for 2 hours so I could see the whole thing), I actually got a little angry.

One of the most endearing parts of the movie is when Noah is chasing Allie, trying to ask her out. He hits on her, follows her, risks his life to ask her on a date, shows up wherever she is and even comes up with a sneaky plan to surprise her with a double date at the movies. Eventually she gives in and 10 minutes later, they are madly in love, smushing ice cream in each other’s faces and kissing it off.

As a woman, I watch that and daydream about having someone want me enough that he’d do just about anything to get close to me. I find it sweet and romantic; Noah knows what he wants and goes for it. The same happened with Patrick in 10 Things I Hate About You, Lloyd Dobler in Say Anything, and countless other dudes in every other romantic comedy ever.

But what if the roles were reversed?

What if a girl saw a guy she wanted and just kept showing up where he was? What if she kept calling him, following him and sneaking her way onto a date with him? What if she waited her whole life for him to come back to her? Even I, a girl myself, cringe at the thought. Because that’s crazy, and any guy would think so. He wouldn’t give in, go out with her and eventually die by her side in an assisted-living institution; he would de-friend her on Facebook, block her on AIM, and laugh about how psycho she is with all of his friends. And other girls would probably think the same.

I don’t know if that’s a poor reflection on men (for judging too quickly) or women (for having ridiculous ideals when it comes to dating), but it frustrates me. To no end. It pisses me off that I have to wait before I call a guy, that I have to watch what I say, and that I have to keep my distance just so he doesn’t think I’m crazy, all the while melting when a guy does some over-the-top romantic gesture for a woman. And it pisses me off even more that that’s just the way things are – that all the dating books, shows, and advice columns perpetuate this idea that woman should sit back and let a guy chase her but not dare chase him herself. How is that fair?

Gah! All this from a freaking $22 pedicure. Maybe it’s time to find a new nail place; this one’s causing me way too much stress.

Be still my heart.

Chick-flicks have always been my favorite excuse for simultaneously whining and crying about my lack of a boyfriend, and also day-dreaming about improbable romantic movie scenes happening to me.

Even though we usually tear up (or start flat-out bawling, depending on your current romantic situation), no girl can resist the chick-flick. Or, more accurately, the dreamboat main characters that make our hearts swoon for 90 minutes (and then again when we watch the DVD alone on a Friday night and cry into a bowl of Thai food). Those boys are just so…perfect. And I can already tell – because I’ve watched the trailer 47 times – that John in Dear John is going to be the same way. I mean, he’s the quintessential bad boy with a heart (and rock hard abs). And have you seen him crying in the commercials?

I get all hot and bothered just thinking about it.

Which is almost the same reaction I have to these 10 mega-hunks – the hottest, sweetest, greatest and most adorable chick-flick leading men of all time. What girl wouldn’t fall in love with (and possibly have to change her pants after thinking about) these boys?

1. Johnny from Dirty Dancing

Really, all I should have to say is, “Nobody puts baby in a corner.” If that doesn’t do it, I don’t know what will. Johnny has to be one of the favorites in chick-flick history, because, seriously, who doesn’t want a tall, dark, handsome man who will love you no matter what your father says and can use his big, muscly arms to lift you over his head in a choreographed dance routine?

2. Patrick from 10 Things I Hate About You

Patrick is the bad guy that every girl wants to find, and it doesn’t hurt that he’s a total hottie. And then when he shows his sweet side? Sigh. I don’t know one girl who didn’t want to be in Kat’s angry shoes when Patrick skips across the bleachers singing ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You’ to her in front of the entire school.

3. Jack from the Titanic

Let’s face it, Jack was gorgeous even when he was shivering in the water with icicles hanging off his face. He was just so real, honest, respectful and knew how to make a woman feel beautiful and alive. Jack’s probably the only guy in the history of movies that proved it was better to have loved and lost than never loved at all. (He also makes girls like me want to use cliche lines about love, which says a lot.)

4. Landon from A Walk to Remember

I don’t know one girl who didn’t walk away from this movie not in love with Landon. We can’t help but fall for his bad guy act, and watching this opposite pair fall in love is too cute for words. Oh yeah, and he’s pretty hot, which makes me wonder – what ever happened to Shane West?

5. Noah from The Notebook

I am constantly amazed at how ‘The Notebook’ can make me cry like a baby no matter how many times I’ve seen it. And yeah, that’s pretty much all because of Noah. Even without the fact that he has classic chick-flick good looks, Noah’s passion for Allie is something that every girl dreams of experiencing. He loved her from the moment he met her, and for him, there was really never anyone else.

6. Lloyd from Say Anything

There’s nothing more adorable than a guy doing anything for love. And that includes holding up a radio, playing ‘In Your Eyes’ outside of the object of his affection’s room. A boom box has never been so romantic. And a nerd has never been more appealing.

7. Jonathan from Serendipity

A (very sexy) man who will try desperately to find the woman of his dreams even though he doesn’t know her last name? My god, who doesn’t want a guy like that? (Especially in a world where we can’t even get the boy we love to text us back!)

8. Danny from Grease

No matter how much we want to dislike Danny Zuko for being such a jerk to poor Sandy, we can’t. Maybe it’s the perfect hair, or the charming things he says, or maybe it’s all that black leather. Either way, Danny is the bad guy we all want to see turn good for the girl. And it doesn’t hurt that he can sing – I know I’m not the only girl who wanted to jump him after his sad song at the drive-in.

9. Edward from Pretty Woman

Sure, he picked up a hooker on the street, but he also made that hooker’s every dream come true. And showed her respect. And defended her. And was a perfect, sexy, rich gentleman the entire time. And after seeing her new wardrobe and blingin’ necklace, Edward made us all want to give hookin’ a try.

10. Emmett from Legally Blonde

I’m not usually one for a guy with a brief case and khakis, but Emmett just does something to me. Maybe it’s his brains or that cute floppy hair, or maybe it’s every girls’ desire to have someone who believes in them and supports them no matter what. Drool.

My ideal Friday night.

Riddle me this. Why did no one warn me that 3-day weekends don’t exist in the real world?

Maybe I was naive and in a college bubble, but I truly had no idea that people worked full days on Friday. Like it still blows me away me when my boss gives me a ten page to-do list on Friday at 4:00. By that time I’m in full weekend mode and already planning my outfit for the night. And by outfit for the night, I mean figuring out which pajamas will be the most comfortable while I drink wine alone in my bed.

I can barely get up the energy to go out on both Friday and Saturday anymore. Hell, I barely have the energy to move myself from my couch to my bed at 10 p.m. on Friday night after Ugly Betty is over. I’ve turned into a pathetic version of myself. A version that I’d be hazing and probably rolling my eyes at if I were my former cooler, drunker, college self. I actually enjoy spending my weekend nights eating cookie dough and watching deleted scenes of The Notebook. I’m one Friday-night-in away from buying matching pajama sets.

But this weekend I had a momentary lapse in judgment and forgot I’m a 40-year-old middle aged mom. I went out Friday night, Saturday night, AND Sunday afternoon. I should have quit while I was ahead. Sunday Funday (as everyone insists on calling it) is anything but fun. It’s a day drinking event that should be left to the pros — college students and David Hasseloff.

Chugging mimosas 1-3 made me feel like a champ. I felt like I was back in my prime and I even debated tattooing Sunday Funday across my forehead. However, after that it was all downhill. I got bloated, hungover, and tired before the sun even went down. It didn’t take me long to go from being a fun postgrad to being an upright corpse. I crawled home, got into my sweats, and watched a quality Lifetime movie.

As I lay in bed, willing my room not to spin, I couldn’t believe it was already Sunday, my weekend was already over and I was too drunk to actually do anything. Like laundry or grocery shopping. Those are the things you think of when the weekend comes in the real world.  Things are bleak out here and I fear I’ll never get used to this life…or such unbearably short weekends. The only thing I have to look forward to now is the day that they invent cookie dough that doesn’t come with the risk of salmonella.

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"Ok, so I'm on top. What do I do now!?"

Losing your virginity is huge. It’s been built up since the birds and the bees talk, and everyone you know gives you a different description of what it’s actually going to be like.

Grandma preaches about how she waited for marriage and how the only man she ever slept with was your grandfather, which kept her from getting those dirty diseases the youngsters are getting these days. Your parents just beg you to wait for college when you’re out of their house, and protect yourself so you aren’t bringing home their grandchildren on your winter break. Then there’s your slutty friend who boasted about how great it was and had all the boys following her through the halls of high school.

But when we sit down and look back on how it actually was when we decided to lose our virginity, it isn’t easily summed up into one simple tip or anecdote. It was more like a 30-minute (if you were one of the lucky ones) progression into womanhood.

After reading The Frisky’s perspective on the stages men go through when losing their virginity, I was not only enlightened (seriously, who knew guys thought so much?!), but it got me thinking of my own first time and the stages I went through as it was all goin’ down.

Perhaps you can relate…

Apprehension
I’ve been planning this moment forever and the day is finally here. My hands are clammy and I’m going back and forth between clenching my vagina as if trying to ward off the impending penetration and dreaming about how romantic it will all be (based solely on my weekly viewing of The Notebook). When the time comes, I’m wearing my sexiest pair of undies but, ugh, why do my boobs flop out to the side like that when I’m laying on my back? And am I doing this right? Should I be making more noises? Does this position make me look fat? Suck it in. SUCK. IT. IN.

The Decline
About 15 minutes into it, I am blindsided by a flood of emotion that comes out of nowhere. Am I…no wait…that is NOT a tear! Omg, it is a tear. I’m crying. This can’t be happening. It’s okay, he doesn’t notice. Just pretend it’s sweat. But why should I be ashamed? It’s not my fault I have a surge of estrogen that suddenly reminds me of the magnitude of the situation. It’s momentous and life changing. Do I love you? Should we get married? Omg, did I just say I love you out loud!? I don’t think he heard me. Say something dirty to cover it up! Wait! Do I love him? No! Maybe? No. Okay, maybe I do. Damn you, emotions. Okay, sanity regained. Let’s just do this.

Mass Chaos
Is this how it’s supposed to go? This feels…weird. Wait, what am I doing? OW! Did something just pop? That did NOT feel good! What are my parents going to think? They’re totally gonna know. My mom’s going to tell grandma; I’ll never be able to show my face at Christmas dinner. Why the hell am I thinking about grandma right now? EW! Is the condom still on? I don’t feel it. Omg, I’m going to get pregnant. I really have to pee. I think I am going to pee. I cannot hold it in. This is a nightmare. Oh wait, that doesn’t feel half bad… Hey, I kinda like this. Keep doing that. Make noises so he knows you like it. Mmmm.

Triumph
I finally did it. I’m no longer “the virgin” of the group, which automatically disabled me from every girl chat about sex, men and late night rendezvous’. I’m not going to deny it, I feel great. I’m a real woman now! Perhaps there is a little physical damage, I’m almost positive I am going to be walking like I spent the night horseback riding come tomorrow morning, but mentally I couldn’t feel better. Oh wait. Go pee. But cover up; he doesn’t need to see your cellulite. Wait. Stop being crazy. You guys just had sex. OMG. I just had sex! My friends are totally gonna freak when I tell them. They need to know immediately. Ok, he’s facing the other way. Is he sleeping? WTF? Whatever, just grab the Blackberry and bring it to bathroom. Mass texting is in order!

And this is coming from a self-proclaimed reading snob.

I’ve created a list of my top 4 books made into movies. Granted, I have not seen every movie ever made that is based on a book, but I think I have a pretty good base to choose from. Let me know if you agree or add your own to the list

#4. Lord of the Rings Trilogy

I know that I’m probably going to get flack for this one from the hard-core fans, but making “The Lord of the Rings” novels into movies was not only one of the best financial decisions ever made (raking in a cool BILLION on ticket sales and rentals alone), but also a smart pop culture move. Before the movies, the books and whole “culture” of LOTR were fairly underground; some people read the books in school, but other than that, they weren’t terribly popular. And I’d like to think I know why.

I tried to read the books. I barely got through the first one and had to give up. I’m not a detail person so I found several pages describing the movement of grass in a valley to be WAY too much. But then I saw the movie – which obviously eliminated all that need for boring description – and it. was. awesome. The story, the drama, the imagination that went into coming up with all those characters and details. Good move with the movie, LOTR people. A good move, indeed.

#3. Girl, Interrupted

“Girl, Interrupted” is actually an autobiography. Susanna Kaysen was committed to a mental institution in 1967 because reality had become too “dense.” Susanna was certainly not crazy, so her account of her 2 year stay makes for a super interesting read. However, the visual is so much more compelling. You can read about the interesting characters she encounters all you like, but when you actually see them there is a much greater impact. Matched with Angelina Jolie and Winona Ryder’s superb acting skills (critically acclaimed, in fact!), the story just takes flight. I found myself to be much more attached to and affected by the movie compared to the book. Some things you just have to see for yourself, I guess!

#2. The Bourne Trilogy

After I realized that the Jason Bourne movies were actually based on action novels, I rushed to the library to pick up “The Bourne Identity.” I was shocked at the size of it: a whopping 544 pages! Needless to say I less-than-quickly read through it and was left wanting more. The movies were so action-packed and kept me on the edge of my seat and the books fell a little bit flat. Perhaps this was because I had already seen the movie, but I really feel like the book is a bit of overkill. For example, the first 60 or so pages explain how a Frenchman found Jason floating in the middle of the ocean and nursed him back to health on an island. In the movie, that same part took about 30 seconds to explain. I just found that the screenwriters did a really good job of cutting out the unnecessary junk in the book and making a really streamlined, fast-paced thriller (as all action books and movies should be).

#1. The Notebook

Originally written by Nicholas Sparks, “The Notebook” was a best-selling novel. But despite how well it did as a book, the movie just blows it out of the water. I won’t give away too much plot for those 3 people on earth who haven’t seen it, but basically, it revolves around the epic love story of Allie and Noah. From their humble beginnings as teenagers, to a rough time where they almost lose each other due to family problems, to them as seniors, the movie encompasses their entire lives together.

The film is heartfelt and tells the story so perfectly, jumping between the past to the present. The cast was perfect and everything from the script to the scenes to the superb acting just draws the viewer into the story. I’m typically not a crier, but I cry every. time. I watch this movie. It truly is book-to-movie perfection.