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I watched the film Letters to Juliet today on Netflix. It is December 30, 2025, and the time is 2:30 PM. This romantic film was released in 2010, written by Jose Rivera and Tim Sullivan, and directed by Gary Winick. The main characters are played by Amanda Seyfried as Sophie Hall, Vanessa Redgrave as Claire Smith, and the very charming Christopher Egan as Charlie Wyman.

The story follows Sophie, who travels to Verona, Italy, with her future husband on what is supposed to be a honeymoon trip. There, she becomes involved in reuniting lovers who were separated fifty years ago, and through that journey, she begins to understand herself and what love is supposed to mean. As the title suggests, the love story of Romeo and Juliet also functions as an important plot device within the film.

Coming to the watch experience, this film belongs to that 2010 era where destiny-based romantic films were very common. It is built on beliefs such as love happens only once in a lifetime, that it happens with only one person, and that if two people are truly meant to be together, even fate will bend to help them. The film celebrates and encourages the idea of ideal love that people under the age of twenty often believe in.

Even if I put aside my personal opinions, this is not a grand or epic love story. It has a very simple, linear plot. The film does not demand much from its actors in terms of complex storytelling. Still, the first and biggest reason the film works is the city of Verona itself and the way it is captured on screen. A city filled with culture, history, and beauty can make even the smallest story feel pleasant, and this film benefits greatly from that.

The setting becomes the film's biggest strength. Beyond that, the characters are also neatly designed. Sophie, the central character, mostly functions as an observer throughout the film. Even though she lacks strong quirks, her background and her emotional position add weight to the story. Charlie, the realist who does not believe in love, might not have worked as a character if not for Christopher Egan's charm. Despite being an irritating character on paper, Egan makes him watchable and even likable.

It is hard to deny that the film becomes a little boring at times and moves exactly in the direction we expect it to. Still, when harsh summer heat or uncomfortable cold traps us inside our homes and we have time to kill, this is a perfectly acceptable film to put on and watch. It may not be a powerful romance that deeply affects us, but it is also not a bad film by any means.

I'm writing this review at midnight on December 27, 2025. The film is Before Sunrise (1995), written and directed by Richard Linklater, and starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy.

This is technically a romantic film, but unlike most rom-coms or even most love stories I've seen, nothing "grand" really happens here. The entire film rests on just two characters, Jesse and Céline, who meet on a train and decide to spend one night walking and talking through Vienna. That's it. No dramatic plot turns, no big events. Just conversation.

And yet, that conversation flows like a gentle breeze. It soothes the mind, holds your attention, and somehow keeps you still. The film feels deeply rooted in reality. It doesn't try to impress; it simply exists.

This film became important to me because of when I watched it. At the time of writing this, I had just left Hyderabad after living there for a year, and I was feeling unusually anxious and unsettled. I asked an AI assistant to suggest a film that could help ground me, and this was the recommendation. Surprisingly, it worked. Before Sunrise helped me step out of my own head.

The film is beautiful overall. Yes, there are moments where it feels a little slow, but even then, I didn't mind listening to them talk. Honestly, this felt like a podcast before podcasts existed. Both Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy are effortlessly charming to watch.

Normally, if a woman trusts a man she met just ten or thirty minutes ago and agrees to wander around a new city with him, that would create tension or discomfort for the viewer. But that never happens here. Ethan Hawke's performance makes Jesse feel safe, convincing, and genuine. I genuinely believe that if I were in Céline's position, I might have been convinced too.

Their small smiles, brief glances, the way they bite their lips, the intelligence in their conversations, everything feels natural. They talk about relationships, gender, life, philosophy, and the world around them while moving freely through different spaces. There's a sense of openness and freedom throughout the film.

Every line of dialogue feels meaningful. That, to me, is the film's biggest strength. Toward the very end, it does drag a bit, but overall this is a film that will stay with me.

I feel that even in the future, when I'm busy or overwhelmed with work, I won't need to watch this film again. I could just put on headphones, listen to the dialogues, and travel. That's how much depth there is in the writing.

This film expanded my thinking. Love is a confusing subject, and this movie doesn't simplify it. It explores it honestly, while also casually touching on the realities of the world. Sometimes I wonder if this is really a love story, or if it is a philosophical lecture disguised as one. This feels less like a film to be watched and more like something to be read.

It's a very, very beautiful film. Anyone who likes to think about love, understand it, or even question it, especially when it comes to understanding the opposite gender, should watch this.

I'm definitely watching the sequel tomorrow, and I'll be writing about that too.

Emily in Paris has now crossed four seasons and enters its fifth with unusually high expectations. The excitement this time largely came from Emily's brief shift from Paris to Rome, which even sparked speculation about a possible title change. Thankfully, the creators resisted that temptation. Paris remains the emotional and narrative center of the show and rightly so.

What makes this season stand out is its shift in priorities. Unlike earlier seasons dominated by repetitive love triangles and contrived romantic drama, Emily finally moves on from Gabriel and forms a connection with Marcello. More importantly, the story gives her space to reflect on her career, her relationships, her future, and her friendship with Mindy.

For the first time, Emily feels like more than a caricature. She is no longer just stumbling through broken French and chaotic romances. She thinks, questions, and most crucially fails. Her plans don't always work. She doesn't always fix everything. That realism adds much-needed depth to the series.

This season feels like fresh air. Instead of emotionally draining romance, it highlights personal growth and career choices, making Emily in Paris genuinely watchable again. It's lighter, more grounded, and surprisingly comforting.

I'm looking forward to the next season. This one was enjoyable and refreshingly positive. Credit where it's due thanks to Darren Star.

One final hope: give Gabriel his own life and let Emily explore new love stories. The idea that one romance equals destiny is tired and overused. It's time for the show to think more progressively.

That would truly elevate it.