Sunday, May 30, 2010

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang

And no, I'm not talking about the movie with Robert Downey Jr. I'm talking about the fireworks that go off when your fiction characters lock lips.

As a writer, we want the things we see in our heads to psychically link itself to our computer to come out perfect.

But sometimes, that just doesn't happen. How we envision character movements or dialogue or expressions just don't seem to want to be written. So...we research. We search out that inspiration for what we're lacking and turn it into our own success.

Really, this entire intro just leads to my YouTube searches via writing frustrations.

I was watching music videos for writing inspiration and one thing led to another, then BAM--I'm staring at a list of the "Top 10 Best TV/Movie Kisses." Naturally, I'm intrigued. I click the link only to be very disappointed. I click the link at the end of that link, and once again--disappointment. Every list I looked at, every video I watched--they were all the same. What bothered me about these lists were half of the ten were from one show and half were from another. And all of them were based around the "Romantic Crack" shows (the ones you can't stop watching because of all the sexy going on): One Tree Hill, The OC, Gilmore Girls, Smallville. Not saying I have a problem with these shows because I've watching bits of them myself, but where is the variety? What about those romances that burst onto the scene in desperate moments? These always inspire me to write.

So, hey! I'm making a list of my own. These are the TV/Movie smooches that inspire my romantic moments. Some of these, due to the fact that I couldn't find them on YouTube, aren't my favorites, but they are--in my opinion--memorable. Hopefully they will be a muse for you too.


5.) Kate and Sawyer - LOST
For those that love desperate kisses:

All I can say is steamy, sexy, and dirty--literally. But it doesn't matter if they were rolling around in mud, it's still fantastic. Desperation, tension, want--it's all so vivid in this scene.


4.) Lara and Terry - Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life
For those that love dark kisses:

Reason: Angelina Jolie and Gerard Butler. I think that should be "'Nuff Said" moment, but I'd like to go into further detail. Since I couldn't find the extremely steamy kissing scene all on it's own, I left a fanvid with a mix of different Lara/Terry clips. This couple has such a fun, dark, interesting chemistry, which makes their relationship all the better. Yeah the actual movie had some pretty cheesy parts, but you gotta admit: Angelina and Gerard make a sizzling couple.


3.) Jack and Elizabeth - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
For those that love infatuated kisses:

I had to add this one on here because I love all of the events surrounding it. The kiss that wasn't actually romantic, the lure, the mischievous smile--there's no actual romance, more of infatuation. Where as the lure of the kiss could have gone one way, like shock or disbelief, they chose to keep it tense yet calm with a hint of eeriness.


2.) The Doctor and Rose - Doctor Who
For those that love heartbreaking kisses:

What's the quickest way to make a Doctor Who fangirl cry? Play this video. It makes my list because it is just so unbelievably heartbreaking/wrenching--it's almost not even fair. It's the getting-lost-in-the-moment kiss mingling with I'm-leaving-let's-make-this-last-forever moment.


And lastly is a favorite of mine.:

1.) Tristan and Yvaine - Stardust
For those that love blissful kisses:

In my opinion, this kiss is one of the best ones I've seen in a movie. Not sure what it is about it though. Maybe the blissful smile on Yvaine's face or the boyish charm on Tristan's. Maybe it's the build-up of anticipation while the viewers waited for this moment. Whatever it is, the movie has a tendency to magically pop into my DVD player when writing a romantic moment between characters.


And that's my list. Of course, if I had my way with YouTube, there would be others on here like the Mal/Saffron kiss in Firefly, Brangelina in Mr. and Mrs. Smith, The Fifth Element kiss, Rick and Evie in The Mummy, and more. But seeing as fangirls have put up a ridiculous amount of fan vids (50% of them being sibling with sibling, at which I shuddered) I took what I could get of the scenes.

Now's the fun part. What inspires YOUR writing. Is it from a book? Movie? TV show? You tell us!

17 comments:

Stina said...

I only had time to see the first one. Great kiss!

I find the ones in books to be the most inspiring. There's too many to list, but my recent favorites are found in Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles and Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead.

Jamie Blair said...

One of my favorite movie kisses is between Johnny (Max) and Penelope in Penelope at the end when they finally get together. That's a *swoon* kiss.

I love writing romantic scenes!

Debra Driza said...

Ohhh, smooch scenes! One of my favorites is the very first one between Veronica and Logan in Veronica Mars--it's so spur of the moment, and then afterwards, the SHOCK--classic! I keep the song from that scene on my iPod to inspire me.

Also, total cheese, but Spike and Buffy's first kiss at the end of Once More With Feeling, just bc I'd waited for it For. So. Longgggg.

Sighhhhhh...and CURSE YOU. I forsee a lot of Youtubing in my future today.

:D

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kathleen Peacock said...

Oh gads, I'm totally with Deb on the Veronica/Logan kiss. And I'll add in Keith and Watt's first kiss in Some Kind of Wonderful.

I've always been a bit torn on the Who kiss but I love it when the Doctor says "He needs you. That's very me." For me, the sweetest Doctor/Rose moment comes near his regeneration from Ten to Eleven, when he goes back in time to watch her before he "dies". Oh great, now I'm tearing up at work.

Tahereh said...

UMMMM sooo this post is just all about KISSING with instructional videos to boot?!

?!

!!!!

AHEM.

well done, my friend ;D

well done INDEED!

hehehe

Becca said...

Actually, my favorite television kiss is from Gilmore Girls. It's the one where Dean comes to visit Rory at Chilton, thinking maybe they can get back together, they fight, and Rory says "I love you, you idiot!" That line, followed by the kiss, followed by Tristan getting taken down a few notches, makes it my favorite scene/television kiss.

Carol Riggs said...

One of my faves for movie kisses (*fans self*) is in First Knight with Richard Gere and Julia Ormond, playing Lancelot and Guinevere. Very powerful and emotional. It's near the end of the movie, which is part of the draw, and that concept can be applied to books--the tension of waiting and anticipating is a key factor in how a kiss is perceived, I think. Plus, this is a sad "I love you but I-can't-love-you" kiss. More heart-rending that way.

X said...

Lol I'm just hear to say I love you guys, but I will always hate Skate. Always. UGH. Cage-sex was pretty hot though.

Juliet/Sawyer ftw

roh morgon said...

uhh...yeah. I have to agree with Sarah.

The cage-sex was pretty hot

Katie Ashley said...

Man, these are some smexy kissing scenes!! Might need to water to cool me off! lOL

Great post, btw!

Pam Harris said...

Best movie kiss? I would say Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal in Brokeback Mountain, when Jack comes to visit Ennis and Ennis kisses him outside of his house. Raw and passionate...and nerve-wrecking because Ennis' wife sees the whole thing!

Kirsten Hubbard said...

okay, so that kiss was why I was team Kate/Sawyer. until Juliet came along & I stopped caring altogether.

Brianne Carter said...

I'm a cliche, but my favourite kiss is from Gilmore Girls. It's when Jess kisses Rory at the wedding. There's so much shock and confusion in that moment, and I love that, because that comes with kisses (especially when the kiss comes as such a surprise, and when one of them has a boyfriend!)It helps that I'm a huge Rory and Jess shipper.

Brianne Carter said...

Ok, I changed my mind :P Tim and Lyla's first kiss on Friday Night Lights. TOTALLY inappropriate since her boyfriend was in the hospital and all, but I love how much feeling was behind it, even if they were mostly bad, desperate feelings.

J. Koyanagi said...

Aaah I love the one from Stardust. How sweet. It's been a long time since I've seen that movie, and now I want to watch it again.

Thanks for this post! What a great idea for inspiration.

Angelica R. Jackson said...

Mal/Saffron kiss all time best for me!