Great Love Story Movies for People Who Don't like Love Story Movies

They have been part of the fabric of literature since the beginnings of civilization, so it's no surprise they are part of cinematic history, as well. But they seem to permeate movies more than other genres.

They are love stories.

Although they are called "chick flicks" these days, there are a lot of chicks who don't like watching love stories, either. But there have been some movies that provide a thought-provoking story or otherwise memorable and enjoyable plot that allows the romance to be a part of the movie without ruining it. Here are a few.

Somewhere in Time. Starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour, it is certainly nice to look at. The intriguing aspect of the movie is time travel, as you might guess from the title. Reeve must travel back in time to find Seymour, and the fun of that part of the plot makes up for the surprisingly little romance in this love story.

Time After Time. Malcolm McDowell and Mary Steenburgen are the couple in this one, again playing with time. In this movie, however, McDowell plays H.G. Wells who has invented a real time machine through which Jack the Ripper has escaped. Some might call this one much more an action movie than a love story, but the romance is central to the plot in many ways. However, it doesn't get in the way of enjoying the chase after a delightful David Warner as the Ripper.

Titanic. Leonardo diCaprio and Kate Winslet are the young lovers in the smash hit, although the cast is riddled with famous faces. There is no doubt it is a love story, but of course the disaster of the sinking ship manages to steal the show through many of the scenes. The love scenes are typically brief and well-connected to the plot. Besides, James Cameron filmed some of the scenes in a swimming pool. It doesn't get much cooler than that!

Ghost. Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore are passionate lovers in this movie. One of the characters dies very early in the movie, but the two are still together on some level. Upon first viewing, it has some surprising plot elements that help tone down the love story element, and the humor and the interesting point of view also work well. But even the romance is pretty good here. The love scenes are incredibly sexy without exposing too much. Who knew pottery could be erotica?

Dead Again. One-time married couple Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson have an on-screen romance. This movie again plays with time, Thompson seemingly having lost her memory partly because it is stuck in a former life, one she also shared with Branagh. The romance in this one is important because it helps clear up one of a series of mysteries, and it's even more fun the second time around, seeing clues missed upon the first viewing.

Certainly, love or at least sex ends up being part of almost every movie today, but these are some purported to be love stories that are, nonetheless, not really chick flicks. They are movies that even the most hardened might find enjoyable.