Kissing, that human mating dance that can literally sniff out if the second person of any gender is deemable a suitable mate to the first person. Sometimes it's a release of emotions or it's a proclamation of love or just simply foreplay. But thanks to the New York Times, they have inspired me to really think about my top 10 favorite kisses in cinema and what better time to put this out than before Lupercalia, I mean, the Western World's Valentine's Day? Here are my top 10 most memorable movie kisses and I do not discriminate! 

Aaron Davis (Steve Sandvoss) and Christian Markelli (Wes Ramsey) 

in Latter Days (2003)

We all know I love my gay romantic comedies, but this one, including the fantastic Joseph Gordon Levitt, never disappoints me. To sum up "Latter Days" in a sentence: Mormon Salesman goes to Los Angeles and finds himself attracted to the biggest playboy who may or may not be falling for him over time considering the bet he made with a friend to take one of the Mormon boys to bed. Maybe it's the intensity Christian (Wes Ramsey) gives off that makes that first kiss so powerful which ends up making my knees weak. It seems boy on boy make outs are much more beautiful to me than any other gender combination.

Jane Falberry (Judy Garland) and Joe D. Ross (Gene Kelly)

in Summer Stock (1950)

Their names say it all. Gene Kelly, who Judy Garland once dubbed her favorite leading man to kiss and well, Judy f***ing Garland. In "Summerstock," Jane's (Garland) family farm is in crisis and it only "seems to get better" when her sister comes back with a whole theater troupe in tow including her boyfriend and troupe leader, Joe Ross (Kelly). It's all chemistry between Joe and Jane until it finally accumulates after Joe sets the scene that Jane can do the show just as well as her sister could including a very romantic serenade of "You Wonderful You." 

Lukas (Rick Okon) and Fabio (Maximillian Befort) 

in Romeos [Romeos... anders als du denkst!] (2011)

In the German-made "Romeos," Lukas (Rick Okon) is finally taking on the transition from male to female and it's all erratic hormones and v-logs of his progress. But Fabio (ugh, I know, that name!) (Maximillian Befort) comes into his life and Lukas finds himself completely enamored but the question remains: is it better that he tells Fabio that he is in transition or let him simply see him as male? The movie is mostly awkward and full of violent empathy over of how much Lukas is struggling, but it doesn't stop the puppy dog obsession with Fabio. But the payoff? Oh, the payoff! If there was ever a sexy-sweet award for a kiss, "Romeos" wins hands down!

I apologize for the video, but the kiss starts at 3:17, the song isn't bad though!

Margeurite (Greta Garbo) and Armand (Robert Taylor)

in Camille (1936)

Some of the picks for my memorable kisses are purely based on one scene or the build up throughout the movie, but choices like "Notorious" and "Camille" are just consistently knee cap melting! The 1936 MGM production is based on a great book (in fact, one of my favorites) by Alexandre Dumas, fils 's although in the movie, the courtesan Marguerite is more in her mid-20s than the original age of 16. But it's Greta f***ing Garbo and she can do whatever she wants, including that amazing piano scene with film great Henry Daniell but I digress. Marguerite is slowly dying of consumption, but trying her best to keep her finances afloat by making "friends" with as many men as possible. But the "Lady of the Camellias" (hence "Camille" if you were wondering...) as she is known never expected to fall in love with the naive Armand who just wants to take care of her but it's more complicated than that. In a style that is purely 30's MGM and Cukor, the kissing scenes feel otherworldly at least for people who find these old movies a hobby. 

Ennis del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal)

in Brokeback Mountain (2005)

"Brokeback Mountain"'s kisses are like a box of bottlecaps: you seriously can't pick just one! Maybe it's that first kiss before Ennis (Heath Ledger) goes into having sex with a man more consciously or maybe it's that reunion kiss where Jack (Jake Gyllenhaal) is pressed against the wall or one of the more dramatic kisses before all goes to hell at the end. No, it's definitely the first kiss in the slight and shockingly real resistance of Ennis pulling back but eventually giving in. Maybe it's more beautiful like that instead of the whole gay cowboy jokes. 

Veronica Fisher (Judy Garland) and Andrew Larkin (Van Johnson)

in In the Good Old Summertime (1949)

Much in the tradition of the movie before them ("The Shop Around the Corner") this is the part where the man (Van Johnson as Andrew Larkin) finally reveals that they've been writing letters to each other for the past year and that he is in love with Garland's Veronica. And oh the results as he speaks those adapted lines from the 1940s Frank Capra film! Although James Stewart spoke them straight with a beautiful romantic intensity, Johnson does one better as he is directed to incorporate the whole room as he backs her underneath the Christmas tree mocking the imaginary man that Veronica thought she was writing letters to. And the touching of her hair and kissing her temple just, ugh! Why can't they make beautiful choreographed kisses like that nowadays?

[starting at 3:54-5:28]

Astree (Stephanie Crayencour) and Celadon (Andy Gillet)

in The Romance of Astrea and Celadon (2008)

The last film from the great French director and writer Eric Rohmer, the period comedy "The Romance of Astrea and Celadon" does more than just represent two lovers breaking up to only fatefully come back together. It is about building a person into the best version of themselves. Adapted from a collection of serials from the 1600s by Honore d'Urfe, the kiss at the end after spending years apart is just a huge relief. The passionate "mini-make out" between Stephanie Crayencour and Andy Gillet is, believe me, a huge relief and a beautiful way to finish a very arbitrary stylistic movie. 

Alicia Huberman (Ingrid Bergman) and Devlin (Cary Grant)

in Notorious (1946)

Who knew that Hitchcock could direct romantic scenes so well? The chemistry between Bergman's Alicia and Grant's Devlin is so electric that even the great Claude Rains's presence is almost upstaged! Bergman plays Alicia Huberman, a party girl and daughter of a German convict, ends up being roped into becoming a spy. She watches over her father's Nazi friends who are stationed in Rio de Janeiro while falling helplessly in love with the government agent (Grant) she works with. Alicia finds herself married to Alexander Sebastian (Claude Rains) and struggling to play both sides of the very dangerous spy game. But those kisses between Bergman and Grant, I just, there are no words! They are romantic yet sexually fueled and even the final scene as they walk down that staircase you know it's love, but somehow you feel really bad for Claude Rains! Only Hitchcock. Only Hitch. 

Diane (Juno Temple) and Jack (Riley Keough)
in Jack and Diane (2012)

I understand this movie is very misunderstood, but there is nothing better than a layered kiss. After just a few hours of knowing each other and trying to figure each other out, Jack (Riley Keough) finally kisses Diane (Juno Temple) and much like their relationship throughout the movie, the kiss seems to progress. What starts out curious and kind of fascinated ends up becoming passionate but ends up creating a symbolic monster (not a werewolf, people!) that is a relationship or a tie from one person to another that you can't get rid of.

Marnie Edgar (Tippi Hedren) and Mark Rutland (Sean Connery)
in Marnie (1964)

Only Hitch. Only Hitch could get past the censors in "Notorious" creating a series of small kisses throughout a scene exceeding the Hayes Office's required three seconds. Only Hitch could zoom into a very intimate kiss between his ingenue and Sean Connery with no subjective intent, but you feel uncomfortable and yet fascinated all at once. After Marnie, a psychologically messed up thief and liar, is caught trying to break into a safe at her work by her boss Mark Rutland (Connery). Before getting fired, she finds herself having a psychotic break and the boss ends up comforting her, but it is he who is kissing her more than she is. Who wouldn't want James Bond to kiss down their faces? Oh, well, me but that's a completely different story.

[starts at :53-1:10]

You know when all your favorite things kinda happen at once?

Be prepared for ultimate voguegasmness.

Fo shiz.

Because Bats are People Too!!!

For about two years in college I have waited and listened to Ms. Suzie Tiscia talk over and over again about how damned adorable her Gummy Bear Ice Cream screenplay and Dendrophile Bat comics are -- I remember seeing the original Dendrophiles filled with Latin language jokes and more intellectual silliness, but this is her first comic in... how many years again?... with its own website and blog. And dear God, did I mention it's as adorable as my travel-sized b.f.? Let's get this viral, folks!

Rachel the Hat

From one of my favorite people already on my list to my new favorite, courtesy of Bust Magazine's "She's Got the Look," I basically found the Welsh version of me... but cuter... and with better clothes. As if my love for all things Welsh was borderline crazy, this beautiful fashion blogger has officially made it much more difficult. But Rachel, you're still one of my new favorite people!!

Oz the Great and Powerful

This trailer has got it "going on" -- beautiful lush cinematography that only only the producers of Alice in Wonderland could come up with. But despite all the pretty visuals which rendered me speechless with a singular "wow" attached to the youtube link on facebook, James Franco after his inability to host the Oscars? the bland Michelle Williams? But it's a prequel to the Wizard of Oz! And it has Zach Braff in it!! I would take a step to the side and look at this and try so hard to not swoon over the visuals. Let's just hope it doesn't suck!

The Lizzie Bennet Diaries 2.0

Like, oh my God, what if they had web cams and computers back in Jane Austen's day and all the beautiful Austen language in her stories can be seen from day to day, I say satirically with a hand on my forehead. But there's no hate, just amusement for The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, being an avid fan of Austen novels in original form but I like to see what people do with them. Ashley Clements documents all of this through her subjective and not a third person Austen-voice; modernizing all of the issues documented in Pride and Prejudice. Unfortunately it looks all DIY as if Clements did it herself, but the real masterminds are Hank Green and Bernie Su. But from the first episode which I have seen, it looks fun and silly and I have yet to find a web series to attach so I'm intending on putting extra battery juice on my new Touch phone and watching everything. This is promising. 

Raveonettes are "Dancing in the Streets"

Sharin Foo and Sune Rose Wagner are keeping at it, and as hipster as ever in their new video for "She Owns the Streets" which the chorus will catch you as much as "Dead Sound" or "That Great Love Sound" has -- these two make beautiful awesome music together and in good timing after not having an album out since their lesser par "Raven in the Grave" came out early last year, it was only time until they fine-tuned their sound and kept that awesome synth-heavy sound we all know and love for Observator that comes out next month. I LOVE YOU SHARIN! ahem.

WARNING! This next clip has two girl fashionsters making out!

Allow me to jump on the band wagon right away to announce: JACK AND DIANE IS NOT A FUCKING LESBIAN WEREWOLF MOVIE! Leave that to Stephanie Meyer to come up with that. Remember Black Swan? Watch Jack and Diane with that in mind. 

Anyway, while in no shape and form like what John Mellencamp came up with, Jack and Diane, like I first presented in September 26th's Super-Massive Vspot as three of my favorite actresses come together, Juno Temple (who I saw this year in Cracks, oh my blr!), Riley Keough (who was unfortunately butched down to keep with "gender roles" so stupid) and Jena Malone. Screw Kylie Minogue, although she supplies the music and another pair of lips all over Juno. 

But like I said in that vspot, the werewolf thing is a total subliminal thing. In fact, the original two actresses who paired up in Juno, Ellen Page and Olivia Thirlby, were planned on being casted -- Page herself was interviewed about this project back in 2008 with podbean.com and this sets every single "lesbian werewolf" rumor to rest. 

PB: clear up the werewolf part of it. is it - 

EP: okay, i will clear that up right now. 

PB: please tell everybody this is not a lesbian werewolf movie. 

EP: this is not a lesbian werewolf movie. 

PB: okay 

EP: it's about two girls, two individuals, fall in love in new york city, and one of them is leaving to go to school and doesn't tell the other. and it's extremely still and it's a beautiful love story and yes there is some - there is a scene where one of the characters has a dream and there's a werewolf and it's metaphorical and so forth. yeah. 

The trailer looks so wonderfully promising but DID THEY HAVE TO DOWNPLAY RILEY KEOUGH'S LOOKS?? That's the one bad thing of this whole situation but if anything -- she looks like good ol' Grandpa Elvis.

Bat is Back!! 

And by bat I mean the wonderfully hipster Natasha Khan, with her newest album (with a naked cover!) The Haunted Man coming out October and as soon as I read this in BUST Magazine, her single "Laura" popped up on youtube. Yup, the last few weeks have made me tingle in parts I have completely forgotten about!

I'm starting to think there should be a difference between a hot spot vspot and a meow-spot vspot... discuss.

Les Miserables Musical Teaser

Not a trailer, oh no, but we are granted with a TEASER of Anne Hathaway singing the immaculate "I Dreamed a Dream" with all the heartbreak and poverty in her voice -- so... it must suck to be Susan Boyle right now because this teaser owns! (This came out just a few days AFTER I featured my happiness over this movie in "Get Excited!: Movies to Look Forward To.")

*happy thud*

Good News, Esthero is Still Awesome!

Esthero: the Goddess that has blessed my Itunes with the snarky "Wikked Li'l Girls," the whimsical duet with Sean Lennon in "Everyday is a Holiday With You" and the anthemic "We R in Need of a Musical Revolution" (and maybe the song that I discovered her with on the L Word, but I'm still pretending I never watched it) -- well, happy happy news, after 7 years of cooling her heels, Esthero is back making catchy-as-fuck ditties and being wonderfully dirty simultaneously. Love her! Look for album "Everything is Expensive" in forthcoming months!

Fortune Feimster Fills in For Chelsea Lately

Typically, I have little tolerance for lesbian stereotype anything, including "lesbian" comediennes for the fear of capitalizing on those same stereotypes that we are being made fun of but... oh hell... this was the best Chelsea Lately "cold opening" EVER as Chelsea was recovering from knee surgery. I love watching Fortune make fun of her body and doing the dancing and the best part for me? "LOOK ME IN THE EYE! LOOK. ME. IN. THE. EYE!"

Oh... Hey Mika!

The best comeback this year so far... well next to Sharon van Etten... or more? While I fight that debate in my head, check this shit out and you will die happy! Well, before you die of shock that "The Origin of Love" comes out sometime this year. But it surprises me that there are only heterosexual couples in this video when Mika is super-bisexual and super-tolerant. What gives?

After damn near killing myself on Oscars day with organizing every post under labels, posting FOUR posts in one day and gaining three new followers by relentlessly commentating on every last move of the award show. I was exhausted and took a well-deserved break. Now I'm back and singing Julie Andrews... or the Golden Filter, whichever version of the song you prefer! (Speaking of new followers; God dag (good afternoon in Norwegian) @emhill, @fabulousmalibu, and @adoaboutfashion)

Smash Keeps Smashing My Face in With Love

Unfortunately this doesn't mean I stop watching Glee, but to take a break from a wonderful train wreck you can't stop watching you can stare at new Broadway legend Megan Hilty (Wicked) channel Marilyn Monroe so well you'll immerse yourself with Marilyn Monroe's life with the two girls: Katharine McPhee the Norma Jeane aspect, fresh faced and inexperienced and the other the business-woman and addict. So no one should be surprised that I rented a MM marathon of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Niagara and Don't Bother to Knock. But as for my favorite Marilyn movie? It's a tie between Gentlemen... and The Prince and the Showgirl.

Best moment in series 1 thus far?

Rufus Wainwright's Love Song to His Daughter

What's better than a father singing to his daughter on his new album? Well when Rufus sings to his little Viva, he creates a song that is about family, two men raising a little girl together and the end result is just beautiful and a little heartbreaking because his voice can do that to you!

Lissy Trullie's New Video

Where do I start? Is she channeling Ryan Gosling in Drive like Nylon Magazine featured? Or the fact she's more effingly beautiful than the last time I saw her? Or she looks extremely badass... or what's with the driver? Either way, this short 2 minute song is not enough for my everlasting girl-crush on the LGBT figure.

Regina, Regina, Reh-ge-nah! (Like She Says in Pavlov's Daughter)

The great songstress is back! So of course stereogum made her a feature causing most of the cynics to grumble that her time is over -- hardly. Her new song, All The Rowboats from the upcoming "We Shaw From The Cheap Seats" LP in later Spring. All The Rowboats sounds like Apres Moi Part 2, strong and piano-driven and she sounds better than ever. Oh Regina, never stay away for too long!

Peggy Sue Got Video

It feels like only yesterday the historical Englert Theater was so packed for the Kate Nash concert I had no where to sit after being on my feet all day at my old job, my hamstrings murdering me in bad shoes until ... Rosa Slade attracted me to the stage and my eyes were glued to British girl-band Peggy Sue. Two years and a new album later, they finally release a second official music video for upcoming album Acrobats, Cut My Teeth and who else but the Nylon blogs has the video.

Criznittles Indie Darlings Do the Voice

Charlotte Sometimes

Criznittles, the strange username that releases magic at the beginning of every month with a 200 track torrent, epic song after epic song (well, it's touch and go for me and other picky music listeners) from his site Indie/Rock Playlist always knows talent when he hears it... or gets it recommended to him via facebook.So what happens when two girls that was on September and October playlists of last year make a debut on The Voice? Well, besides scream sacrilege that they would "sell out" but they have great songs, established LP's and EP's and now it's a matter of time the female singer-songwriters Lex Land and Charlotte Sometimes get that exposure they need.

Lex Land

Lex Land is like a Regina Spektor on guitar with intelligent lyrics and a beautiful voice that can get both serious and playful (case in point "Oh My" was on September's playlist) with country singer Blake Shelton as her coach, she may get more than just exposure. And my beautiful favorite Charlotte Sometimes (nee Jessica Charlotte Poland), vocalist and guitarist with lyrics that are more in the catchy realm of Charlotte Martin. Charlotte Sometimes has been almost a Indie/Rock Playlist veteran having been on both September (with "For You") and October's (with "Headaches") playlists but my personal favorite is "Waves and The Both of Us." She is also being coached by Shelton which makes me nervous that they won't be pitted against each other because I wouldn't know who would come out alive. VOTE THIS!

Hairspray's Nikki Blonsky Covers Gaga

Despite having been working in a hair parlor shop (all Hairspray puns begin and end hear) for the past year or so [since the "Huge's" cancellation] in order to keep it real, singer and actress Nikki Blonsky's soundcloud  and twitter account may have been bombarded with commands of her making a comeback after having put out an mp3 of her covering Lady Gaga's "On The Edge of Glory." Where Gaga's signature scratchy Emile Autumn-like voice (yes hardcore fans, I went there) puts out an angst in the song, Blonsky's smooth Broadway-trained voice makes the song joyous in a Godspell kind of way. The sad thing about her is is that no one wants to create roles for a large girl unless you're Melissa McCarthy shitting in a sink. That's not Blonsky, like what director Adam Shankman said in the Hairspray commentary, "It's like you stepped out from an old MGM film, where does THAT come from?" Cue Blonsky's adorable giggling.

So much new music and entertainment news, so little time! (Well that's a lie for the unemployed...)

Annie Clark (St. Vincent) composes

At number 19 in the Billboard 200 and number 9 in the Rock albums chart as well, St. Vincent doesn't disappoint with her new album, "Strange Mercy" which has been out for a few weeks now. So, in the immortal words of Natasha Khan (Bat for Lashes)'s "what's a girl to do" now that she has college kids singing "Cruel" on top of their lungs? Be the female Beethoven! In collaboration with yMusic, a sextet ensemble of 20somethings, she has created "Proven Badlands" for yMusic's "Beautiful Mechanical" that comes out tomorrow on New Amsterdam Records. But Annie's "Proven Badlands" can be downloaded here.

Glee's "Sneaky Gays"

 Jane Lynch is back at the satirical grips of Ryan Murphy and the writers of Glee; knowing that the words her character says about the arts equaling death and comments on gay people (see link) seems to only be appropriate for her storyline for the new Season 3. This season, Sue Sylvester is out for ... tea? In the running as a Republican Tea Bagger for the GOP, Sylvester seems to be spot on in her dialogue of Partier's beliefs to the point you can see the satire and the blatant truth so much it makes you want to lose your faith in humanity. Possible satirical character opposite her in the tradition of Michele Bachman? Possible jokes about Iowa's votes? Gee... I can't wait?

Jenny Slate's interview with BUST Magazine

There is a point while reading BUST or Bitch where any shade of a feminist can get so excited over a celebrity's words it makes them want to holler out a "hell yes!" This happened to me... on the bus... *headshake* Well, considering where feminism is at right now it's a rarity to hear a woman who is actually content with being a woman; the periods and everything. Despite the fact we have long running sexist jokes in comedy against the woman's favor over how we are perceived during "that week of the month" and female menstruation shame still in Western culture and consumerism, it's so fantastic to know that SNL cast member Jenny Slate says differently about herself. 

"I was so pissed as a six-year-old that I had a child's body - not because I wanted to have sex. I just wanted to be a woman. And I love being a woman. I love my bras, I love my tampons - I literally just love being a woman."

This is so encouraging to hear! While she is very feminine there was no feminine-shaming going on in her interview with BUST, as is common if a shamelessly girly woman gets a comeuppance of being too consumerist or fashion conscious in the eyes of feminism. Where are these female role models who don't mind their periods (besides me...) and are just happy with being apart of the most mystical gender? And even better question, where... OH WHERE can a girl get some Lunarpads offline and for cheap? Seriously, next time you strap a pad on it is known there is over 12 billion pads and 7 million tampons filling landfills in a single year.  

Aqua's New Video "Playmate to Jesus"

About 3 weeks ago I advertised in the Hot Hot Love Vspot that Aqua is back and done playing with their Barbies for more serious themes... like fucking like a Robot or even Jesus. And the video of "Playmate to Jesus" which was released just last Thursday, shows purgatory as a house where the band is held captive in as Lene sings how she longs to be a playmate to Jesus while wearing Gaga-esque shoes. In the end, a member goes up into a bright light in the attic and goes straight out the chimney, showing that people will, in fact, go to heaven. Or at least that's what I took from it. Aqua's "Megalomania'  is unleashed October 3rd.

Riley Keough's Jack to Juno Temple's Diane, Not Your Dad's Mellencamp Song

Riley Keough in i-D Magazine

Still in filming mode and already heavily criticized as a "lesbian werewolf movie" -- which it isn't, according to writer and director Bradley Rust Gray known for Angelina Jolie's "Salt" flick, as there is still very little information being told about the movie. What Riley Keough was able to tell i-D magazine that it is very expressionistic and almost in the same vein as "Black Swan." Excited now that it's compared to "Black Swan?" So am I.

Keough and Temple's teenaged characters meet up in New York City for one steamy make out session, yet the one night of sexual awakening affects them both differently. Keough's Jack tries to deny her feelings and pushes Diane away upon learning that Diane is leaving the country in a week. It's either Jack or the actual sexual awakening (non-Lesbian withstanding, I would love to believe) Diane starts to have vivid and frightening dreams while trying to hide a huge secret simultaneously.

Supporting characters also include Kylie Minogue and Jena Malone of Suckerpunch fame.

Leisha Hailey kicked off Southwest Airlines

So what does a lesbian actress to do when she's booted off an Airline for simply "excessively" kissing her girlfriend of four years? Cause a twitter war, because that's the most mature thing to do. <insert sarcasm here> Leisha Hailey was escorted off Southwest Airlines yesterday and immediately went onto twitter to announce, "We were escorted off the plane for getting upset about the issue." 

This isn't the first time Southwest Airlines had escorted a celebrity off, recently Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day fame was escorted off for wearing slouchy pants and in past years Michael Moore for being too overweight. So why is it that two happily coupled women are added to the sins according to SW Airlines? They are still coming up with a valid answer as Hailey continues to litter her twitter in the way that only a scorned LGBT Totalitarian can do:

"This is an outrage. I demand a public apology by @SouthwestAir and a refund. Hate is not a family value. I will never fly this airline. We were escorted off the plane for getting upset about the issue. @SouthwestAir endorses homophobic employees. No one made her accountable."

"Since when is showing affection towards someone you love illegal? I want to know what Southwest Airlines considers as 'family.' I know plenty of wonderful same sex families I would like to introduce them to. Boycott @SouthwestAir if you are gay. They don't like us.

I would hate to sound against my fellow LGBT family (term used loosely) but we heard the same complaint that SW Airlines has taken a long time to give answers for Armstrong and Moore's apologies. Do your research, Hailey, as much as you rocked my socks off last April in concert, has there been any other homophobic attitudes? Or was it because you're a known LGBT celebrity versus the rest of us? In the time being, it was a simple "can you not kiss?" I had that in small town Iowa, in a coffee house and you know what I did? I laughed it off and directly into the waitress's face. I didn't turn into a total drama queen for the case of "Yay Gay." the "Yay gay" in celebrities is starting to become too look-at-me-I'm-gay-and-liberal whenever one tiny happening occurs. This is what happening to our society in general, everyone is so damned sensitive.

BUST Magazine's Fall Shopping List

I have found my spirit fashion guide in Bust blogger Kristina Uriegas-Reyes in her "My Fall Wishlist" post last Friday which praises the season of "Tights and Sweaters" which in the voguegasm world is the equivalent of "Sweater Tights and Biker Boots" season. Kristina, i think it's love between the black cloak (although it looks brown) and those pink saddle shoes. I WANT! As a fellow blogger, can you help a girl out in getting the depeapa flower bag on a discount?

Dum Dum Girl's New Video "Bedroom Eyes"

Dee Dee and crew are back to melt your faces with their heavy eyeliner, bright red lipstick and massive long legs (Thank you Jesus!) covered n retro tights. While "Only in Dreams" which was recently had low reviews for anyone who's a hardcore fan or expected more fuzzy softcore. But it's there, just evolved, and more 60s inspired which makes it capture my ears. 

After making my shitlist of the Top 5 Worst Lesbian Films Ever  I received so many comments via facebook of why I wouldn't make a top 5 best lesbian films, because for me the best lesbian films are not of that genre specifically but any movie that encompasses a character of the Sapphic fold. Which explains why I had to choose on this list "Pandora's Box," "The Hours," and "The Haunting" for having the most relateable lesbian characters. But as for the general "Lesbian" genre, I have a few that won't make me vomit with uneasiness.

5. 

Raus Aus Amal

(Show Me Love)

"Show Me Love" or sometimes known as "Fucking Amal" shows the mundane high school life in Amal, Sweden where nothing really goes on except soul searching, to find life's meaning as a teenager. To say that it's just another "girl going through the angst of realizing she's falling in love with a GIRL!" *le gasp* would be too easy but after watching the beauty of Alexandra Dahlstrom (who plays Elin) many times one can see two teenagers just trying to get through everyday. 

Case in point is a particular scene with Rebecka Liljeberg (who plays the "butch" but not really Agnes) with her father who consoles her that high school isn't all that great. "When our class met, I think it was our 25-year reunion, when they found out that I'd done well for myself. Bengt, who was then the class king, he didn't become anything. And the girls who were considered the prettiest, they weren't special any longer. So I think you'll be glad that you don't have it so easily. Because those who have it easy often become quite uninteresting." Agnes retorts back with "But you're speaking in about 25 years. I'm sorry, but I'd rather be happy now than in 25 years" which makes this girl meets girl and eventually falls in love with girl plot line a little less grating and ten times more relateable. Plus, Swedish girls and their language are effing gorgeous!

4.

Salmonberries

Beautiful, heavy, poignant, and haunting are the best words to describe this little-known film from the 90s starring country singer (and a very full-frontal naked) k.d. Lang and "Aimee and Jaguar's" German actress Rosi Zech have a lustful connection that could rival Jack and Ennis from "Brokeback Mountain." Yet the androgyny seems to be more of a topic than the lesbianism.

Or at least it is all one-sided as Lang (as orphan Kotzbue) struggles to find her biological family once landing in a small town in Alaska and befriending Zech's role as German Librarian expatriate Roswitha. Roswitha helps Kotzbue find her heritage as Kotzbue helps in turn, going all the way to East Germany with her to make peace with her dead husband at his grave. 

The  vast and empty Alaskan backdrop gives the movie a heavy and sad ambiance but there is a beauty behind it and it has nothing to do with the fact that k.d. Lang is naked for a quick second (maybe...) or the heartbreaking scene towards the end that I will not give away that is kind of beautiful in its sadness. Or the fact that k.d. Lang is naked for a quick second...

3. 

Pandora's Box

Georg Wilhelm Pabst's masterpiece of post-expressionism is not only an ode to  German Expressionist but also one of the first Lesbian characters in film -- and not contextually. For the few scenes Alice Roberts's role as Countess Anna Geschwetiz one of the many people who falls for the iconic Louise Brooks's luminous Lulu. The dance between the two women is oddly sensual for its time, especially with Roberts's yearning looks. As Brooks recounts in the special features, Pabst had to personally direct each look for Alice did not know how to "play a lesbian." But it is a wonderful homage to the Weimar woman open with sexuality, equaling up to the Goddess of Marlene Dietrich.

2. 

But I'm a Cheerleader

A little John Waters-esque in the colors and campiness there's something a little more than the atypical "Lesbian genre" plot of girl meets opposite girl, finds out she's lesbian (involuntarily), and falls in love with opposite girl. So whats the redeeming factor for my own "film elitist" mind (I say jokingly) in But I'm a Cheerleader? The cinematography, the music and the satire and humor. 

Funny how a movie that is all about sexuality doesn't even have one situational moment of sex in it except for a beautiful montage of a makeout between the mind-blowingly beautiful Clea DuVall's Graham and Natasha Lyonne's Megan. With the shadow backdrop to the tune of Tattle Tale's "Glass Vase Cello Case."

It's kitschy in the details, and Jamie Babbit being one of my favorite directors, has a habit of making movies with a meticulous eye for every shot and that is apparent also in the make-out scene as well as the night scenes in the use of shadows which continues six years later in "The Quiet" another fantastic movie with a slight lesbian allusion. But for now, let's dwell on the majesty of the twee-inspired soundtrack.

1. 

Madchen in Uniform (1931)

I sang its praises in the Top 5 Worst list, but Christa Winsloe's original school-girl memoir, "Das Mädchen Manuela," turned into play "Gestern und heute (Yesterday and Today)" was more explicitly lesbian than "Madchen in Uniform" which she was screen writer for. But what was filtered only helped with a classic 30s tension in the chemistry of Dorothea Wieck's Frau von Bernberg and Hertha Thiele's Manuela as well as the aesthetic team between Winsloe and director Leontine Sagan. While the film seemed more anti-fascist (thanks to Winsloe's involvement with the SPD) unfortunately this film isn't as widespread as its '58 or the adaptation of "Loving Annabelle" because of the Nazi's torching many reels available in Germany, but thankfully it was already widespread around the globe. Yet, the video quality is poor considering the film strip quality vs. the subtitles. But for it's deterioration and quiet tension, it's much better than most films of a consequential sexuality between women in film. And the kiss is hot.

Honorable mentions: Tipping the Velvet, Gray Matters, The Hours, The Haunting, Fire, Better than Chocolate, Aimee and Jaguar, The Quiet

This is a topic I have enough criteria to say... I know what I'm talking about. Yes, I prefer to date and sleep with women-identified women but I don't think culture justifies making a specific market out of romantic comedies made specifically for .. what mainstream culture calls lesbianism, making a mockery out of the beautiful Grecian lifestyle such as the amazing artists and real culture in Lesbos, Greece. But, I made this case already on my website which you are free to view whenever, so here is your shallow top 5 list.

5. 

The Four-Faced Liar

  

Quiet and atmospheric and secretly wishes it was RENT or the culturally accepted lesbian "You've Got Mail", "The Four-Faced Liar" is aptly titled for the Irish Bar where these four (but technically five) 20somethings meet as well as a clock in Ireland where four different clock faces tell a different time, making every person in this movie a total liar and you have no reason to like any of them. And I certainly don't. 

1. Molly (played by Emily Peck) is pretty much a dead ringer for Sara Foster in another lesbian favorite "D.E.B.S." and acts like the same oblivious sexually-deprived woman who doesn't know she's going to fall in love with a woman who is just another player. The movie lacks reason and depth why she would fall in love and eventually leave a fiancee who loves her in the way of simply knowing her without passion. She becomes a total asshole to him and runs off with the woman. 

2. Bridget (played by Marja Lewis Bryan) is the atypical lesbian of anywhere you don't want to come across - she has no source of femininity until she wants to proclaim love for Peck in the movie, she has every stereotype of every 'bad-girl:" crude, chain-smokes which she passes the gift onto Molly and sleeps with every woman that passes her way mindlessly. 

Anything redeemable? The aesthetics of the placement of scenes really do feel like a song, refrains of Bridget and Greg (played by Daniel Carlisle) brushing their teeth together brings you out of the bullshit that is needless straight and lesbian drama, along with Greg's romance with Chloe (Liz Osborn). Another great point is that the movie is not based around a so-called angst of coming out. You don't find Molly crying in the corner over "Oh my God, I like a girl."

There is no gender problem other than Trip's (Todd Kubrak) insecurity. Another brownie point is the fact that the ensemble acting is believable, Bridget and Greg's relationship is hilarious but the dialogue is stale. And, if I may, the Molly-Bridget sex scenes aren't that bad. Watch it for the New Years Eve bathroom scene.  The end with the ultimate declaration of love between Molly and Bridget is also wonderful and I love movies that end with subdued reality with a wide open gap. 

It's painful but there's a lot more redeemable points than the next four films. 

4. 

Imagine Me and You

Piper Perabo, for some reason, is considered every woman-who-prefers-women fantasy. I use the word "every" loosely for every woman who has drooled over the photo shoot where she self-indulgently dresses up as Marlene Dietrich's doppelganger from "Morocco." Sacrilege to classic movie fans. Rachel (Perabo) marries Heck (Matthew Goode) but eventually makes friends with Luce (Lena Heady at her least sexiest) who had been their wedding florist. This is one of those angsty coming-out movies that capitalize on just that. The actors lack chemistry but the casting couch was filled out perfectly by Anthony Head (who unfortunately blended in for me to even know he was in it until now) and one of my favorite British actors, Ben Miles of Coupling fame. The only memorable scene is the end is both the carnival scene (but "Penelope's" carnival scene is superior in the sense of mise-en-scene and detail) and  trying to find something romantic chasing Luce down a road in London on a packed street.

3. 

Go Fish

An interbreed of 90s positivism of feminism and lesbianism, mockumentary montages, ensemble acting and romantic comedy a lot of the mockumentary scenes are done with good intentions but unfortunately fails in what Genevieve Turner (both as writer and actress as Max, you gotta admit, she's beautiful) considers a movie through her 90s muddled mind of being both politically correct and true to herself. She writes her character Camille, or more properly known as flannel and denim clad Max, explains my current love situation: conceptualizing and making up love stories in her mind to validate her sleeping-on-my-friend's-couch existence. 

She finds herself hooked up with Ely (V.S. Brodie who plays the stoic and almost more denim-flannel clad than Turner) through a friend although not attracted to her at all. The chemistry between the two is forced but poses questions if a lesbian, who imagines herself a life, should settle for someone she's not all attracted to until through time she realizes she's in love with her. That sends a really poor message, especially to new generations that are changing the definitions about loving with or without gender. Turner had better work in collection 'Fun with Girls' Shorts" with the short film "Hung."

The one redeemable part is the mockumentary montages where it does honor the 90s mindset of excessive validation as well as the use of cinematography and color filters. The film student in me had a shiver over those sexy aesthetics.

2. 

Loving Annabelle

You would think only Hollywood loves to remake films but for the sheer fact that an indie production company such as "Big Easy Pictures" would consider making a THIRD remake to what is an anti-fascist storyline in the first place of Christa Winsloe's play from the 30s called "Madchen in Uniform" which broke barriers for its anti-fascist message done in the most cinematic way in its details, covered up by a ground-breaking woman to woman kiss - and never mind one being at least twenty to thirty years older than her. Who wouldn't want to be kissed by Dorothea Wieck? And Hertha Thiele is so beautiful... but I digress as much as I don't want to. 

The subtle message of anti-fascism was only masked by the shallow storyline at its forefront in its newest remake and capitalized on the questionable messages of teacher-student love scandals that were common in the news early 2000s. Perfect idea to use a Catholic All-Girls School? We have evidence from "Lost and Delirious" that it can work as long as its kept amongst the students. The other problem is being apart of the canon of angsty lesbian movies that escalate in sexual tension between Annabelle (Erin Kelly) and teacher Simone Bradley (Diane Gaidry) and the sex scene while satisfying to the viewer is because it is a typical woman-to-woman movie ploy that people play into too easily. 

Have I mentioned that "Madchen in Uniform" is superior?

1. 

It's in the Water

 And now the most painful movie in existence. Written in 90s by Kelli Herd with the idea that homophobia can simply be the typical human fear of the other ... no shit. And with that in mind, it seemed only appropriate the most sarcastic phrase which Spencer (John Hallum who has a slight likeness to John C. McGinley), shoots out while slightly drunk and fed up with the typical Texan supremacist attitude in his small town Azalea Springs, as well as distraught over his much older boyfriend dying of AIDS. All the emotions bubble up to the point at a high scale event that causes him to say that the gay man that he is "it's in the water" which calls for panic about the water supply. Water is being shipped into Azalea Springs for everyone is in fear of going gay. There is even a "Homo No-Mo" meetings at the church and the "risk" of an AIDS facility runs rampant.

The solution for unhappily married Alexandria is to go gay after she finds out her best friend from high school, who comes home to work at the facility as a nurse, prefers women. Oh my! Alexandria may like her high school best friend and may harbor same-sex tendencies after having a movie marathon of Desert Hearts, Claire of the Moon (horrible horrible film) amongst others. This is my biggest question about a lot of these lesbian/gay movies, are the movies circumstantial or are they satires of real life? Where does circumstance and social commentary intertwine exactly? I don't even have to list the sins of this movie - clearly it's a satire to not take seriously but still, it's really horrible. If you need a so-bad-it's-kinda-good-movie-but-I'll-hate-myself-for-it, it's this one.

Other movies that are horrible that don't make my shit-list?

Claire of the Moon, A Family Affair, The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love, Kissing Jessica Stein, Puccini for Beginners