When I stumbled upon the “You must remember this… a kiss is just a kiss” Blogathon for Valentine’s Day, I knew exactly what cinematic kiss I wanted to write about. Too bad it was past the blogathon’s cutoff year. Since I was late to the party, a lot of my favorite film kisses had been claimed, and I struggled to find a top romantic moment to write about. But I was intrigued by Second Sight Cinema‘s suggestion of a “phantom kiss,” a kiss that we the audience long for but which never happens, and I knew the perfect example of a phantom kiss is in City Lights, long considered one of the greatest romances of the silver screen but which contains not one kiss.
There were times when there was something very young and slightly ridiculous about Jack; it was a side of him that Sophie loved beyond measure; but no one looking at him now, or in action, would have believed in its existence.
HMS Surprise – Patrick O’Brian
(Mal collides with Inara while dancing.)
Mal: It’s possible you were right, and this ain’t mykind of party.
(Atherton grabs Inara by the arm and marches her away.)
Mal: Whoa now. Watch yourself. Ain’t no need for hands on.
Atherton: Excuse me, she’s not here with you, Captain. She’s mine.
Mal: Yours? She don’t belong to nobody.
Atherton: Money changed hands, which makes her mine tonight. And no matter how you dress her up she’s still a…
(Mal decks Atherton.)
Mal: Turns out this is my kind of party!
Firefly – Episode 4 – “Shindig”
Kirk: Mister Spock.
Spock: Captain.
Kirk: There’s really something I don’t understand about all of this. Maybe you can explain it to me. Logically, of course. When you jettisoned the fuel and ignited it, you knew there was virtually no chance of it being seen, yet you did it anyhow. That would seem to me to be an act of desperation.
Spock: Quite correct, Captain.
Kirk: Now we all know, and I’m sure the doctor will agree with me, that desperation is a highly emotional state of mind. How does your well-known logic explain that?
Spock: Quite simply, Captain. I examined the problem from all angles, and it was plainly hopeless. Logic informed me that under the circumstances, the only possible action would have to be one of desperation. Logical decision, logically arrived at.
Kirk: I see. You mean you reasoned that it was time for an emotional outburst.
Spock: Well, I wouldn’t put it in exactly those terms, Captain, but those are essentially the facts.
Kirk: You’re not going to admit that for the first time in your life, you committed a purely human emotional act?
Spock: No, sir.
Kirk: Mister Spock, you’re a stubborn man.
Spock: Yes, sir.
Star Trek – Season 1: Episode 13 – “The Galileo Seven”
I’ve written a lot about Pirates of the Caribbean over the years, from my magnum opus, a two-part analysis of the original trilogy of films, to various other articles on my various favorite moments from the films (here, here, and here). With Valentine’s Day coming this weekend it seemed like a perfect time to highlight my favorite movie kiss of all time, from Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End between Will and Elizabeth. There are plenty of swoon-worthy moments and kisses between the pair throughout the trilogy, but for me nothing tops their impromptu wedding and the kiss that follows. It’s a perfectly crafted mix of clever writing, action, earnest performances, fantastic music, and visual flair, all built on the backs of the films worth of relationship growth and obstacles. Take a look for yourself, and then read on to find out why I love this kiss above all others.
Xander: I don’t get this. The candy’s supposed to make you feel all immature and stuff, but I’ve had a ton, and I don’t feel any dif… Never mind.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Season 3: Episode 6 – “Band Candy”
The Love Pirate 