If you’ve ever wanted to escape reality for a great adventure, go see Eat Pray Love with Julia Roberts (Liz), Billy Crudup (Stephen), James Franco (David), and Javier Bardem (Felipe). This entertaining film is based on the book by Elizabeth Gilbert, who takes a relationship timeout after a painful divorce and bad breakup to get in touch with herself. Liz’s one-year travel adventures in Italy, India and Bali offer fun reality checks and great love lessons about attracting the right kind of love.

Eat - While in Rome, Liz falls in love with spaghetti and gelato. You’ll love seeing the Vatican, Coliseum, and hot Italian men that she resists. During her relationship timeout, she chooses friendship and pizza over love in the most romantic city in the world (now that is dedication to a goal!). When I was in Roma for three weeks for work, I was not as strong. I told my co-workers, “I fall in love every day in Italy.”
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Pray - During her second stop in India, Liz visits her ex-boyfriend’s Guru. She focuses on finding peace through meditation and managing her thoughts. In this sacred ashram, Liz finally lets go of her ex husband, Stephen and ex boyfriend, David. You can’t really attract the right type of love unless you know yourself first, which is why Great Life Great Love is about building a Great Life first. When I traveled to Mumbai for work, it was a very spiritual place where my friends gave me a Ganesh (Hindu God and remover of all obstacles). The Indian wedding scene reminded me of the wedding parade that I saw outside my hotel window.

Love - When Liz returns to Bali to reconnect with her medicine man who predicted her life path, she continues meditation with a smile and focuses on finding life balance. We won’t reveal the love story with Felipe in this review, but it’s definitely worth seeing the film to find out what happens with this Brazilian in paradise. Once Liz finds love, she is afraid to let go of her life balance. Most people tend to loose control in the early stages of love, and this new relationship is very scary for Liz. You’ll have to watch the movie to find out how it all works out in the end.

Enjoy the Eat Pray Love journey on the big screen. The Italian scenery is spectacular, and will take you on a Roman Holiday. You’ll find yourself dreaming about a great trip sabbatical that is free from our everyday intensity and pressures. If Liz’s trip is too extravagant, try a weekend escape to San Francisco, where the food is mouth-watering, a temple is nearby for meditation, and Golden Gate Park is romantic. And if you want some more ideas for finding balance and love, give us a call for Life Coaching. We’re all about helping you build a Great Life to attract Great Love – and we’re happy to give you travel ideas too.

© Liz H Kelly, Great Love Reporter, Great Life Great Love, http://greatlifegreatlove.com

Great Life Great Love shares love lessons from the big screen, and is happy to release our Top 10 Romance Movies for 2010. We’re missing Sandra Bullock’s The Proposal and All About Steve this year, but we’ve had some good films so far, and there are more on the way from Hollywood. My prediction is that the best romance movie of 2010 will be The Romantics, and feel fortunate to have seen the premiere at the Sundance Film Festival with Katie Holmes and Josh Duhamel (in theaters Sept 24, 2010). Here’s my top 10 picks (in order of what I think is best so far) with Great Love Reviews (No Spoilers!) and movie ratings. Let us know your favorites.

Great Love Reviews for 2010 Romance Movies

1. The Romantics (COMING SEPT 24th!) - 5 Stars

Katie Holmes (Laurie), Josh Duhamel (Tom), Anna Paquin (Lila), Elijah Wood (Chip), Malin Akerman (Tripler), and Adam Brody (Jake)

Love Lesson – Marry for love over money any day, and watch out for twists at Big Chill Reunions!

2. Eat, Pray Love (predicting a big hit!)

Julia Roberts (Elizabeth Gilbert), James Franco (David) and Javier Bardem (Felipe)

Love Lesson – Let go of bad relationships quickly to open space for the right ones to come into your life…and if you need an extreme break, take a year off to Eat Pray Love around the world!

3. Sex and the City 2 – 4 stars

Sarah Jessica Parker (Carrie), Kristin Davis (Charlotte), Cynthia Nixon (Miranda) and Kim Cattrall(Samantha) as they “Carrie On” two years after the first movie. Enjoy our Great Love Review interview with Vincent De Paul, who also grew up in Baltimore (my hometown) and was in the movie

Love Lesson – As Carrie, Miranda and Charlotte’s relationships evolve into marriage, friendship and compromise are key. Samantha is still Samantha.

4. Knight and Day – 4 stars

Tom Cruise (Roy), Cameron Diaz (June) and Peter Sarsgaard (Fitzgerald)

Love Lesson – Be open to going out of your comfort zone, and try new adventures. This action romance with a Bond character with an iPhone will keep you entertained the whole time.

5. The Back-up Plan – 3.5 stars

Jennifer Lopez (Zoe) and Alex O’Loughlin (Stan)

Love Lesson - Just when you think you’ve got a solid plan, life will bring you unexpected twists (like a hot and sincere guy!)

6. The Runaways – 3 stars

Kristen Stewart (Joan Jett) and Dakota Fanning (Cherrie Currie)

Love Lesson – There are many relationship challenges when dealing with fame! The girls rocked the house, but romance was not so easy off-stage.

7. Cyrus – 3 stars

Marissa Tomei (Molly) and John C Reilly (John) and Johan Hill (Cyrus, the son)

Love Lesson – It’s hard to fall in love if your kids are super possessive. Find balance as a parent, and you’ll attract Great Love much faster.

8. Leap Year – 3 stars

Amy Adams (Anna), Matthew Goode (Declan) and Adam Scott (Jeremy)

Love Lesson – Don’t go chasing after your boyfriend on a business trip in Ireland to propose on Leap Day unless he’s a real deal.

9. Valentine’s Day – 3 stars

Ashton Kutcher, Jennifer Garner and 18 other Hollywood box office leads including: Taylor Swift, Taylor Lautner, Patrick Dempsey (the MBA – Married But Available), Shirley MacLaine, Hector Elizondo, Queen Latifiah, Anne Hathaway, Jamie Foxx, Topher Grace, Bradley Cooper and Jessica Biel.

Love Lesson - The real secret to lasting love is marrying your best friend – and sending yellow roses for friendship over red for Vday.

10. TBD – Let’s see what comes out this fall!

What do you think have been the best romance films this year? What is missing from my Top 10 Romance Movies of 2010 list? It’s been a tough year for romantic comedies, and we appreciate your feedback and input. For more Great Love Reviews and love lessons from Hollywood, come back soon!

© Liz H Kelly, Great Love Reporter, Great Life Great Love, http://greatlifegreatlove.com, 2010

When Apple released it’s iPhone 4 last Thursday, the record pre-order reservations (600,000) and long store lines (many reporting up to a 12 hour wait) make you wonder if this love affair with a cell phone has gone overboard? Have iPhones become more important than romantic relationships? If you saw the Manhattan Beach Village Mall (video below) line wrapped around Macy’s, you’d say it looks like the same crazy draw that we feel when we first start building a Great Love relationship.

Has Apple built an irresistible craving for a phone that has made people go mad, or is it just a powerful emotional connection to a superior product? The first weekend sales estimate for the iPhone 4 is a record-breaking 1.7 million in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Japan.
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To capture this marketing event, eye reports and videos were posted all over the internet creating a viral marketing boost. When I walked by the Santa Monica Third Street Promenade store, the wait was still 4 hours at 5:00pm on Thursday, which only reduced to a 3-hour wait on Friday. To make customers fall even more in love with their brand, Apple handed out water, umbrellas and cupcakes to customers (Brilliant marketing!).

Was this iPhone Love Affair driven by Apple’s Marketing, a Superior Product and/or Raving Fans? Steve Jobs, pre-orders and product announcements definitely built up the hype. However, Apple’s retina display, new video calling (Facetime), enhanced front and back camera, noise filter and metal antenna are probably the bigger draws. According to an analyst at Piper Jaffray, around 77% of iPhone 4 sales came from customers upgrading from previous models. (And it’s no surprise that Apple’s iPhone is the No. 1 device in customer satisfaction, according to a new ChangeWave survey, followed by Motorola, who has its share of devoted Droid users.)

In the end, we have to ask ourselves whether Americans get greater satisfaction from a phone versus face-to-face conversations? Apple’s not only built a must-have phone, but a new lifestyle that is changing our communications forever. On the first weekend, several of my friends proudly let me play with their new iPhone 4. My only request is that we make a commitment to continue connecting through human conversations and romantic relationships versus relying on the iPhone for our primary communications. Here’s to the iPhone 4 Love Affair and to you finding Great Love!

© Liz H Kelly, Great Love Reporter, Great Life Great Love, http://greatlifegreatlove.com

If you’re ready for a fashion feast and Middle Eastern escape with the girls, go see Sex and the City 2 with Sarah Jessica Parker (Carrie), Kristin Davis (Charlotte), Cynthia Nixon (Miranda) and Kim Cattrall(Samantha) as they “Carrie On” two years after the first movie. Even though this sequel is long (2 ½ hours), the writer cleverly keeps your attention with a road trip to Abu Dhabi. We won’t spoil the movie here, but rather comment on the fashion parade and their great United Arab Emirates adventure.

While many women in the theater were wearing Carrie’s pearls and dresses on opening night in LA, Patricia Field’s styling was over-the-top in this film. The production spent an estimated $4 million, and it shows. From the Hamptons wedding to Abu Dhabi, it’s a fashion extravaganza of ball gowns and blazers. And the red carpet dresses on the couch are just too much. Honestly, do you know anyone who wears an evening gown and stilettos to watch TV with their husband?

When Samantha is asked to do Public Relations for a new hotel in Abu Dhabi, the extreme fashion is much more likely. Even though this part of the movie was filmed in Morocco, it does give a realistic view of the United Arab Emirates based on my visits there. Drinks at the pool, nightclubs, camel rides in the desert, the outdoor shopping souk and extravagant service are all part of their abundant culture. The trouble is created by the extreme lifestyle differences. When Samantha chooses to break the rules, you’ll have to see the movie to find out what happens next.
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Moving back to NYC, the three marriages provide the love lessons in this film with relatable relationship struggles. Steve (David Eigenberg) supports Samantha when she is faced with career challenges, which leads to positive change. When Charlotte gets worried about Harry (Evan Handler) and their nanny, there is a surprise ending. And when Carrie and Big (Chris Noth) start making up their own relationship rules, you’ll laugh at some of their ideas.

If you liked Sex and the City 1, this visual extravagance film is even more entertaining. Go see it with your girlfriends, and let me know what you think. And for more love lessons from the big screen and dating tips for how to find your Great Love, visit Great Life Great Love.

© Liz H Kelly, Great Love Reporter, http://greatlifegreatlove.com, 2010

Are you ready to watch Sex and the City 2 on May 27, 2010, as Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda, and Samantha “carry on” in their next chapter of their lives? We got a rare interview with one of the cast members, Vincent De Paul, at the Turner Classic Movie Film Festival in Hollywood, where he shared the inside scoop on the wedding scene in the video below (No spoilers!). Vincent provides hints about the groom by saying, “The character is the Italian, and his last name is Marino, and you will recognize him.”

We’re not going to read the spoilers, and will only speculate about the movie in this Great Love Report based on the trailers. It’s been two years since Sex and the City I, and now we get to see where their relationships have gone. Will Samantha (Kim Cattrall) finally settle down, or will it be Stanford’s (Willie Garson) big wedding in the Hamptons?
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Will Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) get lost on a camel in the Arabian desert during the girls’ great escape to Abu Dhabi? And when Carrie has a surprise reunion with an old lover, will Big (Chris Noth) keep-it-together? We’ve all dated a Big, that guy who drives us wild, but struggles with relationships. I’m not betting on Big in this sequel, are you?

And what about Charlotte (Kristin Davis) and Harry (Evan Handler)? Did you know that Evan has been seen several times in my Santa Monica neighborhood? We usually leave celebrities alone, but might have to ask for his take the next time we bump into him.

Whatever happens, we’ll be entertained by the relationship twists and turns by the fun cast and fashion. Let me know what you predict, and stand by for a Great Love Review shortly after the movie opens in theaters. For more love lessons from the big screen, visit Great Life Great Love.

© Liz H Kelly, Great Love Reporter, http://greatlifegreatlove.com, 2010

If you’re looking for some hope that Great Love can be found, check out The Back-Up Plan with Jennifer Lopez (Zoe) and Alex O’Loughlin (Stan). In this fun romantic comedy, Zoe meets the right guy who is a Bachelor Available (best kind of guy in my first book, Smart Man Hunting). As soon as Zoe decides to give up and have a baby on her own, her man magically appears. What we learn about love in this movie is that it’s important to be open to a relationship when the real deal shows up.

Just when you think you’ve got a solid plan, life will bring you unexpected twists. When Zoe first meets Stan in a New York City taxi, she’s not ready to trust anyone and pushes him away. In her mind, life is complete by owning a pet store and having a baby on her own. When Stan takes off his shirt for the first time (photo in the video review below), you’ll laugh at her reaction and what happens next at his farm during their get-away weekend.
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Once Zoe confesses that she is pregnant, she is shocked that Stan wants to stay. When a guy wants to stick by you with not just one baby, but twins, accept that He is Totally Into You! While we all build up walls to protect our privacy and pride, Zoe joins a single mother support group that is a little extreme. You’ll have to watch the movie to see if their relationship makes it, and it’s worth the laughs!

How will you respond when love shows up at your door? Are you going to run like Zoe or Great Love a chance? If you want some back-up support, give us a call for Dating Coaching and/or Life Coaching. We’re happy to be your sounding board and help you figure out if you should give someone closer look. For more dating tips and movie reviews about love, visit Great Life Great Love.

© Liz H Kelly, Great Love Reporter, Great Life Great Love, http://greatlifegreatlove.com, 2010

Great Life Great Love is about building a Great Life to attract Great Love, and teaches about love through lessons from the big screen. To bring you insights from Old and Young Hollywood, we went to the TCM Classic Film Festival in Los Angeles last week, and interviewed Baltimore actor Vincent De Paul about his lunch with Luise Rainer (the first woman to win two consecutive Academy Award Winner) and many movie projects. We also photographed a rare moment where Luise talked about her Great Love in a live interview with Robert Osborne from TCM.

Prior to The Good Earth screening at Grauman’s Egyptian Theater, Luise Rainer captured the audience with her charm and wit during a live interview with Robert Osborne from TCM. Luise flew at 100 years old from England despite the Iceland Volcano delays, and lit up the stage. She grew up in Germany, and came to Hollywood in 1935. Louise spoke about her two husbands with big smile. Her first husband was the famous Playwright, Clifford Odets. And then she married her Great Love and English gentleman, Robert Knittel, who she described as, “He was dear and loving, and above all, viewed me as the center of the universe.” This discussion was a classic moment that made Hollywood history.

Vincent De Paul, and I were honored to sit in the front row and captured photos of her interview with Robert Osborne (TCM) in this video. As Vincent explains, “She is a remarkable woman who gives so many pearls of wisdom about Old Hollywood, about cinema, about Metro Goldwyn Mayer, and about love.”
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After watching the screening of The Good Earth, Vincent held my arm as we walked from the theater down Hollywood Boulevard to the famous Roosevelt Hotel looking at the stars on the sidewalk. We stopped to shake hands with Robert Osborne along the way, and then filmed this video interview in the TCM Film Festival Lounge surrounded by famous black and white movie posters. During this fun conversation about film and love, Vincent shared more insights about Luise Rainer and many of his films, including Hairspray, Sex and the City 2, and Walk a Mile in My Pradas (his latest project that starts filming this week).

Vincent De Paul grew up in Baltimore (also my hometown) and was “humbled to represent a younger generation of Hollywood” at this festival. The best way to describe Vincent besides “Hon” (Baltimore’s affectionate term for close friends) is as a charming gentleman. When you watch this interview, you’ll be glued to his every word.

Thank you Luise Rainer, Vincent De Paul and Turner Classic Movies for the love lessons from Hollywood! For more Great Love Reviews, visit Great Life Great Love.

© Liz H Kelly, Great Love Reporter, http://greatlifegreatlove.com, 2010

We can all learn from love in the movies. After all, they’ve been scripted to make us emotionally charged and think about the life lessons. As your Great Love Reporter and entertainment executive, there are tons of movie couple examples in my Books, CDs and Articles. For fun, below are my top 10 picks and the love lessons from the big screen for the Best Romance Movies for the 21st Century.

Top 10 Best Romance Movies for the 21st Century

1. The Proposal (2009)
Stars - Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds
Love Lessons - Be open-minded to dating a Cougar Boss, and don’t be surprised by their romantic side!

2. I Love You, Man (2009)
Stars - Paul Rudd, Jason Segel and Rashida Jones (The Office)
Love Lessons - Get a fun life. Sing Rush songs at the top of your lungs to attract great love!

3. 500 Days of Summer (2009)
Stars -Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Love Lessons - Watch for the red flags early in a relationship + don’t be blinded by a love that just won’t work

4. Marley and Me (2008)
Stars - Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson
Love Lessons - You can find the same unconditional love a dog gives in a great love.

5. You, Me and Dupree (2006)
Stars - Kate Hudson, Owen Wilson, Matt Dillon
Love Lessons - Avoid inviting crazy friends to move in with you and your love. Ignore crazy in-laws.

6. Pride and Prejudice (2005)
Stars - Keira Knightly and Matthew Macfadyen
Love Lessons - Sometimes the oddest matches are the best. Be open to second chances.

7. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
Stars - Nia Vardalos and John Corbett
Love Lessons - It’s the little romantic things that add up to great love.

8. The Wedding Planner (2001)
Stars - Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey
Love Lessons - Never settle for your second choice - go for great love!

9. Bridget Jones Diary (2001)
Stars - Renee Zwellweger, Hugh Grant, and Colin Firth
Love Lessons - Don’t be blinded by a bad boy when love shows up.

10. Almost Famous (2000)
Stars - Kate Hudson and Billy Crudup
Love Lessons - Even though it’s addicting, walk away from rock-n-roll dysfunctional love!

What are your top romance movie picks and why? Tell us more about your favorites by emailing liz@greatlifegreatlove.com.

© Liz H. Kelly, Great Love Reporter, Great Life Great Love, http://www.greatlifegreatlove.com, 2009

After years of watching romance movies, working in the entertainment biz and coaching singles how to find love, here’s my top 10 list with love lessons from the big screen. From Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca to Meg Ryan in everything, these scripts have given us big things to think about love. You’ll recognize many of the titles in this Great Life Great Love favorites list from 1939-1998.

Many thanks to Hollywood and friends from the around the globe on Facebook and Twitter who also gave valuable feedback on their top picks! What are your favorite romance movies, and why?

Best Romance Movies - Great Life, Great Love Top 10

1. Gone with the Wind (1939)
Vivien Leigh (Scarlett) and Clark Gable (Rhett)
Love lesson = Love wins over games during any war.

2. Casablanca (1942)
Ingrid Bergman (Ilsa) and Humphrey Bogart (Rick)
Love lesson = When you find your Great Love, don’t let them ride off on a plane!

3. Roman Holiday (1953)
Audrey Hepburn (Princess Ann) and Gregory Peck (Joe)
Love lesson = Even a Princess can fall for an Average Joe!

4. Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
Audrey Hepburn (Holly) and George Peppard (Paul)
Love lesson = If you fake it your whole life, it’s tough to find love.

5. Princess Bride (1987)
Robin Wright Penn (Buttercup) and Cary Elwes (Westly)
Love lesson = Never give up on your prince!

6. When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Meg Ryan (Sally) and Billy Crystal (Harry)
Love lesson = If you wait long enough, good friends can be lovers!
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7. Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
Meg Ryan (Annie) and Tom Hanks (Sam)
Love lesson = No distance can keep two great loves apart!

8. Titanic (1997)
Kate Winslet (Rose) and Leonardo DiCaprio (Jack)
Love lesson = Love can happen in hours with the right communication!

9. Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Gywneth Paltrow (Viola) and Joseph Fiennes (Will)
Love lesson = Add some mystery and spice to your romance, and the sparks fly!

10. Pride and Prejudice (2005)
Keira Knightly (Lizzie Bennett) and Matthew Macfayden (Mr Darcy)
Love lesson = Trust your gut and watch for the Great Lover vs Bad Lover signs!

We’d appreciate if you can post comments with your favorite romance movies so we can get more feedback. And if you’re looking for more big screen love lessons, check out our Great Love Reviews and Best Romance Movies for the 21st Century. Many thanks to Hollywood writers for the great scripts over the years that will help us find Great Love!

© Liz H. Kelly, Great Love Reporter, Great Life Great Love, http://www.greatlifegreatlove.com

Great Life Great Love is all about building a great life to attract great love, which is why we asked celebs at a Precious Oscar Pre-Party about the messages to women about building their self-esteem. Precious went through unimaginable challenges, and through the help of a great teacher and writing a journal, she starts building her confidence in this Best Picture nominated film. We were fortunate to interview Ashlan Gorse (E! Red Carpet Reporter and Event Host), Lee Daniels (Best Director Nominee and Event in his honor) and Dennis Haysbert (Actor who plays the President on 24) about the love lessons from the big screen (and yes, it took courage to ask these questions on the red carpet).
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“For Precious Girls Everywhere”(Lisa Cortez, Executive Producer, Precious) , here are some self-esteem builders:

Top 10 Confidence Boosters:

1. Recognize that you are a Hot Ticket – Start believing that you deserve only the best!

2. Pamper Yourself – Take care of your body with makeovers, nails, new hair, and new styles – ask your friends for tips that will make you feel better about you.

3. Treat Yourself Better – Are you eating, sleeping and exercising enough?

4. Surround Yourself with Positive People – Find friends who are cheerleaders and make you feel good inside.

5. Define Your Own Sexy – Don’t dress to play a part. Dress in what makes you feel sexy.

6. Jump into your Passions – Make time for things that you love to do. You will plant a more natural smile on your face and attract the right dates and great love.

7. Try Something New – Try yoga, horseback riding or take a ski lesson to expand your world!

8. Follow a No Bull Policy – Be decisive and know that you can take it or leave it. If a date doesn’t fit right, just say Next!

9. Go After Your Dreams – Think outside your home box of possibilities and aim high with your dreams! By going after your passions, you will feel good inside.

10. Create a Dating Plan – The more you date, the more confident you will be. One book fan in Los Angeles told me, “You’ve given me so much more confidence about dating. You got me to practice and now I found a great guy who just gets me.”

You can beam with confidence too like Precious at the end of this movie. Be brave. Be bold and start making smarter choices in partners, jobs and life in general. If you want an extra dating cheerleader, contact us for Life Coaching and/or Dating Coaching. And for more examples of love lessons from the big screen, check out our Great Love Reviews. Everyone deserves great love, and we are here to help you make it happen!

(C) Liz H. Kelly, Great Love Reporter, Great Life Great Love, http://www.greatlifegreatlove.com, 2010