Movies That Stir Our Emotions

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD on May 06, 2010
Source: WebMD


Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)

Holly Golightly is a party girl and aspiring socialite who's looking for her sugar daddy. Her new neighbor, Paul Varjak, is an aspiring writer and the kept man of a wealthy older woman. Neither one is looking for true love, but between wild parties and early-morning trips to gaze in the windows of Tiffany's, the two fall for each other.
“I still cry at the end when Audrey is looking for Cat in the rain!” – WebMD member Trez43

When Harry Met Sally (1989)

Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan) have been friends for years. But a question hangs between them: What would happen if they slept together? It’s that sexual tension – the "will they or won’t they?" – that makes When Harry Met Sally so compelling.
 "Billy Crystal isn't handsome like George Clooney, but you know he's the one. And maybe in the end that's what makes it so wonderful." – WebMD member tenuli

The Way We Were (1973)

Though differences in outlook and personality are what initially attract the intense Katie and the WASP-y, sheltered Hubbell (the chemistry between Redford and Streisand is undeniable), ultimately these differences prove too much for them to overcome.
 "The final scene gets me every time: Katie and Hubbell run into each other years after they've split. He has a glamorous new woman on his arm. She tells him, wistfully, 'Your girl is lovely, Hubbell.'" – WebMD programmer Florrie Byrd

Harold and Maude (1971)

Harold is young, rich, and obsessed with death. That all changes when he meets Maude, a spunky septuagenarian with a zest for life. An unlikely love affair develops between the two, and while there’s the potential for ickiness (he’s 20, she's nearly 80) instead the romance between them is incredibly tender and believable.
 "One of the sweetest, most touching love affairs on film. It proves the old adage 'love is blind.'" – WebMD video producer Sandee LaMotte

Love Story (1970)

Have plenty of Kleenex handy when you sit down to watch Love Story. The final line uttered by Ryan O'Neal’s character, Oliver Barrett, pretty much sums it up: "What can you say about a 25-year-old girl who died? That she was beautiful and brilliant? That she loved Mozart and Bach, the Beatles, and me?"
 "My favorite is the 1970 classic Love Story. It is heart-wrenching, but you can feel the love they share." – WebMD member chrisymay003

The Lake House (2006)

Kate (Sandra Bullock) and Alex (Keanu Reeves) strike up a correspondence after she moves into the lake house he once occupied. Through letters, a romance begins to grow between the two. Only problem – he's living in 2004, and she’s living in 2006. It's an implausible premise, but a passionate story and charismatic leads make it memorable.
 "I am a hopeless romantic and have always wished someone would love me that much." – WebMD member MelanieJoy

Roman Holiday (1953)

While on a tour of European cities, bored and sheltered Princess Ann (Audrey Hepburn) gets a taste of the freedom she's always longed for with American reporter Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck). The two fall in love during a whirlwind day exploring Rome. Alas, duty calls, and the two must part ways. The romance wasn't meant to be, but the movie is no less romantic for it.
 "One of the best ‘but it could never be’ stories ever." – WebMD program manager Michelle Howard

Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

Tom Hanks is Sam, a widower whose young son schemes to find him love by putting him on a national radio talk show. In New York, Ryan's character, Annie, hears the broadcast. She's smitten. Missed connections and mad dashes ensue. When the two finally meet at the top of the Empire State Building, it's true love.
 "This movie's great because the archetypal nice-guy, Tom Hanks, comes out victorious and finds the woman of his dreams." – WebMD programmer Brian Stanga

Doctor Zhivago (1965)

Set against the backdrop of the Russian Revolution, Doctor Zhivago tells the tale of surgeon-poet Yuri Zhivago, who is torn between his devoted wife and the beautiful Lara (played to perfection by Julie Christie). It's an age-old dilemma: Do you choose fidelity and stability, or passion and inspiration?
 "Omar Sharif was the first 'older man' I ever lusted after." – WebMD writer Jeanie Davis

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Sex-Drive Killers

Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD on August 17, 2009
Source: 2009 WebMD

Is Your Sex Drive in Park?

Are you or your partner losing interest in sex? A variety of physiological and psychological factors can impact your libido. Check out these common sex-drive killers.

Sex-Drive Killer: Stress

You may be the kind of person who does many things well when under stress. But feeling sexy isn't likely to be one of them. Job stress, money troubles, caring for a sick family member, and other stressors can decrease libido. To keep your stress levels in check, learn helpful stress management techniques or seek the advice of a counselor or doctor.

Sex-Drive Killer: Relationship Problems

Unresolved relationship problems are one of the most common killers of sex drive. For women in particular, emotional closeness is a major ingredient in sexual desire. Simmering arguments, poor communication, betrayal of trust, and other barriers to intimacy can steer your sex drive off the road.

Sex-Drive Killer: Alcohol

A drink or two doesn't always put you in the mood. Alcohol famously makes you feel less inhibited about sex. But it can also numb your sex drive. And even if it doesn't numb your sex drive, inebriation can be a turn-off for your partner. All of this goes for recreational drugs, too.

Sex-Drive Killer: Too Little Sleep

If your sexual get-up-and-go is gone, maybe you're getting up too early or getting to bed too late. Or maybe you have insomnia or sleep apnea. Whatever it is that's interfering with your sleep, it's also interfering with your sex drive. Too little sleep creates fatigue. Fatigue saps sex drive.

Sex-Drive Killer: Parenting

Parenting itself doesn't kill sex drive. But it can be hard to find time to be intimate when the kids are under foot. Hire a baby sitter for some time to nurture your relationship. New baby in the home? Try scheduling sex during the baby's nap time.

Sex-Drive Killer: Medication

Drugs commonly linked to libido loss include:
  - Antidepressants
  - Blood pressure medications
  - Antihistamines
  - Oral contraceptives (some studies show a link; others don't)
  - Chemotherapy
  - Anti-HIV drugs
  - Finasteride
  - Synthetic progesterone-medroxyprogesterone
Changing to a different medication or different dosage may solve the problem. Other drugs may affect sex drive, too. If your sex drive shifted into park soon after beginning a new medication, talk with your doctor. Never stop taking a medication without consulting your doctor.

Sex Drive Killer: Body Image

It's hard to feel sexy if your self-esteem suffers from poor body image. For example, feeling ashamed of being too heavy (even if you’re not) will douse your love light. If your partner has these feelings, it can really help to reassure him or her that you still find him/her sexy. And there's a flip side to the equation: Working out not only enhances your self-esteem, but also ups your sex drive.

Sex-Drive Killer: Obesity

Being overweight or obese is linked to a lack of sexual enjoyment, desire, and difficulties with sexual performance. The reason isn't clear, but may be linked to self-esteem, unsatisfactory relationships, social stigma, and other psychological issues.

Sex-Drive Killer: Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a different kind of sexual disorder than loss of libido (a medical term for loss of sex drive). But men with ED worry about how they will be able to perform sexually. And that worry can drain their sex drive.

Sex-Drive Killer: Low T

Testosterone increases sex drive. As men age, their testosterone levels may decline slightly. Not all men lose the desire for sex when their testosterone levels drop -- but many do. Testosterone is linked to sex drive in women, too. But a woman's hormonal balance is more complex than a man's and many factors are at play. It's not at all clear whether testosterone therapy is as safe and effective in boosting sex drive for women as it is for men.

Sex-Drive Killer: Depression

It doesn't seem fair. Many antidepressants can lower your sex drive -- and so does depression. But if your sex drive has drooped, is might be a sign that you're depressed. Clinical depression is a serious, but treatable condition.

Sex-Drive Killer: Menopause

About half of women report reduced sex drive around the time of menopause, even though they believe it important to maintain an active sex life. Menopausal symptoms, such as vaginal dryness and pain during sex, may make sex less comfortable. But the hormonal changes of menopause are only part of the picture. An aging woman concerned about her sex drive should also consider the quality of her relationship, her body image and self esteem, medications she is taking, and her physical health.

Sex-Drive Killer: Too Little Intimacy

Sex without intimacy is a sex-drive killer. Intimacy isn't just a code word for sex. If your sex life is in neutral, try spending more non-sexual intimate time together – alone. Talk, snuggle, trade massages. Learn to express affection without having to have sex. As intimacy builds, so does sex drive.

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