Date night is often movie night because some of the best smooch-a-thons are to be had on your date's couch with a DVD and a bowl of popcorn.

But the tone of a movie can make or break the evening. After watching Pan's Labyrinth and likely injuring my date's hand from my clutching and clawing, we both just wanted a drink, not a cuddle. So here are the official Girl Talk Date Night Top 10 movie selections.

Date-night movies don't have to be all lovey-dovey.

This film is some kind of steamy, and your date will be affected, so be prepared. One of my most awkward experiences was as an inexperienced 16-year-old sitting and cringing through the graphic sex and nudity on a first date. (Also to be filed under "Movies not to watch with your mother.")

Rock musicals are highly underappreciated, and this is one of the best ones. Catchy tunes. Moving plot. Great costumes. Bonus: Get your date to belt out "Origins of Love" and find out if he or she can front your next band.

Obvious choice? Yep. But that doesn't change the fact that Humphrey Bogart is a dreamboat.

Pack a sandwich for this tale of a neurotic chef in a steamy German kitchen. The scene of Martha getting a blindfolded taste test from her Italian sous chef is positively sexy.

A romantic movie for people who hate romantics. And it's Nicolas Cage in his best acting days.

Aishwarya Rai is Bollywood's undisputed queen, and this Indian movie stars her in a loose interpretation of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice. There's synchronized dancing, colorful saris and a few monkeys. Excellent date material.

Get the original with Audrey Hepburn and watch her melt the grumpy-but-lovable heart of Humphrey Bogart. Charming.

This movie saved me from one of the most boring dates of all time. Instant humor when things might not be going so well. Plus it's full of memorable one-liners you can recite to each other later.

The lush scenery alone makes this a stunner. But the heartbreaking love story between Edward Norton and Naomi Watts is what makes it a date classic.

"I gave her my heart and she gave me a pen." Was there ever a more romantic leading man than Lloyd Dobler? And the stereo scene? [Sniff.] There's a reason it's No. 1 on this list: best date movie ever.

DATING HAIKU

My college sweetheart
Gave me the best gift ever:
Free math tutoring

Saturday night at
the frat house. Beer's flowing and
I just got groped. Hey!

Leah has a poster of Humphrey Bogart above her bed. E-mail her at lashafer@gmail.com.