The mere thought of Valentine’s Day elicits polarized responses from just about anyone from blissful thoughts of romance to bitterness and spite at the thought of another holiday alone. In either case, film often plays a prominent role in the holiday, whether a viewer wants to revel in romance or simmer in detestment of everything the holiday stands for. Here is some suggested viewing for both camps.

Roman Holiday

No one quite understands the massive appeal of Audrey Hepburn. Maybe its an understated and quaint charm and beauty or simply the fact she’s some sort of epitome of feminine beauty, but she can have great appeal to both genders. In “Holiday,” she plays a princess visiting Rome who hates her boring life and escapes only to find Gregory Peck and falls in love.

Almost any of Hepburn’s films- from “Sabrina” to “Funny Face” to Summertime”-offer a little romance buttressed next to some comedy, thus making for films appealing to even the most staunch chick-flick-hating man.

Say Anything:

In his last “teen role” of the 1980s, John Cusack plays the lovable, sardonic Lloyd Dobler, who falls for his high school’s valedictorian. The film is laced with writer/director Cameron Crowe’s wry wit and a delightful, if not sometimes cheesy, charm. The film is sweet without being saccharine and loving without coming off as laughable… even if it made a monster hit of Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes.”

Sleepless in Seattle:

For some reason-and don’t ever bother asking for said reason- women seem to love Meg Ryan. A woman watching this film can wax romantic on Ryan’s obsession over Tom Hanks’ Sam Baldwin, while men can watch and think, “Wow, Tom Hanks sure was great when he was making comedies like ‘The Burbs’ and ‘Big’ instead of this horrible tripe.”

Shakespeare in Love

If men have to be subjected to smarmy chick flicks, “Shakespeare in Love” may be the most tolerable offering from the genre in recent years. The story takes a humorous look at the early years and creative process of playwright William Shakespeare. Women will love the budding romance and the period sets and costumes, while the humor and a nice peek at strumpet Gwyneth Paltrow make the film tolerable for men of all film persuasions.

Annie Hall

There was once a time, a long long time ago, when Woody Allen was not only NOT a creepy old man shacking up with his daughter, but one of the wittiest, most intelligent screenwriters of his generation. His 1977 opus “Annie Hall” is a funny, non-conventional and unique love story that’s actually worth seeing.

ANTI-VALENTINE’S DAY MOVIES:

High Fidelity

John Cusack appears a decade after his star-making role in “Say Anything” as grizzled and sarcastic record store owner Rob Gordon. After the demise of his current relationship at the beginning of the film, Rob reminisces on his top five romantic relationships, all of which were monumental failures. And sure, there’s a love story in this film, but it’s a gritty, messy one that’s easily overlooked in favor of Jack Black’s comic genius and Cusack’s endearing music geek persona.

Basic Instinct

The movie proves one thing: Don’t screw with a woman. She will not hesitate to boil your child’s pet rabbit or come after you with an ice pick. So don’t screw with a woman’s kids. And in fact, just steer clear of them all together.

Fight Club

“Fight Club” is a movie by men and for men, and the only real female character in the film is admittedly “infectious human waste.” Brad Pitt may be a pretty boy, but he gets the snot beautifully beaten out of him as the psychotic Tyler Durden, who is plotting mass destruction. While the film may not be specifically “anti-love,” the buckets of blood spewed forth are anything but romantic and the perfect antidote to kissing couples on Valentine’s Day.

Requiem for a Dream

Darren Aronofsky’s “Requiem” is one of the darkest, most disturbing films in decades, but there’s also a lesson to be learned: and that lesson is: “Watch yourself or your heroin addict girlfriend is going to find herself performing deplorable sex acts with a double-headed phallus for payment of drugs and your best friend will wind up in prison while you get your arm lopped off in a southern hospital.” If that’s not enough to make anyone swear off human contact for at least a day, nothing is.

Thelma and Louise

This film is for every bitter woman who has ever walked the earth. If “Fight Club,” with its mantra of mischief and mayhem is empowerment for men, “Thelma and Louise,” with its “women good, men BAD!!” ethos is perfect for a holiday alone.