wow, i had heard this movie was a classic, but i never saw it, now i...

I didn't hate it, it's one of my favorite films. I am not sure why so many people dislike it. I think it's worth taking a look at and making up your own mind. Especially keeping in mind that the film is over 30 years old.

Well, at the time, this was a fresh type of love story. This was the new youth movement in movie storytelling. We can all agree melodrama has evolved tremendously in HOW it's told since the dawn of cinema.

It's the boy hates girl, girl hates boy, boy and girl fall in love, get married, hello terminal illness, girl dies, boy is left alone, tragedy. It's been done MANY MANY times.

In this tradition of young love (with *young* being the key word), before the "Love Story"(71) wave was the Zeffirelli "Romeo and Juliet"(68), before that was "The Graduate"(67). These three fall into that late-60s to early-70s cusp.

Before that were those happy fun Elvis Hawaii, Frankie and Annette, Gidget bikini swimsuit beach surf party love stories of the early 60s. (A funny turn considering the teen movies before these.)

Before that were the young Natalie Wood-in-the-lead era of the late-50s to the start of the 60s with "Splendour in the Grass"(61) and "West Side Story"(61). A lot of artfully and sexually charged young people. One being a word-heavy-drama and the other set in contemporary-music (of that time).

((This is the same time where the "adults" were watching "Breakfast at Tiffany's", "Houseboat" and the Doris Day movies. Kind of like those happy-go-lucky-try-not-to-mention-sex-but-IMPLY-sex-wink-wink love stories.))

Before that, the heights of the mid-50s was "Peyton Place"(57) and "Rebel Without a Cause"(55) with that miserable-suburban-kids-in-love theme. Although 'Peyton Place' wasn't entirely about youths, the youths within the film definitely struck a chord with its young audience.

Before that, in the start of the 50s has to be "A Place in the Sun"(51); one of the BIG starters of the doomed-love theme for the young movie audience.

Before that was all of that Andy Hardy, Mickey Rooney + Judy Garland "oh golly" love stories with tons of dance and music.

So now you can kind of see how "Love Story" came about and really affected the audience of the 70s.

Heck, I know a lot of people that have returned to "Titanic" and could NOT believe the hype of it. But we see the elements that lead up to the majesty of Titanic in its technical and cinematic achievements.

However, now we see young-people-love-stories becoming small-scale again with lower budgets, less glitz and a lot of irony in the screenwriting.

As for "Love Story", if you don't enjoy it in the context of today, all we can do is appreciate the film as how it was portrayed at the time. Imagine if they kept making beach-surf-party romper movies.

"Love Story" was the first of its kind AT that time.

Wow, how sad. Someone who bases their opinions on movies from total strangers.

See this movie. Dont bother yourself with other people's comments. Movies are absolutly about personal taste. You have to be a moron and un romantic to dislike the movie.

This movie does not contain anything un-realistic. This story can be a part of anyone's life.

This movie is one of the most realistic romantic dramas. If people can love "A walk to remember" then why not this one.

Best part of the movie is, its cast. Both the leads are not great looking but both have a romantic appeal.

Love Story is a movie that can be judged from its cover or reviews. It is the story of the most simple and uncomplicated form of love i.e. ( love someone, get married without anyones support.

I am from India , never like any movie beyond the 80's era except two "Love Story" & "Breakfast At Tiffinys".

I saw this when it first came out. You either loved it or hated it. I hated it. And I am not above liking weepers. I saw it again recently. Maybe I would change my mind. I didn't. It is a little bit better but not by much. I don't hate it anymore. I just am not crazy about it. I have seen much better love storys in movies, even back in 1970 when this came out And I will give the reason I did not like it the first time and still does not like it and what I heard from other people who did not like it, The character of Jenny.

A movie like this for it to work you have to care about the characters and what happens to them. He was ok, but I hated her. I am not sure if she was suppose to be playing a working class women or Ali McGraw was just a bad actress. I read the book and liked it. But she ruined the move. I could care a less if the character died or not. I believe the supporting players were very good. And I believe the conflict with his father was much more interesting then their story and I wish they would focused on that more because the love story in Love Story was a dud. But I must say I felt so bad for the her father, John Marley was so good in the movie. And Ray Milland was excellent in the small part he had as his snooty dad. Ryan over acts. Tommy lee Jones is in the movie and he was Al Gores roommate at Harvard. I heard rumors the story was based on another one of their room mates. I hope not