AUGUSTA, GA – Ladies appreciate sensitive men who “get” their emotions and can craft dreamy romantic schemes.

Writer Nicholas Sparks is a man who certainly knows what women want. His novels have been adapted into some of the most romantic movies in recent memory, including “Message in a Bottle,” “Nights in Rodanthe” and “The Notebook.” Cupid’s month is a fitting time for the unveiling of Sparks’ latest romantic venture, “Dear John.”

Channing Tatum plays John, a soldier who falls for an idealistic college student while on leave in this lovers’ drama. Tatum’s previous soldier roles include performances in “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” and “Stop-Loss.” Amanda Seyfried, star of “Mamma Mia!” and the cable TV series “Big Love,” plays John’s love interest, Savannah.

The pair become close while John is on leave and exchange love letters while he is serving in the war-torn Middle East. John’s lengthy deployments, reenlistments and strong feelings of commitment to his military duty — fostered in part by the 9/11 tragedy — test the long-distance relationship.

Fans of Sparks’ work will recognize the story’s North Carolina beach setting and theme surrounding true love made difficult by life’s circumstances. Anyone who has ever seen a World War II movie understands the sad meaning behind a “Dear John” letter. This modern war romance has John and Savannah facing similar uncertainties while also dealing with his father’s declining health.

Another man in tune with female-skewing movies is director Lasse Hallström. “The Cider House Rules” helmer takes the reins for this romantic war drama, too. Hallstrom’s credits also include “The Hoax,” “Chocolat” and “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.” Nicholas Sparks’ next big-screen feature is “The Last Song,” which opens in April with teen queen Miley Cyrus, Greg Kinnear and Kelly Preston starring.

“From Paris With Love” may sound like a romantic title, but don’t let this action-thriller fool you into thinking it’s appropriate for date night. John Travolta plays an
experienced spy whose quirky tactics qualify him to be the impulsive wildcard charged with stopping a terrorist attack in Paris.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers (“The Tudors,” “August Rush”) embodies a far greener agent who is forced to partner with a bald and wildly guy.

Peace and serenity are hard to come by, though, as this action feature comes from “Taken” director Pierre Morel. Much like Mel Gibson’s action turn in “Edge of Darkness,” this film allows Travolta the opportunity to keep a presence in Hollywood in spite of passing his prime in the 1980s and ’90s.

Lovers of irony and facial hair might also enjoy comparing Travolta’s robust goatee with Rhys Meyers’ sparser version as a metaphor for their characters’ levels of experience and degrees of manhood.

Those vetoing the ultra-masculine and feminine viewing choices this week can still opt to see James Cameron’s “Avatar.” The sci-fi romance and action flick recently broke records set by “Titanic” in 1998 to become the highest-grossing film of all-time worldwide. Inflation and changes in ticket prices could put an asterisk by that statistic, as charts accounting for those differences still regard the 1939 classic “Gone With the Wind” as the top earner at the all-time domestic box office.