Titanic 1997

84 years later a 101yearold woman named Rose DeWitt Bukater tells the story to her granddaughter Lizzy Calvert Brock Lovett Lewis Bodine Bobby Buell and Anatoly Mikailavich on the Keldysh about her life set in April 10th 1912 on a ship called Titanic when young Rose boards the departing ship with the upperclass passengers and her mother Ruth DeWitt Bukater and her fianc Caledon Hockley. Meanwhile a drifter and artist named Jack Dawson and his best friend Fabrizio De Rossi win thirdclass tickets to the ship in a game. And she explains the whole story from departure until the death of Titanic on its first and last voyage April 15th 1912 at 220 in the morning.

Review

Every once in a while the conversation will turn to "favorite movies." Ill mention Titanic and at least a couple people will snicker. I pay them no mind because I know that five years ago these same people were moved to tears by that very movie. And theyre too embarrassed now to admit it.

I just rewatched Titanic for the first time in a long time. Expecting to simply enjoy the story again I was surprised to find that the movie has lost none of its power over these five years. I cried again.... in all the same places. It brought me back to 1997 when I can remember how a movie that no one thought would break even became the most popular movie of all time. A movie that burst into the public consciousness like no other movie I can recall (yes even more than Star Wars). And today many people wont even admit they enjoyed it. Folks lets get something straight you dont look cool when you badmouth this film. You look like an out of touch cynic.

No movie is perfect and this one has a few faults. Some of the dialogue falls flat and some of the plot surrounding the two lovers comes together a little too neatly. However none of this is so distracting that it ruins the film.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet are wonderful. Leo is one of the fine actors of his generation. Wait til you see him in Gangs of New York before you call him nothing more than a pretty boy. Kate Winslet was so strong in this film. The movie really was hers and she held it together beautifully.

James Cameron managed what many believed was impossible by recreating a completely believable Titanic. The sinking scenes were horrific just as they were that night. How anyone can say the effects were bad is beyond me. I was utterly transfixed.

This film is one memorable scene after another. Titanic leaving port in Southampton. Rose and Jack at the bow "flying". "Iceberg right ahead!" The screws hanging unbelievably out of the ocean. The screams of the doomed after she went down. And that ending that brought even the burliest man in the theater to tears.

The music which has also been a victim of the films success was a key ingredient. James Horners score was simply perfect. And the love theme was beautiful and tragic. Too bad Celine Dions pop song version had to destroy this great bit of music for so many.

I confess I am a Titanic buff. As such I relished the opportunity to see the ship as we never got to see it in all its beauty. Perhaps watching it sink affected me more than some because Ive had such an interest in the ship all my life. However I doubt many of those I saw crying were Titanic buffs. I applaud Cameron for bringing this story to the masses in a way that never demeaned the tragedy. The film was made with such humanity.

Another reviewer said it better than I ever could Open up your hearts to Titanic and you will not be disappointed.