Titanic (A+ or 4/4 stars)
Billed as unsinkable, no one ever thought that the ship of dreams would fail to reach her destination. 'Titanic', written & directed by James Cameron, takes us on a journey of epic proportions. The movie begins, not in 1912, but in the mid-1990's, with an expedition hell-bent on recovering the Titanic's long-lost treasure. Led by Brock Lovett (Bill Paxton), the underwater crew seeks the famed 'Heart of the Ocean' diamond; a jewel that supposedly went down with the ship. After seeing a TV report about the expedition, 101 yr. old Rose (Gloria Stuart) contacts Brock with info regarding the diamond. Claiming to be a survivor of the tragic sinking, she tells him her story of love, loss & adventure on that ill-fated Trans-Atlantic voyage.
The film then progresses in flashback (with intermittent trips back to the present), starting with the day the ship leaves Southampton. On board is Rose Dewitt Bukater (Kate Winslet), a young, attractive American society girl, Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio), a handsome, penniless artist who won his 3rd-class ticket in a card game, & Cal Hockley (Billy Zane), Rose's rich, suave, but snob fiance. Trapped in a loveless engagement, Rose contemplates suicide (jumping off the back of the ship), but is saved by an on-looking Jack; setting up one of best tragic romances of all time. Obliged to invite Jack at their 1st-class dinner table, Cal hopes that his fiance's encounter with the 3rd-class boy would dissipate at night's end -- fat chance. As the voyage continues, they grow more intimate, with Jack trying to get Rose to stand-up to her mother (Frances Fisher) & break-off her engagement with Cal.
Jack takes her down to a lower deck 3rd-class party; giving her the time of her life. Though she knows that their difference in social class is an obstacle, Rose still decides that a poor life with Jack would prove richer than any other future. And Rose asks Jack to draw her in the nude ... wearing nothing but the 'Heart of the Ocean' diamond which Cal gave her. The tone of the film shifts, however, when the Titanic strikes an iceberg; and the vessel starts to go down. Mayhem ensues across the ship. Cal finds out about Jack & Rose. Tensions rise. The lovebirds are separated. And she finds herself in a race against time to find her lover, run from a vengeful Cal, & escape the ship as it sinks deeper & deeper into the cold, dark blue of the North Atlantic.
'Titanic' is just a glorious movie. The fictional story which is built against the factual backdrop of the sinking ship is amazing. The main characters are iconic. Their star-crossed romance is passionate (and in this case, passion is practically an understatement). Every aspect of the film is exquisitely handled: action, adventure, humor, thrills, tragedy, set designs, costumes, hair/make-up, music, & the mind-blowing special effects, etc. And from the moment the plot begins aboard the doomed ocean liner, we feel like we are on board, too. THAT'S how immaculate the re-creation is. And not only are the 1912 scenes a wonder, but so too is the beginning sequence shot miles below the surface of the ocean. James Cameron films his own never-before-seen documentary footage of the wreckage. And it is this unique approach which sets the stage for the entire flashback story. The impact of seeing brand new footage of the actual Titanic is incredible.
As I watched 'Titanic', I just knew that I'd be making repeat trips to the theater to see it again -- that is how magical it is. And although Cameron recreates the hour-long death of the ship in all its earth-shattering, visceral splendor ... it's still the human story that envelops us. Kate Winslet, so good in Sense & Sensibility & Hamlet, is absolutely wonderful as the young Rose. She is beautiful, head strong, yet vulnerable and, her performance must encapsulate both dramatic, emotional heft, as well as startling physicality. Leonardo DiCaprio just oozes charisma as the energetic, romantic Jack. He is the perfect hero, & Rose, the perfect heroine. They're massively appealing and, we desperately want them to get off that ship together. Billy Zane is the perfect villain. Frances Fischer is a venomous Ruth. Kathy Bates is exceedingly fun as the unsinkable Molly Brown. Bernard Hill makes for a very believable Captain -- he's so good, it's scary. And Gloria Stuart is wonderful; giving Rose substantial depth & verisimilitude.
Of course, the biggest character of all IS the Titanic, itself. Its exteriors & interiors are equally superb. And that's a testament to both the set construction AND the special effects; utilized to enhance this already beautiful-looking motion picture. And no sequence is more spectacular than the actual sinking of the ship. You actually feel like you're hearing the steel rip, feeling the water splash & watching the behemoth ocean liner submerge before you. It's horrifying, but awe-inspiring & you can't peel your eyes from the screen. The film may be over 3 hours long, but it's the quickest 3 hours you may experience in a theater. Brimming with style, substance, spellbinding acting, heart-wrenching romance & pure spectacle ...'Titanic' swept me away to a time & place which I never thought I could visit. This movie is an all-timer.
The film then progresses in flashback (with intermittent trips back to the present), starting with the day the ship leaves Southampton. On board is Rose Dewitt Bukater (Kate Winslet), a young, attractive American society girl, Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio), a handsome, penniless artist who won his 3rd-class ticket in a card game, & Cal Hockley (Billy Zane), Rose's rich, suave, but snob fiance. Trapped in a loveless engagement, Rose contemplates suicide (jumping off the back of the ship), but is saved by an on-looking Jack; setting up one of best tragic romances of all time. Obliged to invite Jack at their 1st-class dinner table, Cal hopes that his fiance's encounter with the 3rd-class boy would dissipate at night's end -- fat chance. As the voyage continues, they grow more intimate, with Jack trying to get Rose to stand-up to her mother (Frances Fisher) & break-off her engagement with Cal.
Jack takes her down to a lower deck 3rd-class party; giving her the time of her life. Though she knows that their difference in social class is an obstacle, Rose still decides that a poor life with Jack would prove richer than any other future. And Rose asks Jack to draw her in the nude ... wearing nothing but the 'Heart of the Ocean' diamond which Cal gave her. The tone of the film shifts, however, when the Titanic strikes an iceberg; and the vessel starts to go down. Mayhem ensues across the ship. Cal finds out about Jack & Rose. Tensions rise. The lovebirds are separated. And she finds herself in a race against time to find her lover, run from a vengeful Cal, & escape the ship as it sinks deeper & deeper into the cold, dark blue of the North Atlantic.
'Titanic' is just a glorious movie. The fictional story which is built against the factual backdrop of the sinking ship is amazing. The main characters are iconic. Their star-crossed romance is passionate (and in this case, passion is practically an understatement). Every aspect of the film is exquisitely handled: action, adventure, humor, thrills, tragedy, set designs, costumes, hair/make-up, music, & the mind-blowing special effects, etc. And from the moment the plot begins aboard the doomed ocean liner, we feel like we are on board, too. THAT'S how immaculate the re-creation is. And not only are the 1912 scenes a wonder, but so too is the beginning sequence shot miles below the surface of the ocean. James Cameron films his own never-before-seen documentary footage of the wreckage. And it is this unique approach which sets the stage for the entire flashback story. The impact of seeing brand new footage of the actual Titanic is incredible.
As I watched 'Titanic', I just knew that I'd be making repeat trips to the theater to see it again -- that is how magical it is. And although Cameron recreates the hour-long death of the ship in all its earth-shattering, visceral splendor ... it's still the human story that envelops us. Kate Winslet, so good in Sense & Sensibility & Hamlet, is absolutely wonderful as the young Rose. She is beautiful, head strong, yet vulnerable and, her performance must encapsulate both dramatic, emotional heft, as well as startling physicality. Leonardo DiCaprio just oozes charisma as the energetic, romantic Jack. He is the perfect hero, & Rose, the perfect heroine. They're massively appealing and, we desperately want them to get off that ship together. Billy Zane is the perfect villain. Frances Fischer is a venomous Ruth. Kathy Bates is exceedingly fun as the unsinkable Molly Brown. Bernard Hill makes for a very believable Captain -- he's so good, it's scary. And Gloria Stuart is wonderful; giving Rose substantial depth & verisimilitude.
Of course, the biggest character of all IS the Titanic, itself. Its exteriors & interiors are equally superb. And that's a testament to both the set construction AND the special effects; utilized to enhance this already beautiful-looking motion picture. And no sequence is more spectacular than the actual sinking of the ship. You actually feel like you're hearing the steel rip, feeling the water splash & watching the behemoth ocean liner submerge before you. It's horrifying, but awe-inspiring & you can't peel your eyes from the screen. The film may be over 3 hours long, but it's the quickest 3 hours you may experience in a theater. Brimming with style, substance, spellbinding acting, heart-wrenching romance & pure spectacle ...'Titanic' swept me away to a time & place which I never thought I could visit. This movie is an all-timer.