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| STAR RATINGS EXPLAINED |
| Unmissable |
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| Tragic |
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| FILM DETAILS | Certificate
12 | | Cast
Leonardo DiCaprio
Kate Winslet
Billy Zane
Bill Paxton. | | Directors
James Cameron. | | Screenwriters
James Cameron. | | Running Time
194 minutes |
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Titanic
Plot
Searching for a lost diamond aboard the wreckage of the great, ill-fated ship, a diver finds a sketch of a young woman wearing the jewel. Amazingly, she is still alive, and recounts the tale of her time on the luxury liner - a tale of grand romance. Review
We were, of course, all waiting for it to sink. Or at least list alarmingly. We had our snappily punning headlines and our cleverly worded "(Mad)man overboard!" captions. "James Cameron has spent $200 million on a movie and it's a dog. He's finally had it!" we chortled. It was all going to be a great deal of fun. Only there's a slight problem. James Cameron has gone and delivered a spectacular, moving, utterly engrossing three-and-a-bit hour epic (stick that on your poster) of the kind they have putatively ceased making "any more". Bugger. There go all the albatross gags, then.
DiCaprio is Jack, a "poor boy" who wins himself a ticket home on the maiden voyage of the world's most famous - and soon to be infamous - ocean liner. Winslet is Rose, a "rich girl" cosseted by the strictures of post-Edwardian society and miserably engaged to beastly aristo Cal (Zane). In a fit of the vapours, she tries to fling herself from the prow into Davy Jones' Locker, Jack wrestles her from the seaweedy clutches of the deep, their soulful eyes meet and... well, anyone vaguely acquainted with the obstacles routinely thrown up before young couples in period costume who are that much "in love" will be unsurprised to learn that a number of insurmountable obstacles (the kind that take a couple of reels to be surmounted) get lobbed in their way. Oh, and the boat sinks.
On paper, this should be a nauseatingly dreadful, utterly manipulative, saccharine-dusted gob of tedious pap. On the big screen - and if you've got any sense you'll catch it on the biggest screen you can find - it manages effortlessly to overcome the corny predictable plot, period cliche and "you know the ending" ending, seducing with honest, old-fashioned storytelling bolted to special effects sequences that take the breath away. Like one of its obvious influences Gone With The Wind, the most impressive FX sequences are not the obvious boat upturning sequences but the digitally created moments you don't notice aren't real. The steam emerging from people's mouths being one example, and the shots of the boat itself charging through the Atlantic, never drawing attention to the fact that only half of it exists in a mainframe in Burbank.
DiCaprio and Winslet are horribly attractive as the youngsters caught first in the nasty snobbism of the hierarchical world around them and then in the nasty terror of the boat sinking. Which is when the romance turns to action, and for the last hour and a bit we are treated to Cameron flexing his action muscles.
Walls of brine crash down corridors, those holding only third class tickets are locked below decks and drown in their hundreds, and in the final moments the ship upends delivering an incredible shot of our heroes hurtling face first into the sea still clinging to the ship while hapless passengers who have chosen to jump plunge by.
Here Cameron proves, as he hinted at in The Abyss, that while you can count the action directors to rival him on the fingers of one finger (John Woo), he is also perfectly capable of delivering big screen emotion. Titanic is not subtle by any stretch of the imagination but it will leave even the most cynical, heartless swine with a lump in the throat. And for once it won't be their lunch coming up.
Verdict
It should be no surprise then that it became fashionable to bash James Cameron's Titanic at approximately the same time it became clear that this was the planet's favourite film. Ever. Them's the facts.
Reviewed by Adam Smith
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Average user rating for Titanic
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| Ambitious. Ambitious, indeed. | | Titanic want's so badly to be the biggest and best that cinema has to offer, but its lack of urgency and consistent melodrama overshadow its admirable ambitions. I'm sure James Cameron doesn't regret this one. ... More | | | Posted by movienut707 at 17:43, 07 December 2012 | Report This Post | |
| | | not as good as LA CONFIDENTIAL | | if you saw it in the cinema it was a 5 star film
but watch it again and the cracks start to show
the characters are very thin
and the romance is overblown
james Cameron deserved his oscar for best director
it must have been incredibly difficult to make this film
but the supporting cast is amazing
Victor Garber is incredible as the man who feels guilt
after it becomes obvious that the ship is gonna sink
Bernard Hill is majestic as the captain
Bill Paxon is charismatic as a modern... More | | | Posted by bill the butcher at 17:35, 14 October 2012 | Report This Post | |
| | | Wet | | A brilliant, emotionally nerve-shredding script topped off by faultless, career-best performances from Di Caprio and Winslet... yes, I think we can agree that Revolutionary Road is an excellent film. Now, Titanic. "On paper, this should be a nauseatingly dreadful, utterly manipulative, saccharine-dusted gob of tedious pap. On the big screen..." it is. "Corny predictable plot, period cliche and "you know the ending" ending" do not make for a five star cinematic ex... More | | | Posted by avidreader at 17:22, 25 February 2012 | Report This Post | |
| | | Superb Just Superb! | | Need I say more ! so moving! Well done Mr Cameron! ... More | | | Posted by stp123192 at 17:54, 10 February 2012 | Report This Post | |
| | | Titanic | | I would rather bend my head between my knees and eat my own backside rather than watch this boring piece of garbage. It is far too long to be constantly engaging, and that also means that bits James Cameron thought were important are the bits that people miss. Obviously, there are enough idiots in this world to spend $1.8 billion to see something that doesn't work, is far too long, and above all: tedious. ... More | | | Posted by Jimmick007 at 16:28, 31 January 2012 | Report This Post | |
| | | terrific | | two boat movies in 1997 one of them among the best films ever made and the other among the worst (speed 2) ... More | | | Posted by jordan thomas at 11:41, 19 January 2012 | Report This Post | |
| | | Everyone Loves Titanic | | I don't give a fuck who you are. Now THEM's the facts. The leads are perfect for the roles, the sets are incredible, and the second half of the film is as thrilling as the fact you see Kate Winslet's boobs. A classic of modern cinema, and sure to be remembered as such. ... More | | | Posted by blaud at 11:45, 09 March 2011 | Report This Post | |
| | | Amazing | | It is an amazing film, James Cameron really out does himself! ... More | | | Posted by Sophieee123 at 12:10, 10 November 2010 | Report This Post | |
| | | RE: Titanic | | Titanic is very typical of the Big Hollywood Blockbusters that I usually avoid until all the hype is over. It is without doubt a huge scale film in every sense of the word and seems to have his equal share of fans and critics alike. Of course the effects and the computer generated images are the fascination of this film. The love story of course, made for the interesting sub-story and added sentimentality when flashing back to the older Rose. Sadly for me, Dicaprio will be remembered by many fo... More | | | Posted by Gwilthyunman at 15:22, 21 August 2009 | Report This Post | |
| | | RE: Titanic | | I'd rather watch Poseidon. ... More | | Posted by CORLEONE at 08:35, 23 July 2009 | Report This Post | |
| | | RE: Titanic | | t's certainly the most successful. Maybe not the best movie of all time in my books, although I would have to say it comes pretty darn close. ... More | | Posted by Jones S at 08:05, 23 July 2009 | Report This Post | |
| | | RE: Titanic | | L: elab49
L: matty_b
Umm, good The Towering Inferno-esque disaster flick.
What did Towering Inferno ever do to you? Great film! ote]
Titanic isn't fit to stay in the same room of The Towering Inferno (which isn't fit to kiss Poseidon Adventure cheeks). ... More | | | Posted by Deviation at 13:48, 21 July 2009 | Report This Post | |
| | | RE: Titanic | | I should probably give Titanic another go. But there's a million other things I would rather do if I had 3 hours spare. ... More | | Posted by CORLEONE at 13:37, 21 July 2009 | Report This Post | |
| | | RE: Titanic | | L: Tech_Noir
I didn't bring up LA Confidential it was mentioned in earlier posts and I was responding to it.
sp;
True enough.
Anyways I have done a review now. See - I like it! ... More | | Posted by Rgirvan44 at 13:31, 21 July 2009 | Report This Post | |
| | | RE: Titanic | | Titanic is a film which is far from perfect, but it is an entertaining piece of epic cinema.
When I was a kid, before the film came out, I was obbsessed with the story of Titanic. I think it started when the first footage of the wreck was discovered and I started reading up on the subject.
The film came out when I was 14 and for the most part I was dissappointed by the first half - too much romance, not enough stuff about the boat. The sinking did leave an i... More | | | Posted by Rgirvan44 at 13:29, 21 July 2009 | Report This Post | |
| | | RE: Titanic | | I didn't bring up LA Confidential it was mentioned in earlier posts and I was responding to it. ... More | | Posted by Tech_Noir at 13:28, 21 July 2009 | Report This Post | |
| | | RE: Titanic | | L: Tech_Noir
L: Rgirvan44
L: Tech_Noir
Oh great, it's turning into one of those threads. /quote]
Yeah and you started it by being negative about another film which just happened to be up against Titanic at the Oscars. Don't start doing the "oh you are all haters thing".
So stop making it out to be anyone elses fault.
hat?
Saying a film was good but forgettable is being negative? I didn't say it was LOTR bad. ote]
No.
You said people u... More | | Posted by Rgirvan44 at 13:23, 21 July 2009 | Report This Post | |
| | | RE: Titanic | |
L: Rgirvan44
L: Tech_Noir
Oh great, it's turning into one of those threads. /quote]
Yeah and you started it by being negative about another film which just happened to be up against Titanic at the Oscars. Don't start doing the "oh you are all haters thing".
So stop making it out to be anyone elses fault.
hat?
Saying a film was good but forgettable is being negative? I didn't say it was LOTR bad. ... More | | Posted by Tech_Noir at 13:17, 21 July 2009 | Report This Post | |
| | | RE: Titanic | | I know, I love it! Titanic is not as good, but certainly of its ilk. ... More | | Posted by matty_b at 13:16, 21 July 2009 | Report This Post | |
| | | RE: Titanic | | L: matty_b
Umm, good The Towering Inferno-esque disaster flick.
sp;
What did Towering Inferno ever do to you? Great film! ... More | | Posted by elab49 at 13:14, 21 July 2009 | Report This Post | |
| | | RE: Titanic | | said I don't think it was a bad film just not very memorable and certainly not the achievement Titanic was.
p;
It easily surpasses the achievement of Titanic. A labyrinthian plot effortlessly laid out by Hanson's direction, three of the most layered performances with Spacey's showbiz cop slowly remembering why he entered the force, Crowe's bully-boy lashing out at those he loves and hates and Pearce's smarmy careerist struggling to win over the respect of his men, terrific small ... More | | Posted by matty_b at 13:05, 21 July 2009 | Report This Post | |
| | | RE: Titanic | | L: Tech_Noir
Oh great, it's turning into one of those threads. /quote]
Yeah and you started it by being negative about another film which just happened to be up against Titanic at the Oscars. Don't start doing the "oh you are all haters thing".
So stop making it out to be anyone elses fault. ... More | | Posted by Rgirvan44 at 12:55, 21 July 2009 | Report This Post | |
| | | RE: Titanic | | Oh great, it's turning into one of those threads. ... More | | Posted by Tech_Noir at 12:48, 21 July 2009 | Report This Post | |
| | | RE: Titanic | | L: Tech_Noir
L: elab49
If you don't think it is an achievement then I'm guessing you've never read the source material./quote]
No no no, a film should work by itself. No reference reading should ever be needed.
sp;
It isn't. But you used the word achievement - to judge achievement you need reference points otherwise how do you know it actually is? So by saying achievement you mean you are also judging it in, I assume, reference to other films. But that doesn't mean the fil... More | | Posted by elab49 at 12:15, 21 July 2009 | Report This Post | |
| | | RE: Titanic | | And over a decade on, it's clear which is the better film (to most). ... More | | Posted by CORLEONE at 12:01, 21 July 2009 | Report This Post | |
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