James Cameron’s Titanic is by far one of my favourite films. It is a film that I have not seen in over ten years, so when the film had a re-release in 4k format, I leaped at the opportunity to see on the big screens arguably one of the greatest films of all time.
Titanic tells the true happenings of an iconic ship that hit an iceberg and sunk. And while many of the stories in the background are based on truth, its storyline in the foreground is not.
Rose and Jack aren’t real. It’s a fictional love story placed in what was once a real scenario, injecting even more drama into the tale with a doomed romance, much like Romeo and Juliet. But that doesn’t make it any less gripping and fantastic, nor will we ever stop talking about how the door was absolutely wide enough to have floated both Jack and Rose.
The cinematography, set designs, costume designs, and the even the underwater footage of the real sunken ship are all fantastic, and even after 25 years, this movie is as solid as ever for its in-depth research, its accuracy in detail, and for both its quality and heart that have stood the test of time.
Not enough has been said about Billy Zane as Caledon Hockley, Rose’s somewhat frightening fiancé who makes the best villain. You want Rose to escape him, but you still can’t help but feel sorry for him. After all, he has put her first when he could have just willingly left her to die on the boat, right? Even if he is going about things the wrong way. I mean, Sir, just get on the life boat and forget about her! She doesn’t love you!
For as short as his time is on screen, I dearly loved Victor Garber as ship design Thomas Andrews. Kathy Bates is wonderful as ‘new-money’ Margaret Brown who is an ally to Leonardo DiCaprio’s artistic nomad Jack Dawson when he’s about to be ‘’thrown into the wolves’. I remember crushing on Jack hard as a kid and I blame those luscious blonde locks. But then again, who didn’t have a crush on DiCaprio after that film?
But the greatest asset of Titanic is by far Kate Winslet who shines as Rose DeWitt Bukater, a stunning young lady trapped in a blue printed life and just wanting to be free to live and to be herself.
When I was kid, I didn’t really understand Rose’s predicament as much, but now that I am an adult, I felt like I was seeing Titanic again with fresh eyes. I could see the misogyny, the sexism, the prejudice, the class discord, and the absolute bullshit with the boats. Everything was more prominent than ever. And I was angry that this ridiculous setting could have been completely avoided if people way back when on the real thing did their job properly.
And yet, at the same time, the film is surprisingly educational, with James Cameron making sure to pay tribute and be respectful to the original source. They really don’t make films like this anymore.
Needless to say, even though I had seen Titanic before, seeing it again held me on the edge of my seat with bated breath. The film never felt long with such consistent pacing. By the end, I was still in tears. It didn’t matter that I had seen it before. Titanic is still moving and a beloved classic for a reason. So Happy 25th Birthday, Titanic movie, you glorious masterpiece. You’re unsinkable.