Few movies have ever reached or come close to the success that James Cameron’s “Titanic” achieved when it first released in 1997. A highly ambitious project that was at the time the most expensive movie ever made, Titanic exceeded everybody’s expectations and won 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and was the highest grossing movie of all time for 12 years.
Now at the 100th year anniversary of the Titanic sinking, we have the movie Titanic released in 3D for the first time. While the movie has its flaws, it’s still a great movie that still dazzles today, and now more than ever with the extra dimension.
The story of the movie Titanic should be familiar to many moviegoers. Many other movies have tried to copy off the success of the tragic romance that is the centerpiece of this movie. While Titanic is certainly flawed in some regards, it features several exceptional qualities in both its storytelling and in its production designs that co-exist seamlessly without one overwhelming the other. Though the romance is a bit clichéd today, the chemistry of the two leading actors make up for it, and the focus on the separation of the rich and poor feels just right for the story.
Though the romance is well-developed, the production designs are the major highlight of Titanic. The visual effects, costume design, and art direction are truly impeccable in its detail, which perfectly re-create the Titanic in all her original glory. The sinking of the Titanic is also filled with suspense and features a grand cinematic scale unlike anything accomplished in film back in 1997. While the movie has a running time of three hours and the major highlight for most people is the Titanic sinking, the romance still holds up fairly well and never drags on too long or features unnecessary padding.
The grand scale of the production designs is unquestionably good, but the story does have its flaws that do hold the movie back. The villain of the movie in particular is unnecessary, over-the-top, and incredibly out-of-place in a movie that is otherwise very realistic in its recreation of the Titanic. Another issue is that while James Cameron is a skilled director, he is not a skilled writer, and there are a fair amount of corny lines that range from either being somewhat forced or just silly. Finally, the movie’s somewhat slow pacing and three-hour running time might lose the attention of people wanting a more faster-paced and exciting movie.
While Titanic is not quite a masterpiece when compared to the likes of a film like Casablanca, it is a great movie that manages to re-create the event perfectly and also tell a good – if albeit flawed – story. The acting and direction is great, the production designs are superb, and it’s an amazing experience that especially manages to shine on the big screen. The updated 3D is also great, though not as exceptional as Avatar. The added depth makes the Titanic seem closer than ever, and also helps to enhance certain suspenseful moments in the movie. Seeing Titanic on the big screen is a journey that anybody should take, even for those who have already taken it before.
Rating: 8/10 (Great)
