Movie Review # 587: Titanic (1997)

Well, ladies, and gentlemen, today, things are going to be changed up a little bit. The reason being is that we will be reviewing a film that was released in theaters just 25 years ago. Oh, but that’s not all. Today, the film that we are reviewing was just re-released in theaters just a couple weeks ago as a 25th anniversary edition. What’s more is that it won not one, not two, but apparently even Academy Awards like Best Original Song, Best Director, Best Picture, and more. Did this film deserve all those Oscars a while back? Well, let’s find out as we talk about the one, and only Titanic, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, and others.

Plot: A fictional character named Rose Calvert (Gloria Stuart plays the elder Rose, while Kate Winslet plays younger Rose, when her last name was originally Butaker) recaps to a group of marine scientists about her experience on the voyage of the Titanic ship that sailed from Southampton, England, and attempted to sail to America, but was ultimately sunk after hitting a large iceberg over 80 years before.

Now, for the million dollar question! Did Titanic deserve to receive as many Golden Globe Awards, and Academy Awards as it did in the end? Also, did it deserve to perform surprisingly well at the box office? Well, let me put it to you all this way. There have been times when there have been films throughout the years that won awards that they shouldn’t have won in the end. However, there are other films that did deserve those awards that they won. I’m delighted to tell you all that Titanic happens to fall in the latter category. First of all, the way the story is structured, with it starting out in almost the present day (or present day at the time this film was released), and then having us go back to the time when the Titanic first sailed, works really well. Yes, the film could have just been set in 1912, when the ship sailed, and sank, and been done with it. And yes, the main character, Rose Calvert (formerly Butaker when the film flashes back to the character in her younger years) was a fictional character, as were characters like Jack Dawson, Cal Hockley, Spicer Lovejoy, Liszt Calvert, Brock Lovett, and all of them. Still, how often has it been that a film based on a true story hasn’t taken liberties, included fictional characters that weren’t part of the real event, and things like that? Plus, adding these elements adds more layers to the Titanic event anyway. Also, as you hear elder Rose go more in depth of her experience with being on the Titanic ship, you’d be surprised to hear how her journey went. In addition to this, it will serve as a reminder of how different people do in fact have different perspectives about certain situations around them. I won’t go into details, but let’s just say that you’d be surprised as to how, and why Rose saw things differently from many people that surrounded her. Anyway, even if this Titanic film may feel more like a love story than anything else, and may have been more dramatized compared to the actual event, it does seem to do quite well with trying to remain faithful to the telling of the whole story with Titanic. Not to mention that the film does well with depicting quite a few aspects of the Titanic event, from some of the crew members ignorantly saying that “not even God could sink the Titanic” (yeah, never good to make statements like that) to the downfall of the ship, and more. Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Bill Paxton, Suzy Amis, Kathy Bates, Victor Garber, Bernard Hill, and the rest of the cast were just phenomenal with their performances. Billy Zane was especially great as the main antagonist of this film that almost seemed like Gaston from Beauty & The Beast, but likely worse. James Horner’s score was also phenomenal as well. Honestly, I’m sorry that I don’t own the soundtrack for this film, because this score most definitely seems to be out of this world. Definitely was great to see Horner get an Oscar for his score with this film. His score can range from being calm, and soothing, to being really dramatic when it needs to be. He most definitely knew how to use his score to engage the audience even more with this film. In addition to all of this, Titanic was great at not sugarcoating this story at any given point. Now, should this film haven been over three hours long? Well, if this film dragged at points, probably not. However, Titanic hardly, if ever, drags at all. It does well with maintaining a steady pace with it’s story. James Cameron did well when he made films like this, and Avatar later on. Oh, and the cinematography was spectacular. It’s understandable as to why this film won an award in that category as well. Oh, and even if you don’t get to hear it until the end credits, who wouldn’t want to sing “My Heart Will Go On.” It is undoubtedly a powerful song that deserved the Oscar for Best Original Song. Yes, “At The Beginning” (Anastasia), and “Go The Distance” (Hercules), which also got nominated for Best Original Song, were good songs too. Still, something about Titanic’s “My Heart Will Go On” is so amazing that you may want to hear it several times more.

But are there any downsides to this film? Well, the only one that I can think of is that there were a couple points where Rose’s character development was lacking at least a little bit. I don’t know how to explain it except that she made one, or two choices that let’s just could have come off as feeling a little random. You still understand her motives, but it could have been handled a little better.

And that’s my review for Titanic. Honestly, it is most definitely worth seeing. The characters are likable, and memorable, the story is understandably long, and possibly even unique, the score is amazing, and the action is great. All to say, whenever you see this film, if you haven’t already, you’ll be glad that you did in the end. If you have never seen Titanic at all over the last 25 years that it’s been out, definitely do so. Either see it while it’s still in theaters a little longer, or rent it somehow. Yes, the ending may be somewhat of a surprise. Still, you’ll definitely find a great many things to enjoy about it in the end. Don’t believe me!?! Well, just watch it, and see for yourself then!

Final Grade: A