Titanic 3D

Titanic often gets a lot of crap and I honestly cannot fathom why. People say it is overrated and cheesy and most guys that I know think it is sappy and (their words not mine) "gay". And you know what I say? I say that the people who think that are the same people who are afraid to admit that they were moved. Let's be real here. If you watch Titanic and you aren't feeling something during the entire movie then I suggest that you go to a doctor immediately. As for myself? I am proud to admit that I am a healthy human being and all the emotions the film contains come rushing back as if it was the first time I was seeing the movie. 

*If you would like the full Titanic experience of this review, please play the following as you read through the remaining paragraphs*:

The Titanic is as much a character as anyone else in the movie

I'm a big believer that sometimes movies can transcend from just being an enjoyable diversion to something bigger...an experience. These are the movies that burrow themselves deep into our psyche after we see them. Several of their images are forever burned into our minds without us even knowing. Right now as you are reading this, just close your eyes and think of "movies" and what comes into your head? Darth Vader telling Luke he is his father? The storming of Normandy in Saving Private Ryan? Heath Ledger as the Joker? Keep thinking and I guarantee you that you eventually arrive at nearly any scene from Titanic. Rose "flying" at the very end of the ship with Jack. Jack talking her down from suicide. The nude portrait. The Titanic sinking. The point is, the movie is a crowning achievement in film making for a reason. In its three-hour-plus run time, there are only a handful of scenes that dont matter or that we dont care about. And ultimately, that is what is so astounding about Titanic every time I watch it: how much I care. 

Some of the best on-screen chemistry ever captured

I care about Jack and Rose. I care that Rose escapes her devil-of-a-mother and I care that her moral-deprived fiance does not harm her. I care that Jack saves her from her own personal inner-drowning. The movie has a way of connecting you to these characters, who, I'll admit can be fairly outlandish at times. But regardless, with every scene, Cameron wants you to feel like you are on Titanic. And he accomplished that when the film was originally released. Now that the film is in 3D (side note: I saw it in IMAX 3D which I highly recommend) you literally FEEL as if you are on board at times. 

The sinking in 3D is jaw-dropping

James Cameron went through great lengths to post-convert the film to 3D, which might have some people worried. I am here to tell you that you shouldn't have worried in the first place. James Cameron is the King of 3D and he went through each scene specifically, adjusting the depths and pulling out what he wanted in front and pushing back what he wanted further in view. This professional level of 3D makes a film that I thought could not get any better, actually get better. In the beginning in the ruins of the ship, you actually feel as if you are swimming through the ship and searching it. Rose's suicide attempt scene is intense as we see how long of a fall she really has. The portrait scene is done tastefully with the Heart of the Ocean diamond pulled out, glistening, in front. And the sinking of the ship has a whole new life, especially once it goes vertical. It really does come across as nearly a whole new movie rather than just a fresh coat of paint. 

My how far Leo has come...

You may notice that I am not necessarily "reviewing" the movie in this post. I don't feel the need to to be honest. Most everyone has seen Titanic and they know what it is like (and if you havent seen it then what the f**k are you doing?). What I will touch on is how well it has aged. Titanic, believe it or not, came out all the way back in 1997, 15 years ago. And surprisingly (or not surprisingly depending on how you view Hollywood these days) it is still one of the most technically astounding movies around. I dare you to catch a special effect that looks even slightly less than mediocre. Even in 3D, everything looked and felt real. It's evident that James Cameron poured his heart and soul into this movie. The level of detail with the ship is insane and it should be made into a freaking museum. The amount of research he did on the voyage and the passengers of the ship and the sheer brilliance and simplicity of the story got him 11 well-deserved Oscars. And while we are talking about people who poured their hearts and souls into something...

I have to mention and give credit to James Horner who created the original score for the movie. It is, in my personal opinion, the single greatest movie soundtrack of all time. Take away the main theme that circulates throughout the movie and you have just a good story with some pretty effects. Place said theme back into the movie and you have an emotional event that makes its audience care. I counted several occasions when I had the absolute chills all due to the fact that the main theme song cued up while I was watching it. I cannot praise the soundtrack enough. 

One of the most memorable scenes
of all time

So there it is folks. I clearly love Titanic. And I may get a ton of crap for it, but frankly, I dont give a damn. It's a movie that transcends what it means to be a motion picture. Somewhere between the first scene and the last, it latches on and becomes a motion experience. It tells the greatest love story of all time, and I am OK wholeheartedly admitting that the movie gets to me emotionally. Every time. Sure there is action, sure there are some cool special effects, and hell, there is even a pair of boobs. But men, trust me when I say that Titanic isn't about any of that. It's about a man "saving a woman in every way that a person can be saved" and if that doesn't sound like your cup of tea, then you might still have some growing up to do.

As for me? Plain and simple. Titanic was and always will be one of the top pinnacles of movies. Say what you want about some of it's subtle problems, but there is a reason it dominated the box office and the Oscars. It deserved to. I'll never let go of this movie. 

Pros:

• The 3D is fantastic. Not as good as Avatar but still adds a great deal of depth to the movie and breaths new life into it. I highly recommend IMAX 3D
• The story is perfect. A timeless love story woven into one of the greatest tragedies ever, but in a respectful manner
• The best soundtrack and original score of all time. Listen to it without the movie and I would be willing to bet that you get choked up.
• The chemistry between Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet is unmatched. Their subtle flirting, friendship, and raw passion is what skyrocketed them to superstardom after the movie was released
• Impressive CGI, even by today's standards. The sinking and all of the painstaking detail that went into it is still one of the most impressive things ever captured on-screen
• Others may not agree, but I think it is well written. Cheesy at times? Sure I'll give you that. But sometimes the cheesiest lines are the ones we remember forever
• The rest of the cast is full of superb actors and actresses and they all show it in this film
• Did I mention the soundtrack?

Cons:

• It is a long movie and there are some places where it could have been cut down (the-Jack-and-Rose-running-around-the-bottom-levels-of-the-ship-while-it's-sinking-scenes)
• Some of the characters are little one dimensional

Rath's Review Score: 10/10 -- Instant Classic