In 1912, the Titanic sank on its maiden voyage from England to New York. Titanic does poetic justice to this tragedy about an unsinkable ship, bringing it freshly into the minds of a modern generation eighty-six years hence. The three-and-a-half hour journey begins in present day with a group of scientists who for three years have been searching for the rarest of diamonds purported to have sunk with the ship.
Bill Paxton -- the crew’s rather jaded leader -- finds himself closer to his goal when a survivor (Rose DeWitt Bukater, played by Frances Fisher and Kate Winslet) comes forward with information. As she weaves her mesmerizing tale of a young girl’s desperation, the discovery of true love, and the tragedy of loss, the crew’s original ambitions dissipate. At the end, everyone is left with much more than just information about the diamond.
I have to concur with the general populace on this one. It’s a definite masterpiece both visually and emotionally. The three-and-a-half hours breezed by -- I’ve seen one-and-a-half hour movies that seemed twice as long as Titanic. The only black mark that I would give to the film deals with the portions that takes place in the present day. The tone feels somewhat Spielberg-esque to me; the crew is a little too jaded and glib.
Perhaps, however, this is an accurate representation of the way people behave in the nineties, in which case the problem lies with me. What moved me most was not necessarily the tragedy surrounding the love story (although that was dramatic and soberry to some part), but rather the imagery as the ship was sinking -- most notably, the behaviour of the few passengers who have come to terms with their fate.
Just recalling these scenes brings tears to my eyes. If you’re one of the three people who hasn’t seen this yet, get thee to a theatre and watch it in all its glory.