I didn't see Titanic until May 98 and really didn'...

Rating: 10/10 (5 September 1998)

I didn't see Titanic until May 98 and really didn't expect to like it much but I was swept away by it; the only word I could use to describe it when people asked if I liked it was "incredible". I've now seen it 3 times and that's not the easiest thing to do when you've got a newborn baby!! 3 hour movies kind of cut it fine between feeds! But I managed because Titanic is a sublime film experience and I've never felt so touched by a movie; in fact 3 and a bit hours wasn't long enough and I hope there will be a director's cut because there is a fair bit of important historical facts and features omitted but I read they were left on the cutting-room floor. I'm no Leo fan and at first it seemed inappropriate casting him with Kate Winslet, who was wonderful as usual, but 2 viewings later it seemed right and I was into the love story side of it. Winslet and DiCaprio work well together and are believable if you can get past the notion that he looks 15 and she seems so "mature" when in fact I think they are about the same age. The special effects, direction, editing and especially the costumes and sets were truly awe-inspiring. I could go on and on about the good features of the film such as how close some actors looked to the characters they played e.g. Capt. Smith, J. Bruce Ismay, Thomas Andrews, Margaret Brown, Ida and Isidor Straus and more. The only downside to Titanic was some sections of the script that were corny and ham-fisted but no film is entirely faultless and I think Titanic deserved all the Oscars it received and, contrary to popular belief, it is not only Leo-maniacs who give this movie it's box-office success and seeing it doesn't turn you into one either. There are many scenes from Titanic that will probably stay with me forever; this film grabs you and won't let you go. The class stereotypes were unfortunate and we don't get an accurate picture of the way many people behaved during the sinking; Cameron seemed to ignore the fact that many first-class men willingly gave their lives and the way First Officer Murdoch was portrayed was disgusting. But apart from those few things it is a triumph for James Cameron and everyone involved in creating Titanic.