not entirely accurate but very moving

Rating: 9/10 (17 January 2003)

***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS*** I know a lot of people see this movie as a joke but I absolutely loved it. Although it was my favourite movie for a long time but isn't anymore, it is still the only movie I've ever seen that has the ability to reduce me to tears every time. The music is beautiful and haunting - and possibly one of the best things about the movie - but the acting and romance is equally good. OK, so not ALL the acting is good but I definitely think Leonardo was the best actor. Kate was just as good - if you can set aside her dodgy American accent! Maybe the plot is predictable and cliched but there is just something special about this movie - and I'm sure many others will agree as well. There is a great chemistry between the two main leads and they are lovely to watch as their characters fall in love with each other. Billy Zane plays a convincing villain (though I'm not sure about his scary hairline!), and Frances Fisher is quite good as Rose's mother. However, one of my favourite characters was Thomas Andrews (Victor Garber) and I found it very sad when **SPOILER!!!** he says goodbye to Rose and you realise he's going to stay and go down with the ship. I found the ending heartbreaking and it took me a few days to stop thinking about it! I know there are many mistakes and historical inaccuracies but at the end of the day it was intended to be a romance first and foremost, and then a drama and an action movie. I have nothing against those who prefer A Night To Remember - and I know it's a lot more accurate - but the positives definitely outweigh the negatives in this movie. And as far as the mistakes go, any epic containing special effects is bound to have mistakes, and if you can move past the odd continuity shot and sun setting on the wrong side of the ship, you can appreciate the movie for what it is - a touching love story that does what it's supposed to do. 8/10