Grand Production of an Amazing Tale

Rating: 7/10 (27 August 2008)

James Cameron has come of age in delivering this grand production of an amazing tale, one of the most fascinating true stories around. "Titanic" is every bit as good as everyone has been saying. You can see the three hundred million dollars up on the screen. Authenticity is second to none, as new footage is seamlessly faded in from old. Spectacular and awesome to say the least.
All the facts and events are so fascinating you hardly need the human story provided. I certainly could have watched this as a documentary. James Cameron has left nothing to chance. I am hard pressed to imagine "Titanic" done better.
The cast are all spot on and thoroughly enjoyable! Leonardo Di Caprio is the ideal devil-may-care Yankee who wins a ticket to sail to New York. Kate Winslett is perfect as the well-to-do little rich girl who hates her existence and Billy Zane is at his impressive best as the possessive fiancé who is heir to millions. The superlative support cast includes Kathy Bates, Frances Fisher, Bernard Hill, Johnathan Hyde, Victor Garber, Gloria Stuart and Suzy Amis.
Grand, often haunting music is from Cameron regular James Horner. Editing is smart, and the film passes quickly though it is over three hours. The technical team have performed brilliantly, with computer graphics a particular treat. Set decoration (including a near to scale replica and incredibly intricate interiors) and Art Design are both amazing, recreating the most gallant ship of all with unerring grandeur and style. Cinematography sweeps through it all with panache.
After viewing this, you'll feel you were there! Don't miss your chance to see this at the movies. I will certainly be boarding again!
Saturday, February 28, 1998 - Village Sunshine Gold Class
In an era basically void of epics, James Cameron has managed to produce a film that measures up with the likes of "Ben Hur". Grand, stylish, sweeping and larger than life is the best way to describe this astounding cinematic experience. I freely admit that I was one of the many cynics who, having heard of the film's monstrous budget, thought that "Titanic" would be the biggest flop of all time. I, like many, felt this 300 million dollar production would sink faster than the great ship herself.
That was not the case, as history will now show, as "Titanic" has gone on to smash box office records, collecting a record equalling eleven Academy Awards along the way. The film's visuals alone justify this, with the ship of dreams brought fantastically back to life thanks to some awesome set design, huge scale replicas and access to the original blueprints. Mind blowing special effects, coupled with superior sound editing, make "Titanic" a must at the movies (preferably one with Digital Sound and a huge screen).
Cameron brings it all together brilliantly, backed up as he is by a thoroughly enjoyable cast, including Leonardo Di Caprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Bill Paxton and Kathy Bates as the unsinkable Molly Brown. Final master stroke comes from maestro James Horner, whose haunting, beautiful score is the spirit of "Titanic", which of course inspired the love theme (a song Jim Cameron never wanted originally) "My Heart Will Go On".
Saturday, May 30, 1998 - Knox District Centre
Jim Cameron's grand film of the fateful "Titanic" and her maiden voyage loses a great deal of its impact if viewed on anything other than a huge screen. It is still a fascinating tale of how the ship of dreams went to the bottom of the Atlantic for all the wrong reasons.
Forget about DiCaprio (miscast) and Winslet (charming), they are mere scenery in a fascinating true story. All those mistakes! Not enough life boats, which weren't filled anyway. Only one boat returning for survivors. Going full speed with virtually zero visibility, no binoculars on the lookout. People locked behind gates below deck, and a seaman who tried to round a giant iceberg in an enormous ship that "doesn't turn worth a dime". If the Titanic had've struck head on, it would have stayed afloat.
Special effects, sets and costumes are all awesome, but you do really need that huge screen. James Horner's score is top stuff too.
Saturday, January 2, 1999 - Video