Look at it for what it is and not for what it isn't

Rating: 10/10 (13 April 2002)

It has now been five years since "Titanic" was released into theaters and broke box office records by taking in more than $500 million worldwide (due largely to teenage girls). The story soon became familiar to everyone: poor boy Leonardo DiCaprio falls in love with rich girl Kate Winslet. "Titanic" won eleven out of fourteen Academy Award nominations, including best picture and best director: James Cameron. This movie made Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet box office stars. Leonardo DiCaprio became the biggest teen heartthrob since Corey Feldman while Kate Winslet became the hottest woman in Hollywood. This for me, was most evident when these two kids in my sixth grade class made a wallpaper (it was non-nude) of her on the teacher's computer.
However, even with all the positive press this movie was getting, some people felt that "Titanic" was not all that it had been hyped up to be. Those people felt that "Titanic" was really nothing special, the acting especially that of Leonardo DiCaprio totally sucked, and some people claimed that the best part of this whole movie was when Kate Winslet stripped naked before having her youth immortalized as one of the girls in Jack's book. Even after hearing all of these negative comments about this film, I did not let them have an impact on my viewing of it.
First, I think we all have to remember that this movie is coming from James Cameron, the man who brought us "The Terminator", "Aliens", "The Abyss", produced "Point Break" and wrote "Strange Days", "Terminator 2: Judgment Day", "True Lies", and TV's "Dark Angel". This movie made James Cameron probably one of the most successful directors in Hollywood. Even before "Titanic," James Cameron had never ever really experienced that much success with any of his previous films.
Second, look at this film for what is, which is a fictional love story in a historical setting, not a historical romance.
Third, this is the most expensive movie Hollywood has ever made, costing $200 million to make. Director James Cameron risked his entire career as well as sinking Paramount studios into bankruptcy. It was a VERY, VERY big gamble that fortunately for James Cameron and Paramount studios, would pay off.
Fourth, I'm a guy. I don't care to see Leonardo DiCaprio and I didn't watch this movie just to see Kate Winslet strip either, but I watched "Titanic" because I'm a fan of James Cameron and I have been since "The Terminator".
Fifth, I know that this is one of those movies that when there is a wide range of comments about it, that it is best view it for yourself and then make your own judgment. That being said, I've watched "Titanic" at least ten times since 1998 and I still don't know whether or not I hate it or like it. But I give "Titanic" an eight out of ten based squarely on my own viewings and not popular opinion.