Cookie-cutter plot kills a work of art.

Rating: 6/10 (29 April 1999)

"Titanic" has all the elements of a smashing movie. Unusually high level of detail (comparable to "Star Wars"), a respectful tribute to Titanic's researchers, and plenty of money. The cast is skilled, the soundtrack beautiful, and the cinematography masterful. Now all we need is a plot. After all, because history betrays the ending, the ship's fate alone will not draw audiences. Something needs to turn the beautiful documentary into a gripping movie. A love story does the job nicely; it was a good idea. But then, Cameron takes over.
Good Lord, what a nauseating soap opera. The farm-boy hero, spunky maiden and evil villain trio, all but used up in "Star Wars", is disgustingly uncreative. Some of the lines ("And he saved me, in every way a woman could be saved") are so cheesy even the masterful thespians DiCaprio, Winslet and Stuart can't save their characters from being reduced to cardboard cutouts. What was Cameron thinking?? Anyone sharp enough to appreciate the detail would vomit from the recycled storyline, and anyone naÃ¯ve (or stupid) enough to fall for the fairy-tale romance wouldn't acknowledge the historical faithfulness.
In any case, everybody ought to see this movie at least once; it's not bad for a brainless love story and beautifully crafted. But if you're an educated movie connoisseur, bring a barf bag.