a guaranteed setting

Rating: 8/10 (11 March 2004)

The setting of this movie against the tragic 1912-disaster cannot possibly go wrong: technological advance meets disaster, caused by human arrogance leading to overconfidence.
Given this background, the flashback in Titanic's storyline really is a great choice. It allows us to be taken back from our times to 1912, making it easier to identify with Jack Dawson, Rose de Witt Bukater, and all other characters.
I only think the goodbye-scene between Jack and Rose, together in the icy Atlantic after the ship is gone, too much. Overdone and therefore boring. However, this flaw is corrected soon enough by showing us Rose back in 1997. Standing at the stern of the salvage ship, she plunges her invaluable necklace right into the sea. Meant as a tribute to her long-lost lover, and also as a moral correction on the greed of the people surrounding her.
So much for Titanic's story. It is supported by truly magnificent pictures, alltogether making this a truly great movie.