Special effects breathtaking, acting is another story

Rating: Null/10 (3 August 1999)

This movie had great effects, great costumes, and the music still sends shivers down my spine (and I don't mean the song sung by Celine Dion). The sinking scene made me gasp in horror and sadness, because I knew it had to be so much worse for the actual people on the Titanic in 1912. I felt helpless sitting in the theater, and you could see all too well this mammoth tragedy could have been averted.
The acting was overrated. No offense to Leonardo, but I don't think he's a very good actor and I'm one of the few young women who doesn't find him very attractive. I didn't think either Jack and Rose were likeable characters (most of the movie, I wanted to smack Rose, who was an obnoxious brat). The drawing scene and sex scene in the car were tasteless and unnecessary. Kathy Bates was wonderful as usual, but the best performance was delivered by Frances Fisher as Ruth. You could tell exactly what she was thinking and she didn't have to say a word.
This was a very good movie but I think it could have been even better. And I think James Cameron's acceptance speech at the Oscars was insulting and embarrassing.