Extremely overrated

Rating: 6/10 (5 December 2001)

In a bygone era, James Cameron's "Titanic" would be considered cinematic filler not worthy of being eligible for consideration among the greatest in the medium. However, in 1997, the packaging of a stale love story around expensive special effects was more than enough to garner this film an undeserving rout at the Academy Awards in March of 1998.
The film's main strength is the recreation of the actual sinking of the ship. The cinematography and effects for doing that were first rate. However, all of that is undone by the story and moreover, the questionable selection of the lead actors, especially in the case of Leonardo Di Caprio.
In summary, 'Titanic' is essentially a chick flick with some special effects thrown in to convince guys otherwise. That may have worked in 1997, but four years later, sorry.