Anti-DiCaprionism, anyone?

Rating: 9/10 (3 July 2000)

I think this was a great film. Truly an achievement in filmmaking. Superb technically, and in the story department it was above average. I think part of the fun of hating it is that people are annoyed by DiCaprio. Okay, understandable, but come on, even he can't ruin an otherwise great movie that much!
I know, I know, all those detractors say that the plot was simplistic and predictable, but, hey, simple stories are the best. It's not how convoluted the plot is, but how you tell the story. All stories basically boil down to boy meets girl, loses girl, gets girl, boy versus bad guy, and boy versus nature and various combinations of those. This story has all these elements, and though the characters weren't terribly deep, they were consistent. I really can't stand all these hip, modern movies that have these "truly original characters" that have nonsensical quirks, and get involved in contrived plot twists for no good reason. (think "Swingers". Plus, the visual aspects of the film were just masterful. I mean, did you notice the dissolves between the present and the past?

And let's not forget all the little details that Cameron put in, showing all the scenes with the minor characters, they really made you care for the at the end when the ship sank. you gotta admit, the sinking was intense.

**SPOILER**
Lastly, the very end was the most emotional part, for me. No, not when Jack dies. I'm talking about when the old Rose goes to sleep, and the camera pans over all her photographs on the bureau. Seeing that really gave you a sense on how rich a life she led, and made the events on the Titanic that much more poignant. It tied the past and the present together nicely, and you cried for her not because you're sad that she went through such a horrible disaster or that her lover died, but you kinda cry for joy because she survived and you know she lived life to the fullest, the way we all should. Not to sound cheesy or anything, but that is the most touching part of the movie to me. Anyway, I gave it a 9/10.
One big peeve, though. I wished they stuck with an all-orchestral soundtrack didn't have that skinny bitch Celine sing on it. But hey, that's capitalism, right?