Blu-ray Review Titanic
Directed by: James Cameron Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Kathy Bates, Gloria Stuart, Bill Paxton Running Time: 3 hr 14 mins Rating: PG-13 Due Out: September 10, 2012
PLOT: Rose (Winslet) is aboard Titanic's fatal maiden voyage and her world changes forever when she meets Jack (DiCaprio) who isn't from her upper-class world.
WHO'S IT FOR? Sure, the easy answer is teenage girls, but wasn't that when it came out in the '90s? It's an epic, and like it or not, it's here to stay.
MOVIE:
I remember where I was and who I was with when I first saw Titanic in 1997. It was just after Christmas, and I had already watched The Postman and American Werewolf in Paris in the theater that day. My friend Brian and I decided there wasn't much else to do (we were both home from college) and went to catch the night show. It was late, and the movie was about to start. We grabbed front row seats. I was moved. It had nothing to do with the group of teenage girls bawling their eyes out just four feet away from me. I really liked the film.
The next time I saw it was one year later in Los Angeles. My roommates went home for the holidays. I was alone on Christmas day. There wasn't a lot I had planned that day, so I figured watching an insanely long movie would help the day go by quicker. I did have to pause the VHS tape to take a call from my sister (to tell me I was now an Uncle). It was a good day, and once again, I liked the film.
Whether I liked it or not (and if you've been paying attention, I liked it), I was connected to Titanic.
This is before Twitter, so being anti and full of snark wasn't mandatory 24/7. Figuring out how to make fun of something popular wasn't the most important thing you could do with your day.
Sure, eventually "You're so stupid, Rose" became a comical jab with my friends. Other guys I knew wore not seeing Titanic like a badge of honor. I believe it has its faults. Melodrama enters in. We spend a little too much time with the modern day crew, even if that's Bill Paxton's only time to shine. I never cared for Gloria Stuart. The special effects are flawless. The music works (even though it's painful to say because of my disdain for Céline Dion.
Now that Titanic is own Blu-ray, you can enjoy (or make fun of) this flick in the privacy of your own home. More importantly than that, the Blu-ray looks absolutely gorgeous. The transfer is enough of a reason to watch the over three-hour film. The script still has it's problems. Cameron is rarely known for his dialogue, and it's basic enough here with lines about Picasso never amounting to much (wink, wink do you get it? Yeah, I bet you do). Even though Jack (DiCaprio) doesn't show up until after 25 minutes, you realize immediately he's the one you want to see. It takes time to appreciate Rose (Winslet). It's not until more than an hour into the film when Jack brings Rose downstairs to the music and pints, when I start to enjoy her. Hating Billy Zane's Cal is an easy, fun thing to do throughout the film. You could always play the Jack and Rose name counting game. "Step up onto the rail." Remember this moment over-the-top swooning moment? Isn't it a little odd for him to do this considering the first time they talked, it's when she is almost failing/committing suicide overboard? What you realize is, the film is filled with grand moments. If you can accept that, it's a really good piece of filmmaking. The iceberg hits at the 1:40 mark, that's an hour and a half of disaster in a romance. I just wish it was Jack who made it out alive.
The extras are ridiculous. Thirty deleted scenes are enough to own this film (if you love it). There are three commentary choices, and two new extras from James Cameron.
MOVIE SCORE: 8/10
EXTRAS
- 2 All-new Documentaries: Reflections on Titanic & Titanic: The Final Word with James Cameron - 30 Deleted Scenes - 60 Behind-the-scenes Featurettes - 6 Hours of Extras
EXTRAS SCORE: 10/10
