Titanic (1997)
Draw me like one of your French girls.
Presentation:
Although I don’t care much for James Cameron’s work, it is undeniable that Titanic was an incredible feat of filmmaking for its time. The practical effects to create the sinking ship are so well done that you may wonder if anyone was really hurt during filming. The conflict and survival sequences are dramatically paced and are the climatic highlight to the film. Most of the film is presented as a flashback, which is not a format I find compelling. The romance and chemistry is just okay to me, I just felt the story of a poor boy and high status woman was not particularly original and frankly a bit thin in character developments.
Conclusion:
I don’t really like romance films, but I appreciate the more action oriented second half. If this was on television, I’m not sure if I’d leave it on. Still, it’s truly an icon marking a technical point in cinema. I can’t imagine anyone not having at least heard of this film. But if you haven’t watched it yet, you probably should because it’s the most iconic survival film of all time. Just don’t expect a profound story as it’s still a popcorn romance at its core.
Recommendations
Lee Chang-dong finds humanity where no one else does.