Story of forbidden love... (Titanic [1998] (DVD))

Member Name: Tara

Product:	Titanic [1998] (DVD)
Date:	15/12/00 (115 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: everything

Disadvantages: It's very long, but don't let that put you off :)

This is a new adaptation of the famous story of the Titanic, the ill-fated luxury liner, the largest and fastest of its time, which, on its maiden voyage hit an ice berg in the north Atlantic sea and sunk, killing over 1500 of its passengers. Or, more specifically of two of the people on board, Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Rose Dewitt Bukater (Kate Winslet)

Jack is a struggling artist, travelling third class with his friend Fabricio (Danny Nucci) and won his ticket on Titanic in a “lucky hand” at poker. Meanwhile Rose is a spoilt little rich girl, travelling with her fiancé Caladon Hockley (Billy Zane) and her recently widowed Mother, Ruth (Francis Fisher) in the luxuries of First Class.

Feeling suffocated by her restricted life, Rose attempts to throw herself off the back of the ship and Jack is the one who talks her out of it. As a thank you Jack is invited to dine first class, creating a highly interesting situation and uncannily throwing them together.

The film actually begins in the modern day, on a deep sea dive to the wreck of the great ship, led by Brock Lovett (Bill Paxton), who is looking for the ‘Heart of the Ocean’, a very rare diamond, which we are told, would today be worth more than the Hope Diamond.

On finding a large safe in one of the bedrooms, rather than finding the lost gem, Brock finds a sketch of a young woman wearing it, dated April 14, 1912: the day the Titanic sunk.

Meanwhile, Rose (Gloria Stuart), who is over one hundred by now, sees the picture of herself on the local news and is speedily flown in by helicopter with her grand-daughter Lizzy (Suzy Amis) to tell her fascinating story to the crew.

In short, Titanic is a story of a forbidden love transformed into a thrilling race for survival when the iceberg hits. The film really captures the horror of the night and the courage and bravery showed.

Titanic is also about the harsh society of the p
eriod in history. The differences in accommodation and the distinction in the way the steerage class are treated and spoken to by the crew and the higher classes, before and after the Titanic hit the iceberg only become more apparent when Jack joins Rose and her fellow peers for a meal in the first class dining saloon, and later when Rose is shut behind locked gates with the third class passengers as the ship begins to flood.

Part of the reason why Titanic is so moving is that it’s based on real life. It keeps it real by touching on odd facts about the true story entwined with the story and entwining the fictitious characters with the people that really existed.

The characters are an important part of the film. Each one represents a particular thing. Ruth is a snob and is constantly saying things like “Will the lifeboats be seated according to class?” and “The purpose of university is to find a suitable husband. Rose has already done that…” Cal, on the other hand, is very typical of the upper classes. He is arrogant and uses his money to buy him a wife and a place on the limited lifeboats, and still remains sure that his actions and words are correct.

As well as highlighting several morality issues, Titanic also deals with a variety of other important issues which we can all relate to, such as life and death, love and hate and truth and honour.

It is an incredible production, with a cast of thousands, and the very latest high tech special effects used to recreate all the action, involving many seemingly impossible stunts.

And it is immaculate to detail with magnificent sets and costumes and a soundtrack which is both haunting and extravagant. It has a script that captures all the drama and a lot of tear jerking and romantic moments and is very moving and hosted by a superb cast, of well-known and infamous stars.

Visually stunning and most likely the most fantastic film of the
90’s Titanic is probably more suited to the more romantic among us, but enjoyable to anyone who wants to be wowed.

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