Titanic

Movie Name: Titanic

Year of Release: 1997

Director: James Cameron

Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Kathy Bates, Frances Fisher, Gloria Stuart, Bill Paxton, Bernard Hill, Victor Garber, David Warner, Jonathan Hyde, Suzy Amis, Danny Nucci, Jason Barry, Ioan Gruffudd, Jonny Phillips, Mark Lindsay Chapman, Jenette Goldstein

Genre: Drama, Romance

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7
Watch it on Amazon.

Synopsis & Review:

"Titanic" was the big Oscar winner of 1997, and is to this day the second biggest money maker of all times at the box office. The film followed James Cameron's "True Lies" and was surrounded by months of expectations that the film would flounder and bankrupt Twentieth Century Fox. The film ended up being a massive success worldwide, making Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet instantly recognizable by everyone. The story focuses on Jack Dawson and Rose Bukater, two young people coming from different classes who meet on the biggest ocean liner ever built in 1912. They both are sailing towards the US, with different goals: Jack going back home, Rose with an intent to marry a rich tycoon by the name of Cal Hockley. They both meet, fall in love, and struggle to overcome both Cal and the tragic demise and sinking of the Titanic.
James Cameron is a tremendously gifted film maker, one that has his own universe, usually putting his characters in environments that are alien to them, forcing them to overcome their fears and becoming owners of their own fate. "Titanic" was a passion project for him, since it married his love of deep sea diving, with a legendary historical moment, one marred by drama and fatalities. He decided to build a love story around this massive disaster, and staged the sinking with an accurate and harrowing detail, giving his viewers an almost direct representation of what those last moments represented for the people on the doomed ship. The film is a testament to his capacity to hold the attention of viewers with a story that though contrived (and his screenplay is a bit overly simplistic and maudlin at times), overcomes those shortcomings to become something truly epic and impressively assembled. It's a film that has top production values in all fields, from production design, cinematography, visual effects, and though not as impressive as his classics "Terminator" and "Aliens", still stands as a towering achievement. The cast is also impressive, with highlights going to Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Kathy Bates, Gloria Stuart and Frances Fisher, all of whom create interesting characters. The definition of good entertainment can be found here.