‘Are you ready to go back to Titanic?’
If anyone has fueled James Cameron’s erratic film dreams (and filled his pockets with lots of money), it’s most likely me. Although I was only 4 years-old when TITANIC hit the big screen (I hope that makes some of you feel rather old), I’ve since seen it around a billion times. On analogue television, on digital channels, at Christmas, during summer holidays, on video, on DVD, even at the cinema in 3D (yes, I was one of those people). My bedroom walls were not plastered in pictures of the cast and I haven’t cried watching it since the first time I viewed it – my excuse is that it’s just a darn good film!
I think what drives me to like this guilty pleasure is the scale of it, and the first lines of the TITANIC Wikipedia page sum my thoughts up quite nicely:
‘TITANIC is a 1997 American epic romantic disaster film…’
Yes, epic romantic disaster. Sounds like my kind of film. From an early age – or from an age where I understood what happened – I have been fascinated by the disaster and tragedy that was Titanic. One of my old neighbours had a newspaper from the day after the ship sunk. I was in awe of what happened and how it happened and, being a child, it made the scale of it much bigger. Discovering/being allowed to watch the film fulfilled my macabre interest in the wreckage, so seeing ‘actual footage’ of what was left filled me with gross glee. And although many people criticize Cameron’s final project, I’d like to thank him for filling my childhood with weird wonder.
From the moment TITANIC starts, you know what you’re watching. The melody sweeps you in, while the old lady (Gloria Stuart) keeps you hooked (which was phenomenal, considering she was pushing 88 when she was nominated for her Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress). The sheer size of what Cameron created shows how much he was willing to give/risk for the film, which obviously paid off since it grossed over $2billion worldwide. And although it’s nice to know people out there also enjoy my guilty pleasure, what really, really makes it for me are the stars.
Although both Claire Danes and Gwyneth Paltrow were both considered for the role of Rose DeWitt Bukater (you missed out, ladies!), I don’t think anyone could beat what Kate Winslet brought to the screen. Her sarcastic charm, her beauty, her intelligence – it was all the character needed. Couple one of the most beautiful women in the world with one of the most handsome men, and you’ve got the best package possible. I don’t even know where to start with Mr Leonardo DiCaprio, but let’s just say I still would. Their chemistry on screen is what makes women/men everywhere turn to their partners and go ‘Well…’, and much like Nick Cassavettes’ THE NOTEBOOK, brings female audience members to a climatic teary end.
I’m pretty sure I’ll be forcing my grandchildren to watch TITANIC, even with that steamy car-sex scene. And I’m also sure that film fans all over the world will be screaming ‘I’m the king of the world’ for many, many years to come…
You can see the rest of our guilty pleasures here
Dan Bullock
Aug 21, 2012 at 1:15 pm
Love it, I remember being sat with an old friend of mine, she completely lost it at the end many years ago. Same goes for The Notebook, blimey that’s hard-hitting stuff, in that emotive thingy way.
;-p
I do really like Titanic though, on an epic level. Winslet is bloody perfect.
Isra Alkassi
Aug 21, 2012 at 9:27 pm
I.ve never seen titanic, I was 7 when it came out (I thought that was young,but feel old compared to your 4) and a girl in class ruined the movie for me cause shed sit in class and cry while talking about it. Since thn I’ve never found the 3 hours to watch it, but think its about time I do. Oh and Leo…I would too