Titanic
A review by kota
Disaster movies are viewed these days in the same light that horror movies were viewed in the 80's: tastes great, less filling.
Dismissing James Cameron's Titanic as a disaster movie would be a grave mistake however. With a budget exceeding $200 million, this is a love story of shakespearean proportions in disguise. While the movie does take place on the infamous ship, the story revolves around a young couple, Jack (DiCaprio) and Rose (Winslet).
Jack Dawson and Rose DeWitt brings a level of poignancy to a sad moment in history. Out of the 2200 plus passengers on the Titanic, only about a third survived. This inevitable fact hangs in the air like the dark clouds of an impending monsoon. Early in the film, we are made aware that there are only enough boats to carry about half the people on the ship. The arrogant director ignores the recommendations of a more knowledgeable captain. The pompous well-to-do passengers boast that the ship is unsinkable. Furthermore, we have two powerful adversaries, Rose's mother and her fiance are out to crush Jack. The deck is stacked against Jack, and he must make do with what he was dealt.
Throughout the film we are made aware of the strict social structure that divides the classes. The Titanic upper level is for the rich, and the lower level is for the poor. The upper deck is lit by sunlight, while the lower engine room is burning a hellish red from the fire stacks. This dichotomy is ironic, since the poor are portrayed as simple, fun loving do-gooders, and the rich are portrayed as pretentious people in love with their own technology.
This movie is the epitome of the big-budget Hollywood movie. It has it all; a love story, a social critique, and technical pyrotechnics that must be seen to be believed. Ideally, you want the pieces to fit into the mosaic, so that the seams are undetectable. Cameron's expert hand has crafted a movie in which the audience is mesmerized until the very end. -- Please remove "nospam" to reply http://www.poboxes.com/kota
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