Titanic (1997)

[Deleted]

lyrasilver said:

Guinastasia, those costumes are absolutely beautiful. I wish I could buy one - I would have an amazing Halloween costume every year. Hell, I'd wear any of Rose's gowns around my house.

So would I. I'd wear them to go out and get the mail, to the grocery store, etc.

[Deleted]

No joke. I'd love to have had that Phantom of the Opera white gown as a wedding dress. You know, if I was rich

But they're just gorgeous.

[Cinchona]

jynni said:

Before the movie came out I want somewhat of a Titanic "buff". I did school reports on it, read every book I could find.

This was my preteen self exactly, and that's actually why I used to hate this movie so much. You see, before it came out, Titanic was my thing. I read books about it, and watched movies and TV specials about it. (Remember that 1996 miniseries with Catherine Zeta-Jones? I still have it on tape.) I even anxiously awaited the release of the Cameron film. My feelings changed when, thanks to the movie--and Leonardo Di Caprio--every girl at my middle school found a sudden interest in the disaster. I loathed everyone and everything having to do with this film until about eighth grade, even writing a parody called "Ditanic" (hey, I was twelve!) which is surprisingly concordant with the actual movie for someone who'd never seen it. Le Coeur de la Mer became La Laid Araignée (I didn't understand the French use of adjectives). Rose DeWitt Bucater became Nose Ducater DimWitt, and Celine Dion singing "My Heart Will Go On" became Saline Moron singing...well, you can guess. I even made James Cameron a screaming, cursing bully.

When I finally saw Titanic myself, my opinion was basically that it was an entertaining, nice-to-look-at movie with its best parts being everything after the iceberg collision. I don't really have any desire to watch it a second time.

[beetlemier]

cinchona said:

jynni said:

Before the movie came out I want somewhat of a Titanic "buff". I did school reports on it, read every book I could find.

This was my preteen self exactly, and that's actually why I used to hate this movie so much. You see, before it came out, Titanic was my thing. I read books about it, and watched movies and TV specials about it. (Remember that 1996 miniseries with Catherine Zeta-Jones? I still have it on tape.) I even anxiously awaited the release of the Cameron film. My feelings changed when, thanks to the movie--and Leonardo Di Caprio--every girl at my middle school found a sudden interest in the disaster. *snip*

When I finally saw Titanic myself, my opinion was basically that it was an entertaining, nice-to-look-at movie with its best parts being everything after the iceberg collision. I don't really have any desire to watch it a second time.

Apologies for length - Titanic buff right ahead!

See, I had the opposite opinion for the same reason. I was always a Titanic buff (starting at about 10 years old) and I adored seeing it brought to life. In the shot at the end where the ship has sank and the camera pans back to really give a good point of reference for just how many poor souls were in that water, it made it a more visceral experience for me.

I wasn't too happy with the love story, as I wasn't sold on what was so special about this guy for Rose to die for. I was so mad when I got the special edition DVD and saw all of the moments in regards to the love story that JC cut out. I thought the cut scenes added a lot of depth to the relationship. For example, in a cut scene, Rose and Jack start making out in the boiler room while they're running and they kiss like they can't wait to touch each other. The next scene is the sex scene in the car. I bought the sex scene in the car more after seeing them all over each other in the previous scene.

With that said, I love this movie just for the attention to detail. I love how JC inserted Rose and Jack into so many recorded historic moments, I love that the original Titanic rug-weavers made the rugs for the movie, I love that the china was exact replicas, and I absolutely adored the sinking scenes. No one could get any pictures that night, so I felt it was a way to fully "see" the tragedy. I also loved the footage of the real Titanic. All these years, and I still have trouble wrapping my mind around the fact that that huge beautiful boat and those on it ended up in such a dark and inhospitable environment.

**off-topic**I went to a Titanic museum in Orlando and it was heartbreaking when I saw the wall of the dead. First class had maybe one panel of a wall, while 3rd class took up 2 entire walls. Also, they had you put your arms on a block of ice and then walk into a room that was the exact temperature of that night. My arms burned from the cold. I cried for hours, I felt so bad. With that said, I highly recommend checking it out.***

[laconicchick]

Ooh! That reminds me that there's a Titanic exhibit coming here in April for the anniversary of the sinking. I am so going to see it. Apparently they give you a ticket when you go in and at the end, you find out if you died or survived.

All these years, and I still have trouble wrapping my mind around the fact that that huge beautiful boat and those on it ended up in such a dark and inhospitable environment.

This is exactly what I find so fascinating about it. I had the same feeling when that ferry sank over here a few months ago. It's just the idea that all that stuff, all that happiness and excitement, all those people (though not in the case of the ferry sinking) could end up on the bottom of the ocean due to circumstances beyond our control. I can't describe it, but it's basically the same thing that you said.

I love the attention to detail, too. But like I said, I'm fascinated by the first half and not so much by the second. Blah blah sinking, blah blah people drowning. Give me the life of the glittery rich people over the trials of the poor any day!

[Door]

I saw this movie in the theater when I was 18. I cried so hard at the end that my mom was totally embarrassed to be seen with me (talk about a role reversal, lol). What touched me about the movie wasn't the romance though. It was watching the boat take on water, watching the people freak out, and knowing that what I was watching was about as close to what actually happened as anyone can get to, visually speaking. I found it incredibly powerful, and the thing I do admire James Cameron for is his attention to historical detail.

[Margo]

laconicchick said:

I love the attention to detail, too. But like I said, I'm fascinated by the first half and not so much by the second. Blah blah sinking, blah blah people drowning. Give me the life of the glittery rich people over the trials of the poor any day!

Exactly! I think the movie was well done. It wasn't great, but it was definitely good. But I love historical movies with rich people in gorgeous costumes, so the first half of the film was perfect for me. I absolutely adore Dangerous Liaisons, so had the second half continued without the whole sinking, it would have rosen to that level in my mind.

[Deleted]

Whatever happened to Leo's friend, the stereotypical Italian?

[kateln]

poorfrances said:

Whatever happened to Leo's friend, the stereotypical Italian?

He was dogpaddling away when a steam vent fell on him.

No. Seriously.

Because I'm evil, I thought it was hilarious.

[Brookie]

It's on the boob tube right now, buffs.