"Come Josephine in my flying machine..."
|
Some reflections on the movie Titanic...
It was Sunday of opening weekend that I went to see
Titanic for the first time. Of course I was
in anticipation; this was James Cameron's biggest
film yet. It was rumoured to have cost upwards of
$200 million; how can you not be a little curious?
Being an aspiring filmmaker and visual effects artist,
I new a lot about the CG effects and other intricate
work that went into the film. I was ready to
experience a technical masterpiece. Three and
half hours later, I would be eating those words.
I didn't even notice the technical aspects of
the film. The story grabbed me in such a way I have
never experienced, and didn't let go.
I didn't have a chance to analyze the effects work.
What I saw was an amazingly compelling and emotional
story of the love between Jack Dawson and Rose
DeWitt Bukater.
For those of you who have not yet experienced this
masterpiece, the premise is that Jack Dawson, an
American drifter, won a ticket onboard the RMS Titanic
in a lucky hand of poker just minutes before she was
to set sail. Rose DeWitt Bukater, the daughter of
an upper-class family, was sailing to America to
return to her home of Philadelphia to be married to
Cal Hawkley, son of a Pittsburgh steel tycoon.
Sure, everyone thought it would just a big expensive
Hollywood film about a ship sinking. Big deal, right?
Turns out, the ship sinking is just a side note.
Above all, Titanic is a tragic love story.
Sure, the whole ship sinking sequence is quite impressive,
but that's not the point.
The point is that Rose won't even leave on a life
boat if it means being separated from Jack.
The point is that Rose and Jack form a trust so quickly,
and will not let go of eachother. The point is that
Rose would give up everything just to stay with Jack,
and likewise he would never leave her.
The above quote is from one of the most emotional scenes in the movie, and gets me every time. There just aren't enough words to describe the power of this film. James Cameron truly has a gift as a filmmaker to tell a story with which the audience can immediately connect and understand. If the ultimate goal of a filmmaker is to transport the audience, Cameron does so in grand style.
Every scene in the movie was lit and directed in such a perfect way. With the realism of period costumes and attention to detail, along with the emotionally haunting storyline, I forgot where I was for three and a half hours, and was only concerned for Rose, Jack, and the other 2200 people on board the ill-fated ship. Having seen it numerous times now, I even start to get emotional at the first shot of the Titanic at Southampton, with the thousands of people waving good-bye to their loved ones on shore, most of whom will never be reunited.
If you have any questions for me about the film, or just wish to share your impressions, please send me some mail. |
I've seen the film eleven times now, and each time it
hits me just as powerfully. I've been a cinemaphile for
quite a while, and always make an effort to view films
in an active way, but I've just never experienced anything
like this before. I just hope they release a widescreen
DVD version of the film come Fall 98, so the film can
be experienced in the home as closely as possible (though
still nowhere near) as in the theatre. However, if anyone
has fallen prone to the new American way of thinking about
movies, namely saying "Oh, I'll just wait until it comes out
on video", please, go see this film in the theatre. It
is an entirely different experience to see only the large
screen, with an audience around you.
Especially moving was the
scene in which we saw Rose reach the Statue of Liberty.
For those who might not have seen the film yet, I
won't go into detail, but I think the rest of you can
understand. Amazing how such a short three-shot sequence
can cut to the heart so quickly.
"Can I take your name please,
love?" "Dawson. Rose Dawson."
Michael Sherman
<mset@cmu.edu>
