You can say whatever you want about the film Titanic, but I contest that it is a truly remarkable cinematic feat. Call it cheesy, corny, sappy, melodramatic, or any other somewhat offensive adjective that you want, but I think that we can all come to the consensus that it is immensely powerful, especially when you consider that the sinking of the Titanic really happened. I have seen Titanic at least 10 times in its three hour entirety, and about 10 more times where I watch just the first half, meaning I have spent about 45 hours of my life poring over this film. It has never affected me in the way that it did on the big screen, however; and that would have been the case no matter what dimmension it was in.
Tomorrow will mark the centennial of the sinking of the Titanic. Therefore, it is being widely discussed on all forms of media- newspapers, radio stations, magazines and television channels are all running some sort of special piece to commemorate this event. And so many of these specials ask why it is that THIS event captivates us so immensely. I mean honestly, other ships sank and more people died, so why aren't we still talking about those tragedies so many yeaers later? The sheer irony of the situation is one of the contributing factors- the sinking of the "unsinkable". Hubris comes into play on that same note- in this way, Titanic is much like a Greek tragedy. Act cocky, and the stronger forces will get you for it.
The film emphasizes the stories and characters associated with the tragedy as well. You have the villains- Mr. Ismay, the cowardly designer who insisted that the last boilers be lit to make headlines upon a quicker arrival and then snuck onto a lifeboat in order to survive. Personally, I cannot imagine a life after committing such a cowardly deed. Then there are the heroes- true accounts like the young man who turned 18 on the voyage and therefore insisted that he was no longer a child, but a man, and gave up his seat on a lifeboat for a woman. Stories of women refusing to take a seat on a lifeboat in order to stay behind with the men that they loved. The captain, who was making what would have been his last voyage before retirement, who bravely went down with the ship. The humble creator of the ship, Mr. Andrews, who also went down with the vessel that he acknowledged to be flawed.
This, perhaps, is why the film is so powerful. It takes these characters and stories, both real and imagined, and shows us what it was like. It is these horrific events that make people reveal their true colors. How would we act in those scenarios? The people on the ship were so segregated just by class, but where did that get them in the end? Sleeping in elegant, four-poster beds turned down by maids as opposed to a bunk bed in steerage did not guarantee survival- 1500 individuals died in the North Atlantic on that night.
The movie also makes you think about the complete unknown that every single day presents and want to take Jack's advice- to make each one count. Things can change in an instant so cherish time with the ones you love. Seeing Titanic on the big screen is well worth the 12 dollars, and something that I highly recommend. Plus, I do not think there is a more romantic love story out there. When Rose jumps out of the lifeboat to be with Jack my heart does a sommersault.
Seriously- is anything more romantic than this scene?
Tomorrow will mark the centennial of the sinking of the Titanic. Therefore, it is being widely discussed on all forms of media- newspapers, radio stations, magazines and television channels are all running some sort of special piece to commemorate this event. And so many of these specials ask why it is that THIS event captivates us so immensely. I mean honestly, other ships sank and more people died, so why aren't we still talking about those tragedies so many yeaers later? The sheer irony of the situation is one of the contributing factors- the sinking of the "unsinkable". Hubris comes into play on that same note- in this way, Titanic is much like a Greek tragedy. Act cocky, and the stronger forces will get you for it.
The film emphasizes the stories and characters associated with the tragedy as well. You have the villains- Mr. Ismay, the cowardly designer who insisted that the last boilers be lit to make headlines upon a quicker arrival and then snuck onto a lifeboat in order to survive. Personally, I cannot imagine a life after committing such a cowardly deed. Then there are the heroes- true accounts like the young man who turned 18 on the voyage and therefore insisted that he was no longer a child, but a man, and gave up his seat on a lifeboat for a woman. Stories of women refusing to take a seat on a lifeboat in order to stay behind with the men that they loved. The captain, who was making what would have been his last voyage before retirement, who bravely went down with the ship. The humble creator of the ship, Mr. Andrews, who also went down with the vessel that he acknowledged to be flawed.
This, perhaps, is why the film is so powerful. It takes these characters and stories, both real and imagined, and shows us what it was like. It is these horrific events that make people reveal their true colors. How would we act in those scenarios? The people on the ship were so segregated just by class, but where did that get them in the end? Sleeping in elegant, four-poster beds turned down by maids as opposed to a bunk bed in steerage did not guarantee survival- 1500 individuals died in the North Atlantic on that night.
The movie also makes you think about the complete unknown that every single day presents and want to take Jack's advice- to make each one count. Things can change in an instant so cherish time with the ones you love. Seeing Titanic on the big screen is well worth the 12 dollars, and something that I highly recommend. Plus, I do not think there is a more romantic love story out there. When Rose jumps out of the lifeboat to be with Jack my heart does a sommersault.
Seriously- is anything more romantic than this scene?
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