Some jump, some fall, each dotting the water’s surface like the period of a sentence. Then the stern slips under the water, plunging everyone into a cold so intense it is indistinguishable from fire. Ten minutes. Twenty minutes. The incholate wail of fifteen hundred souls slowly fades to indiviudal cries from the darkness. We know you can hear us! Save one life! Seven hundred survivors stand by in lifeboats built for twelve hundred, afraid to act for fear of getting swamped. They tell themselves that the voices from the water do not belong to their husbands or their loved ones. They are merely the cries of the damned...
from the script of TITANIC by James Cameron




TITANIC

1997

Dir. James Cameron
Screenplay: James Cameron
With: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Kathy Bates, Frances Fisher, Bernard Hill, Jonathan Hyde, Danny Nucci, David Warner, Bill Paxton

What is it about:
The story of TITANIC has been told more times than even Hollywood can count. James Cameron decided to NOT write a movie about the tremndous tragedy and those involved - rather Cameron has chosen to create a tragic romance film that takes place on the Ship Of Dreams. Two people fall in love when they shouldn’t and must accept the consequences their actions take. However, amidst this great love affair, a tragedy is about to take place that will threaten their affair from ever becoming fulfilled. An iceberg lays ahead in wait to sink this ship - but can even this historic event keep Jack and Rose apart? Around them is a detailed minute by minute account of the historic events that took place on the ship before and after the icy collision.

Cephas’ notes and spoilers:
I have been waiting for this film to be released for almost a year now! It was supposed to be out last summer and was pushed back six months so that Cameron could add more special effects and post production work on the most expensive ($300 million) film ever in history to this date. The film company (20th Century Fox) said they do not expect their money back, but put their finacial expectations on Cameron’s next films. The fact that he has never had a “flop” speaks a lot for him and puts Fox’s faith in him well placed. They said that if the film grosses $150 million they will be pleased. (After what I head from others and experienced myself, this film could make a minimum of $200-250 million easy!) Cameron himself claimed that he does not care for the first week’s numbers. He expects word of mouth to circulate and promote his film further and belives that the second week’s numbers will predict the film’s fate. Sink or swim, This film is a favorite of mine and I have already received the making of the film in book; a promotional movie pin; the movie poster and the original soundtrack to the film that has a hauntingly beautiful song by Celine Dion that is played during the end credits. There was talk of a second soundtrack and I hope they do it because there was some great music played by a irish group in the ship’s steerage room and the ship’s band that I would love to own! This particular CD however is suggested at $18 and is worth it for over 72 minutes of material - unlike Starship Troopers where the suggested price of $18 will get you less than 40 minutes of music.

I don’t wanna give away anything if I can help it here. This film will not be bashed by me because there is VERY LITTLE TO NOTHING for me to bash. And it is too precious to give anything away. I do wish to create a full section in these pages, however, to devote to my love and the making of this majestic film.

Well, okay. One spoiler: the film is almost 3-1/2 hours long and the ship begins to sink after 1-1/2 hours into it. The actual sinking lastied about 2 hours and 20 minutes long. There are some awesome tear swelling sceneries and visuals that leave you breathless and astounded. Think about the size of this film would you? A near full size duplicate of the ship TITANIC (the largest movie set ever!) then they sink her. Almost 1,000 extras each one dressed completely in turn of the century clothing down to the corsets. Nothing was left to chance in this film. When they built the ship, they used the actual blueprints and riveted their ship in th eEXACT same spots as the original. How’s that for accuracy?


Cephas’ Rating:
THIS IS A THEATRE EXPERIENCE FILM!!!!!!!! IF YOU DO NOT SEE THIS IN THE THEATRE YOU WILL FOREVER REGRET IT!!!!!!!!!!!!
I saw this during the first showing of the film at home. In many scenes where one is glad someone does something super many (including myself) clapped our hands! When the bad stuff happens to certain extras, me and a few dozen others all exclaimed our feelings of pain. There was NOT a dry eye in the house by the end. I could even hear a couple people crying behind me. This was very powerful.. Bring tissues.


For more on TITANIC go to”:

The Official TITANIC Movie Site
Countdown To Titanic