Review AND Media Overload: Titanic 3D

‎3hr 14min‎‎ – Rated PG-13‎‎ – Action/Adventure/Drama‎
Director: James Cameron
Written by: James Cameron
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Kathy Bates,Frances Fishe

Synopsis: An epic, action-packed romance set against the ill-fated maiden voyage of the “unsinkable” Titanic, at the time, the largest moving object ever built. She was the most luxurious liner of her era — the “ship of dreams” — which ultimately carried over 1,500 people to their death in the ice cold waters of the North Atlantic in the early hours of April 15, 1912.

Rose DeWitt Bukater (Kate Winslet) is a 17-year-old, upper-class American suffocating under the rigid confines and expectations of Edwardian society who falls for a free-spirited young steerage passenger named Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio). Once he opens her eyes to the world that lies outside her gilded cage, Rose and Jack’s forbidden love begins a powerful mystery that ultimately echoes across the years into the present. Nothing on earth is going to come between them — not even something as unimaginable as the sinking of Titanic.

Love at first site...

Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet are the main faces in this newly revamped version of the classic we all know and love. While aboard the White Star Line ship, these to America-bound lovers find themselves in a historical moment in time. Set in 1912, this dramatic-romance is a nail biting adventure, and by being in 3D, creates an entirely different angle of the classic story of the R.M.S. Titanic. Although the main story happens aboard the massive ship, which seems even more massive than the original movie’s vessel, the movie begins with a story that outlines the adventures that young Rose Dawson (Winslet) had during her time on the Titanic. Coming from a wealthy family proved to be a daunting task for Rose, which only got worse upon the meeting of young Jack (DiCaprio). Jack is a very handsome young man and a lower class worker who managed to win a pair of tickets in a tricky poker game just moments before the ship was set to leave the shore. The two meet for the first time as Rose is dangling herself over the edge of the boat, something much more intense in 3D, while Jack performs his first heroic act by slyly talking her out of jumping. The slip of Rose’s heel, the water freezing below her, all seems much more real in 3D. All the while, Jack is a talker, and can talk himself into and out of many troubles throughout the movie.

Friends close, enemies...

Within the movie there is a scene in which Cal, Rose’s fiancé (Billy Zane), invites Jack to attend a first-class dinner the next evening and after the dinner, Rose accompanies Jack to a third-class party, where she is able to have a little fun-something that doesn’t happen often for her. This scene is definitely one that was better in 3D. The loud, fast-paced music along with the dancing is a very exciting thing to watch. Jack and Rose really have a good time, and it made me want to be there!

The drama really starts when Rose asks Jack, who is also an aspiring and very talented artist, to draw a sketch of her in the nude, wearing only The Heart of the Ocean, this large, purple, heart-shaped diamond was Cal’s engagement gift and also proves to be a very important piece of jewelry to both Rose and the plot. The necklace’s color and beauty are very remarkable and make Rose seem very innocent and elegant, something we learn is not her true self. The scene of the two escaping Cal’s bodyguard is also much more exciting in 3D because when Cal’s bodyguard finds the two of them The scene in which they are being chased uses creative twisting and turning of the camera and again with loud and fast paced music made me feel like I was being chased, too. Good thing I wasn’t!

Get out your pencil and draw...

After this, they go to the ship’s forward well deck and witness the ship’s collision with the ice burg that will eventually be the demise of the Titanic. Eventually Rose and Jack find themselves at the right place when it comes to living just a little bit longer, as Cameron shows passengers jumping off the edge of the ship which is thrilling in 3D. As a 3D version of the classic movie, James Cameron proves to enhance the storyline even more than he did the first time. Bringing us back to the event of such a historical moment in time can only be a good thing. The dimensions of the ship seem much larger than the first time, as well as the ice burg. These things can make a huge difference and makes the audience feel so much closer to the characters.

Cameron’s choice of background music proves to be very enhancing as well. During chases from bodyguards, dance parties, and especially the sinking of the Titanic, the music the audience hears in the background makes all the difference. Very fast-paced tunes play in the background until we meet the scenes in which the ship sinks, and the music is very slow and tragic-sounding. The violins, cellos, and flutes play as water takes over hallways, demolishes dining rooms, ruins belongings, and tears families apart. At some points there is no sound- like when the Captain is seen standing in his quarters and the glass breaks in from the water pressure- which is sometimes more impactful than any noise at all. Cameron and his music crew did a wonderful job in creating a reenactment of the feelings of those aboard the Titanic, and create an intense connection for the audience.

Women and children first!

I loved this movie the first time I saw it, and I loved the 3D version, too. I highly recommend seeing it, as many times as you can. This story never gets old, and it is well worth the extra price for the 3D version. If you haven’t seen the first, non-3D, version, see it first so you can compare and be stunned by the newer version. Although it is the same love story that I have seen many times, it never gets old. I enjoyed watching one of my favorite actors (the dreamy Leo DiCaprio) in one of his best movies. Kate Winslet does a fabulous job and made it easy for me to love her, too. I first saw this movie in 1997, when I was just 7 years old. My dad covered my eyes during the provocative moments, but this time around, I could see the beauty in it all. I’ll say it again; I highly recommend seeing it- at least once. You’ll understand why after.