Titanic 3D

Director: James Cameron

It’s hard to believe that there ever was a time when people were of the belief that Titanic would be James Cameron’s greatest folly. But with a controversial production history, a massive budget and a historical setting there was a general idea that Cameron had bitten off more than he could chew. But the fearsome director would prove them all wrong. Titanic became the biggest film of all time, Leo and Kate became pin-ups for a generation and Celine Dion’s heart just seemed to go on. And on. And on.

Now the film has been re-released in iceberg enhancing 3D so audiences can experience it once more and James Cameron can have another laugh at those who thought it was going to fail miserably.

For those of you who have been living under a rock, the film tells the story of various passengers on the ill-fated voyage in particular the romance between the poor Jack Dawson (Leonardo Di Caprio, who became a heartthrob for an era) and the upper class Rose DeWitt Bukater (Kate Winslet, whose bosoms heave so much in the 3D version they could conceivably enter tug of war competitions). As forces attempt to stop their affair, the ship is heading for large chunk of ice. I won’t spoil how it ends.

Given its status, it’s tempting to dismiss this as pure Hollywood excess. But there’s no doubting that – despite the endlessly parodied scenes and the still cringe-worthy ‘King of the World’ speech – it’s an epic piece of work done with consummate skill. The soap opera storyline is melodramatic but it works whilst the final hour of the film with the eventual sinking of the ship (oh damn, and I promised not to spoil it…) is still an impressive technical achievement.   

Will it ever be toppled from the top of the film charts? One day. But at the moment it will keep going on. A bit like Celine Dion’s heart.