TitanicI cherish art in all its many forms. However beauty expresses itself, I try to be receptive to its presence. To me, James Cameron's Titanic embodies truth in a way that very few films ever have. It is an astonishing work of art, one that almost makes me glad that the ship, its passengers and its crew, met such a tragic end that cold April night. That may seem like a horrible thing to say....but I believe death, even entropy, serves a divine purpose...and if their fate was merely to inspire one man to create a tribute to their demise with a film, one which has touched the hearts and minds of millions of people around the world and will continue to do so for generations, than I think their memory will live on forever.
This is, without a doubt, James Cameron's magnum opus. It is a seminal cinematic achievement in almost every way imaginable. Even the dialogue, which is often criticized, is a throwback to the old Romance films of the 20's. The computer graphics are so stunning that they're practically unnoticeable, the greatest compliment you can give a film where the special effects are supposed to reinforce the authentic look and feel of the picture, instead of calling attention to themselves. And as for the music, well...James Horner truly outdid himself here. His work is almost transcendent. It captures the mood and atmosphere of the period, as well as enhancing our affection for the ship itself. His music conveys the unchecked hubris of the first class passengers and the crew, the joy of discovering your true nature, the thrill of finding your true love, and the terror of having your world collapse around you. . .all in a score so effective and brilliantly executed that it easily establishes itself as one of the more memorable film soundtracks ever composed.
But it's the characters that really give this film heart. It's unlike any other catastrophe film in that we truly care about the fate of these people...even though we're aware that most of them die. Rose and Jack have an undeniably chemistry that gives the final hour an even greater sense of urgency. We find ourselves in their shoes, struggling for survival, and desperately trying to keep hold of the only person that really matters. It's an incredibly immersive third act, even if it does fill you with dread every time you watch it.
And even though we know what's coming, the old adage "It's not what you say, but how you say it." is implemented perfectly within the structure of this film. The finale is stunningly beautiful, evoking an unimaginably emotional reaction within me every time I watch it. It has the courage to end the film EXACTLY as it should have ended, without compromising and without pandering to the audience. It is, without a doubt, one of the most moving conclusions in the history of film. . .and it further substantiates my belief that Titanic is, to put it simply, a masterpiece.
Rating: A
This is the music from the scene where Jack draws a portrait of Rose laying nude on the couch. Bit of trivia for ya; James Cameron actually performed the piano piece as well as drawing the sketch of Rose.