31 Days of Oscar Blogathon – Titanic (1997) – Encore Review 2

This post is part of the 31 Days of Oscar Blogathon being held this month by Kellee over at Outspoken and Freckled along with Aurora, of Once Upon a Screen and Paula of Paula’s Cinema Club. Thanks for letting me contribute!

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“Well, yes, ma’am, I do… I mean, I got everything I need right here with me. I got air in my lungs, a few blank sheets of paper. I mean, I love waking up in the morning not knowing what’s gonna happen or, who I’m gonna meet, where I’m gonna wind up. Just the other night I was sleeping under a bridge and now here I am on the grandest ship in the world having champagne with you fine people. I figure life’s a gift and I don’t intend on wasting it. You don’t know what hand you’re gonna get dealt next. You learn to take life as it comes at you… to make each day count. ” – Jack

Number of Times Seen – Too many times to count (Theater, video, DVD, 7 Jul 2013 and 6 Sep 2015 and 24 Feb 2016)

Link to original review – Here and Here

Brief Synopsis – A retelling of the doomed maiden voyage of the ship Titanic told through the eyes of a vagabond and a socialite who against all odds fall in love during the trip.

My Take on it – This is one of my all time favorite movies mainly due to the fact that James Cameron was able to bring together so many aspects of movie magic to make it all seem so believable.

It is all done with pomp and grandeur, but ironically that’s what doomed the great ship itself. When Cameron was making this, there were so many delays and mishaps that it was thought that the movie would sink also just like the ship, but instead he was able to create one of the greatest coups in moviemaking history making this the highest grossing movie ever. In the close to 20 years since, only two other movies have managed to surpass it; Avatar (2009) (also by Cameron) and this past year’s Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015).

The attention to details are part of what makes this movie so interesting to watch. They were able to replicate exact copies of so many aspects of the ship and the what was used on the ship in order to give it all more authenticity and realism.

James Cameron has made some great movies, but I still believe this is his best overall both storywise and movie making wise.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet have amazing chemistry together and it’s so easy to believe that their characters were able to meet and fall in love so quickly and that love feels real (not Hollywood love).

This movie was very deserving of all of its 11 Oscar wins because it was done so well. It tied the record for most wins by a movie and still remains on top with both Ben Hur (1959) and The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2003).

The musical score by James Horner is so emotional and gives you an even closer connection ti the story and its characters.

The theme song sung by Celine Dion also won an Oscar and is one of the best movie songs ever IMHO. Listen to it here:

Bottom Line – Great epic retelling of the famed ship’s demise. Cameron knows how to make things with grandeur and it’s quite apparent here how talented he truly is. DiCaprio and Winslet have amazing chemistry together and it is so easy to believe their love for one another over such a short span of time. Everything is soooo detailed which adds even more authenticity and realism to this fictional story around a real event. Definitely worth all 11 Oscars it won and rightly ties the record for most Oscar wins by a movie. Excellent music by Horner gives us an even more emotional connection to the film and the love story which is capped off by Celine Dion’s Oscar winning theme song. Highly Highly Recommended!

MovieRob’s Favorite Trivia – When Jack is preparing to draw Rose, he says to her, “Lie on that bed, uh, I mean couch.” The line was scripted “Lie on that couch”, but Leonardo DiCaprio made an honest mistake and James Cameron liked it so much he kept it in. (From IMDB)

Rating – Oscar Worthy (no change from original review)