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First released in 1997 as a fictionalised account of the sinking of Belfast’s very own creation, Titanic has swept back onto our screens and washed audiences into an experience filled with romance, sadness and most of all – breathtaking nostalgia. Directed, written, co-produced and co-edited by the incredible James Cameron (The Terminator, Avatar), the film that has defined a generation has not only returned to the big screen, it also brings us the brilliantly overwhelming graphics and storyline in beautiful 3D. The already impressive picture is brought back to life in an even bigger way through 3D, and it reminds us all of how Cameron depicted the heartbreaking, true story of the sinking of the RMS Titanic in a way that audiences all over the world have not, and will not forget.
Gloria Stuart (The Invisible Man) connects us to the history of the story through her memory, featuring as one of the few survivors from the disaster, who was called upon by treasure hunters exploring the wreck – Rose Dawson Calvert. The story is unravelled as Rose delicately pours out her memory, and the audience is introduced to the love story of just two of the people on board the ship that was at the time, the largest there ever was. Meeting in circumstances brought about by young Rose’s (Kate Winslet) anguish at an engagement to Cal (Billy Zane) that is required to repair her family’s secret financial problems, Jack Dawson(Leonardo Dicaprio) and Rose fall deep into a relationship that completely goes against the strict and apparent social divides of the early 20th Century. Based around their love, the story reveals for us the difficulties, as well as times of happiness caused by the relationship between a first-class girl and third-class boy who in those times would have been expected to keep to his own, lowly quarter. It can’t be denied that we all root for Jack as the friendship between the two dances into an indissoluble love, perhaps equally due to a resentment towards the horribly controlling and arrogant first-class Cal, as well as a young DiCaprio’s good looks (that are even more enjoyable and drool-evoking in 3D). As time goes on and the Titanic approaches its last days, the love between Jack and Rose as well as the jealousy from Cal is at its highest and the audiences are completely immersed in the story. Soon the unforgettable collision of the powerful ship with the ice berg is shown in astounding detail and is followed by the emotional climax of the movie that simply cannot be missed. As the movie slowly closes, the re-release brings some of the most famous scenes in film that are still as powerful as they were when first seen.
DiCaprio and Winslet, among many others help bring this utterly epic movie of a true disaster to screen again. It seems as if the film was made for 3D, with the constant invites through beautifully crafted gates that are as similar to the real ones were as anyone could make. The extreme social divides of the time are as shocking as before, and the humour involved still provokes a positive reaction from audiences. The re-release of Titanic does not disappoint, and our complete admiration for the ‘ship of dreams’ is rekindled, as well as our grief and sadness evoked by Cameron’s excellent and visually-pleasing account of the disaster.