Day 154 – Titanic / Pop Chart Lab Scratch #6 (Big Scratch!)

Movie Title: Titanic

First Watch / Repeat Viewing

Running Time: 3 hr. 14 min.

Rated: PG-13

Who did I watch with?: Flying Solo

Where did I watch it?: Home

Review:

Titanic is told in flashback form as the centenarian Rose Dewitt Bukater (Kate Winslet) revisits the site of the Titanic. She survived its sinking. She was also the person last known to be wearing a priceless diamond necklace which a documentary crew is searching for. After seeing the Titanic for the first time it transitions from a wreck into the lavishly adorned ship she remembers.

The Titanic is beautifully built and for the most part the computer generated effects hold up fairly well twenty years later. The sets and costuming are extremely well done. The cinematography and music are also apt for the picture. This movie catapulted Leonardo DiCaprio to stardom and his performance is exceptionally well done. It features a few other strong performances in supporting roles including personal favorites Kathy Bates, Bill Paxton, and Bernard Hill. They grease the wheels for some of the more minor elements of the story.

A significant hindrance for the movie’s success is the performances of its other lead characters. Despite earning a best actress nomination at the Oscars Kate Winslet’s performance is uneven and at times downright laughable. It does not stand out as significantly because Billy Zane’s performance as Cal Hockley is dreadful. This does not detract too much overall from the movie as Titanic is more about its iconic moments than its overall acting. Titanic stands out because of those moments. From Jack holding Rose over the bow to painting her like one of those French girls to the bloody door those moments make the movie iconic.

Verdict:

Titanic is a beautiful movie despite some weaknesses in the acting department. See it.

Pop Chart Lab: Sixth Scratch

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I haven’t scratched in a long time because Titanic has been holding me up. It is a long movie and I wasn’t looking forward to it all that much though it was a great movie by the time I got around to it. Some of the movies scratched I watched this year, but before Titanic.

Tomorrow’s Movie: The Master (2012)