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EDITOR'S PICK
Rating: **** 1/2
Since "Titanic" originally released in 1997, the first question that
comes to one`s mind is of reasons to `revisit` the film. The second question is
about a film that may have won maximum Oscars, but whether 3D is good enough
reason to not buy a DVD instead?
Vivacious Jack (DiCaprio) travelling third class on Titanic falls for the
beautiful but lonely Rose (Winslet). As the ship hits an iceberg, a battle for
survival is waged even as the jealous, industrialist fiance Cal (Zane) bays for
the blood of the two lovers.
Titanic, the film, as the ship in 1914, has become stuff of legends so it`s
pointless to recount the obvious. Let`s try and see the invisible.
The most striking thing about `Titanic` is the immaculate and almost painful
detailing. Like Stanley Kubrick, James Cameron delights both the novice and
discerning viewers with the detail in every door knob, every headgear, every
marking on every china-plate and every expression on actors faces.
It is thus the mother of all disaster movies not because it is based on a real
incident but because of this attention given to so much detail. That is perhaps
the reason why, among many other probables, Titanic became first among the
classics to gain a 3D restoration.
The already immaculate detailing is enhanced by 3D, increasing engagement and
thus the viewer`s experience.
Beyond its technology though, `Titanic` is literally a masterpiece of metaphors.
The most obvious and overarching is that of the class segregation in society.
Titanic becomes a microcosm of our planet earth and its social, structural
divisions.
Even physically the ship represents a class pyramid, with the majority in the
lower decks filled with the have-nots, aspirational class forming the base while
the higher decks of rich, hedonist and have-all class forming the pyramid`s
small but affluent, tip. Cameron scathingly points out the hypocrisy of the
latter even as he celebrates the giving, caring and sacrificial spirits of the
lower class.
"Titanic" is also a very feminist film. Set at a time where women were
thought to be nothing better than decorative pieces, it pits two perspective:
one where the woman has everything physically at the cost of her freedom and the
second where she may not have any worldly riches but has love, beauty and
freedom. Rose vacillates between the two perspectives, till finally going with
her `heart`.
Thus the story of `Titanic` might seem linear and juvenile, but like his later
film `Avatar` Cameron hides layers and layers inside its deceptively simple,
sugar-coated shell. And though the acting of our lead pair may not be up there,
but their chemistry and youthful and innocent exuberance carries the film
through.
Oscar-winning producer of Titanic Jon Landau had told IANS two week back when he
was in India to promote the film, that James Cameron had himself supervised
every one of the nearly half a million frames that had to be converted to 3D and
$18 million and over a year spent in the same. The effort shows as 3D enhances
the brilliant detailing, adding an extra shine to an already bright film.
In 1997 people had gone to watch `Titanic` multiple times. Watch it in 3D on the
large screen - on the 100th anniversary of the ship`s sinking - and you`ll go
see it another time for the magic is not only still there, but is enhanced by
3D.
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