A Titanic Achievement.

Titanic is just an absolutely amazing film. Everything about it. In my view one of the greatest motion pictures ever made, in nearly every category. It certainly gives one an idea of what transatlantic travel was like back when the ape-man was born; and a couple of hundred pages later when he was cruising.

The greatness of a film becomes evidence on repeated viewings; not just that you watched it again, though that is a factor. You do notice things which escaped your attention the first time around; and some have more significance. I can sense that I'm going to enjoy this film as much as if not more than the first time, though I wish they had first built televisions to correspond to the formatting of motion pictures. A film like this should be seen as its director created it.

One thing I certainly missed the first time around. The first word Jack Dawson says to Rose after she gives him her hand and turns to him on the stern is "Whew." Sometimes great prose finds its own level of entertainment. I had to replay that twice, I got such a kick out of it. I'm still laughing, and this poor girl practically did herself in. This music, too, is so moving. The music, the motion, the dolphins swimming and leaping near the bow; the meticulous detail in the re-creation of this ship, the power of the engines and the sweat of the men who fed them. This movie certainly deserves all the accolades it received.

This movie has one great scene after another. The conversation on the deck as the two lovers spar and he melts her resistance with his art and his charm; the dinner where Jack behaves so elegantly, with the honest manner of a true individual; the party below decks as they drift ever closer.

The unfortunate status of women; and the roles they were forced to play, is underscored by Rose's mother; and Rose's own independent spirit, unleashed by Jack's growing presence, speaks of women of a later period..

Rose, after telling Jack she can't see him; listens to the inane chatter of her mother, and watches the little girl being strictly taught the manner of a "lady" at a nearby table; and then my favorite scene of all, as he takes her "flying" in the bow, with the haunting theme pounding on the senses as the surreal ocean slides past. How could anyone not fall in love with this scene, and with their story. Their hands caress as they gaze at the wondrous sight, then their first, most passionate kiss. They are hopelessly in love, and their love hopelessly doomed. Viewing this again, even formatted for television, is a moving experience; already one of the classic love scenes in cinema, in my view.

Then she takes him back to the room, and again I hear the result of marvelous screenplay. She shows him the "Heart of the Ocean." Jack's comment: "Whew".

Then:

Jack: "A sapphire?"

Rose: "A diamond. A very rare diamond."

Jack: "Whew".

I missed this part of the movie at the theater, being in the restroom. It was the only time I could bear to miss a minute of this story, and I enjoyed seeing this entire scene. It is another one not to be missed. In fact, when they're done, she asks him to put the gem back in the safe for her. He does, then looks at the case and says, "Whew". No wonder I enjoy him so much.

Hovering over everything is the inevitable destiny of Titanic. We get swept away by the story of Jack and Rose, then jerked back to the swift progress of the Titanic through the black ocean water, the ship having seen the last rays of the sun it will ever know; and Jack too has seen his last sunset.

They run from the bodyguard, yet challenge him with their bold stares and laughter as he watches them in the elevator. Openly they love now. Few things can motivate one than to be in love with a girl. Watching this story reminds us of how heroic deeds can truly be accomplished; or how one may die trying, on behalf of a beautiful girl. The race through the boiler room, then the spectacular love scene in the car. Again perhaps one of the most moving love scenes in the history of motion pictures.

"Put your hands on me, Jack"; then a shot of the ship lookouts on the bow, and mention of no binoculars. Then back to the steamy lovers. The music is beautiful, and the acting superb.

I've heard some criticize this scene as unrealistic, given Rose's upbringing. I regard it as inevitable and moving. Women had passions hundreds of thousands of years before Rose. They are irresistible; to each other, and to us.

The terror of an iceberg to a North Atlantic ship is told with riveting action and suspense. The special effects are simply spectacular.

The magic of this movie continues as Jack is handcuffed below decks, and increasingly below the water line. Rose realizes his innocence, and rejects her fiancé', spitting in his face in true Jack Dawson style.

She tries to find him, and then to save him. Meanwhile the sounds of the creaking, doomed ship assail us, and periodic views of the settling vessel remind us that time is waning for them all.

Yet we still chuckle as Rose attempts to hit the cabinet twice in the same place with the axe, missing by at least a foot, and Jack saying "Okay. That's enough practice." It's not time for the end to their story.

Molly Brown in her lifeboat looks at the great ship settling down into the ocean night and says, "Now there's something you don't see every day."

The sinking itself does go on a bit too long, in my view, though the several stories, and particularly Jack and Rose's, keep it interesting.

Without a doubt the unimaginably beautiful music plays a major role in the impression this film makes upon the senses. The main theme music, popularized in Celine's song, intrudes in the special moments between Jack and Rose. I hear it now as she is lowered in the lifeboat while Jack and Hockley watch. Truly great music can make a motion picture unforgettable. Lawrence of Arabia, Dances With Wolves, Jurassic Park. Titanic's music in all its aspects caresses us as we watch the story unfold; but the love theme itself enraptures us in the most emotional moments.

As Rose is lowered the sounds are around her are extinguished; save for her breathing and this haunting music, while the camera sweeps to her and then to what she sees. This is directing at it's very best.

Since I first viewed this film I've had the opportunity to learn about the meticulous detail which went into creating the Titanic, so the images of the china, never used till this voyage, as was everything else, being submerged by the clear cold salt water, and the scenes of the beautiful rooms awash, is additionally fascinating. This is as close to depicting history as we can get.

A few necessary flaws do exist, the effects of cold and water being the main one. Wet as they are for nearly the last half of the film, Jack and Rose would be constantly shivering, unable to concentrate on anything, white and already suffering immensely from hypothermia, well before they even go into the water. Later, wet as she is Rose would have perished as quickly as, if not more quickly than, Jack., in the freezing air. There is no way to avoid these flaws in the story, however; and they are very acceptable.

Less acceptable was Jack's refusal to don a life jacket, and the presence of so many people in the dining room while the last of the boats are filled. However memorable, I doubt this would happen. Self-preservation is paramount, particularly when one's survival may be necessary for the survival of one's love. Jack could as easily have perished from the cold with a life jacket on.

However improbable, the scenes of the water finally gushing into various areas is spectacular, and the sounds and actions of the people do certainly make it more dramatic, with the music heralding the final moments of the ship.

Rose is spectacular in the last half of the film. I thought Decaprio was just amazing in the first half, but this Kate Winslet is particularly magnificent in the second half, though they are both superb throughout the movie.

The final sinking special effects are truly amazing, even in this era of special effects. When the last part of the ship is vertical the effects are mind-boggling.

The water scenes are very well done. Here you can see the effects of cold water and air. These scenes tell a tragic story. Jack's final words to Rose foretell his own demise, and his realization of it. The meticulous attention to purity is particularly evident even in the smallest details. When they are in the water, their breath clearly gives the impression of the extreme cold. I don't know how they did this. Then, when Rose is trying to arouse the deceased Jack, we see her breath, but of course never his. This movie would not permit such errors.

As R:ose "lets go" of Jack to the depths of the black water, she promises never to let go; and you can see the indomitable fire in her eyes as she blows the whistle, louder and louder. This is truly great acting and directing.

The old Rose, Gloria Stuart is just mesmerizing at the end. She says, "A woman's heart is a deep ocean of secrets," and we are swept away by her memories and her grace.

She climbs the rail, wrapped in her thoughts and memories, and tosses the Heart of the Ocean into the sea, while her eyes are bright with the fire of a woman who has seen everything life has to offer; who cares nothing for material things, and whose final gift is to the memory of the man who has given her this life.

Then she dies as Jack had foretold, and the music plays while we see images of all the lives Jack Dawson gave her; not just her life itself. Then she meets all those who died that fateful night, and her Jack, with whom she'll go on for all eternity.

Titanic is not my favorite movie, though it's certainly one of my absolute favorites. All things considered, however, and considering all aspects of moviemaking, I don't think I've ever watched a motion picture which equaled this one.

Whew!

Tarak