A seventeen-year-old aristocrat falls in love with a kind but poor artist aboard the luxurious, ill-fated R.M.S. Titanic.
I remember going to see “Titanic” at the theater when it opened in December of 1997. I took my mother with me and seeing it for the first time on the big screen, blew both of us away. Cameron, known for his macho-infused films, delivers a love story between two people; Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio), a poor young artist, and Rose DeWitt Bukater (Kate Winslet), an American socialite, two souls from different social classes, set against the backdrop of the ill-fated maiden voyage of the “unsinkable” Titanic. When you watch it for the first time, you already know the ending (Spoiler Alert! the ship sinks) but how Cameron deals with our two protagonists and their choices is what you don’t anticipate.
After winning a third-class Titanic ticket in a poker game, Jack Dawson makes his way on board and instantly falls for the beautiful but snobbish Rose DeWitt Bukater. Later that night, feeling trapped in a loveless engagement, she considers ending her life by jumping off the back of the ship but when she changes her mind, she accidentally loses her balance, but Jack is there to save her, and over the next seven days, they fall in love, planning a future together, unaware that disaster lies ahead, and that it will change their lives forever.
The story itself is unambiguous, but it’s the chemistry between DiCaprio and Winslet that elevates it above unremarkableness. Both actors illuminate the screen and you believe that these two characters, from divergent backgrounds, have been searching for each other their whole lives, and are trying to spend as much time together before tragedy strikes. Jack brings Rose out of her upper-class sanctuary, the only thing she has ever known, and shows her a world where simple things can deliver happiness and joy, and Rose’s transformation forces Jack to rise to the next level because while she has lived her entire life with money and wealth, he gives her the one thing she has never known: true love.
The film utilized state-of-the-art CGI for its time, some of it dated by today’s standards, but it was jaw-dropping in 1997, especially on the big screen. What’s also impressive is that Cameron had a ship built to full scale in Playas de Rosarito in Mexico so the actors didn’t have to walk around on a set surrounded by green screen, they had a replica of the Titanic to move about freely on. A combination of CGI, models, and full-scale practical effects were used for the finale, in which the Titanic slowly sinks into the Atlantic Ocean.
While “Titanic” is far removed from Cameron’s previous action-filled spectacles (“The Terminator,” “Aliens,” “The Abyss,” “T2,” and “True Lies,”), it is still a visual splendor to behold. The blend of romance, drama, and action are interwoven seamlessly, but it is the relationship between Jack and Rose that stays with you long after the credits roll, reminding you that true love knows no boundaries.
“Titanic” will be available nationwide in a two-disc set that includes the film on 4K Ultra HD™, plus a Blu-ray Disc™ boasting more than five hours of new and legacy bonus content, including new interviews with James Cameron, star Kate Winslet, and producer Jon Landau. The set also includes access to a Digital Ultra HD copy of the film.
“Titanic” will also debut in a Limited-Edition Collector’s Boxed Set that’s a must-have for fans and perfect for gift-giving. This spectacular set includes all of the above, along with the following exclusive collectibles in an elegant slipcase:
- A hardcover coffee table book detailing the making of the film’s most iconic scenes
- A detailed schematic inspired by the actual ship blueprint, highlighting locations of key scenes
- Movie prop reproductions of a boarding pass, launch viewing ticket, ship menus, and notes from Jack to Rose and Rose to Cal
- Sheet music for the multi-award-winning hit “My Heart Will Go On”
Available on a Two-Disc 4K Ultra HD™ set
and a Limited-Edition 4K Ultra HD™ Collector’s Boxed Set December 5th
