Titanic

Reviewed by Christine Roberts

Nearing my eighth month of pregnancy, I wasn't exactly looking forward to Titanic , James Cameron's three-hour epic about the ill-fated ocean liner. But I am happy to report that the film was completely riveting and the time practically flew by. Not only is this production remarkable in scope and description, it magically weaves a fictional romance with historical tidbits. The results are extraordinary and should captivate audiences well beyond the usual barrage of Hollywood fluff due out at Christmastime.

The film begins in the present day with treasure hunter Brock Lovett (Bill Paxton) filming the titanic wreckage from a cramped submersible. His goal for some years has been to recover, among other artifacts, a massive diamond necklace reported missing after the ship's demise. When he locates the safe in which the jewel was purported to be stored, he discovers a drawing of a young woman wearing the necklace. Back in her studio, the elderly Rose Dawson Calvert listens attentively to the news reports of Lovett's progress and is spurred to contact him about his findings. After a brief conversation, Lovett invites Rose aboard his research vessel where she tells him and his crew her story.

Rose (Kate Winslet) was a well-to-do society girl from Philadelphia when she boarded the Titanic at Southampton in 1912 with her mother and wealthy fiance Cal Hockley (Billy Zane). A mere 17 years old, she is inquisitive and intelligent but feels restricted by the expectations placed on her by society. After yet another dissatisfying evening among the well-heeled first-class passengers, Rose ponders her fate on the wrong side of the ship's bow. She is talked out of making a bad decision by a handsome steerage passenger, Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio), a struggling American artist returning home after winning his boarding pass in a poker game. Initially accused of attacking Rose, Jack is later heralded for rescuing her. Despite Cal's maneuvering to keep Jack in his place, Rose falls for the brazen and spirited young man who represents an escape from the stuffy confines of her upbringing.

Their future, like so many others, is tragic from its inception as Titanic forges ahead despite repeated warnings about the icebergs in the northern Atlantic. White Star Lines' managing director, J. Bruce Ismay, on board for Titanic's maiden voyage, demands that the ship make record time to New York so the captain proceeds against his better judgment. The ship's lookouts, without binoculars, fail to spot the iceberg in time and the rest is history. With not nearly enough lifeboats and none filled to capacity, more than 1500 or the 2200 passengers perished in the icy water. Survival was determined by gender and class with nearly 60 percent of the first-class passengers rescued.

Titanic captures the majesty and awe of this ground-breaking vessel and its brief and tragic history with tremendous attention to detail. From the finely appointed first-class suites occupied by Rose, her mother and their staff, to the string quarter playing on deck as mayhem ensued, not one image vital to conveying the elegance of the era was ignored. Certainly from a visual perspective, the film is overwhelming. Fortunately, both the story and the acting do the set -- with a 775-foot re-creation of the exterior of the ship -- justice. A few lines of corny dialogue make nary a blemish on this truly spectacular feat. A must-see on the big screen but do be prepared for an emotional journey as well.