Film Is Titanic a Bad Film?

Rooney in Paris

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How rude of you. But seeing as you asked for it: I dislike Titanic less than I do Avatar, Aliens. Winslet is always watchable, even in a bad film, and at least Titanic was trying to be a cinematic experience. Which is more than you can say for the chum churned out by the modern Marvel death machine.
Told you. His favourite film.
 

Sweet Square

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Shouldn't that be overrated as his films are massively praised make huge amounts of money yet are very average at best?
I will say that both T1 & T2 for me put him in the list of great Hollywood directors. Earlier this year I watched T1 on th big screen and it's a perfect sci fi movie, I would say it holds up to any film in that genre. T2 is the definitive action movie of the 90's(A decade with featured Michael Mann's Heat).

As for the rest of his work, it's debatable but I would say his stuff is far more interesting than his counterparts. Cameron is going up against the biggest names and winning. The guy made a film about a boat hitting an iceberg and it beat Star Wars at the box office.That's Raphael, Fabio and Darren Gibson in the midfield levels of taking the piss.

You are the last person I expected to have written this
Yeah I really should hate Cameron and his capitalist bourgeois propaganda! But I find the above quite impressive as it's not something any old fool can do(Of course it's only possible with the help and work of others). He's basically achieved the dream, to have creative control and to have you're work seen by millions.The longer we go down the tunnel of endless remakes and comic book movies, the more I respect Cameron for trying something somewhat different and succeeding with it.

Also he's a dying breed of the genuine hippy liberal, without doubt the framing of the Irish working/under class in titanic is vulgar and patronising but Cameron clearly has an affection for them and hate the rich upper class. The guy made the bad guy in T2 a cop because of the LA riots. I sort of view him as the best modern Hollywood can offer.

A bit like how opposition fans have to begrudgingly pay respect to Fergie.
 

Salt Bailly

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Fantastic cinematic experience as a 15 year old, saw it twice at the movies but haven't bothered to revisit it since, mostly due to the ridonkulous running time.

Hymn To The Sea is a beautiful piece of music:
 

esmufc07

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I will say that both T1 & T2 for me put him in the list of great Hollywood directors. Earlier this year I watched T1 on th big screen and it's a perfect sci fi movie, I would say it holds up to any film in that genre. T2 is the definitive action movie of the 90's(A decade with featured Michael Mann's Heat).

As for the rest of his work, it's debatable but I would say his stuff is far more interesting than his counterparts. Cameron is going up against the biggest names and winning. The guy made a film about a boat hitting an iceberg and it beat Star Wars at the box office.That's Raphael, Fabio and Darren Gibson in the midfield levels of taking the piss.


Yeah I really should hate Cameron and his capitalist bourgeois propaganda! But I find the above quite impressive as it's not something any old fool can do(Of course it's only possible with the help and work of others). He's basically achieved the dream, to have creative control and to have you're work seen by millions.The longer we go down the tunnel of endless remakes and comic book movies, the more I respect Cameron for trying something somewhat different and succeeding with it.

Also he's a dying breed of the genuine hippy liberal, without doubt the framing of the Irish working/under class in titanic is vulgar and patronising but Cameron clearly has an affection for them and hate the rich upper class. The guy made the bad guy in T2 a cop because of the LA riots. I sort of view him as the best modern Hollywood can offer.

A bit like how opposition fans have to begrudgingly pay respect to Fergie.
Interesting!

Heat is also a great film. Shame both actors haven't produced a good film in fecking decades.
 

Cascarino

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I will say that both T1 & T2 for me put him in the list of great Hollywood directors. Earlier this year I watched T1 on th big screen and it's a perfect sci fi movie, I would say it holds up to any film in that genre. T2 is the definitive action movie of the 90's(A decade with featured Michael Mann's Heat).

As for the rest of his work, it's debatable but I would say his stuff is far more interesting than his counterparts. Cameron is going up against the biggest names and winning. The guy made a film about a boat hitting an iceberg and it beat Star Wars at the box office.That's Raphael, Fabio and Darren Gibson in the midfield levels of taking the piss.


Yeah I really should hate Cameron and his capitalist bourgeois propaganda! But I find the above quite impressive as it's not something any old fool can do(Of course it's only possible with the help and work of others). He's basically achieved the dream, to have creative control and to have you're work seen by millions.The longer we go down the tunnel of endless remakes and comic book movies, the more I respect Cameron for trying something somewhat different and succeeding with it.

Also he's a dying breed of the genuine hippy liberal, without doubt the framing of the Irish working/under class in titanic is vulgar and patronising but Cameron clearly has an affection for them and hate the rich upper class. The guy made the bad guy in T2 a cop because of the LA riots. I sort of view him as the best modern Hollywood can offer.

A bit like how opposition fans have to begrudgingly pay respect to Fergie.
Those are some interesting points and I don’t disagree. I want to rewatch the terminator films now
 

Mystry

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The Beach book is really enjoyable, in my opinion. The film managed to miss the most important story. Might have to give it another read.
Read the book recently and loved it. Rewatched the film after liking it as a kid and it's absolute trash. Other than the soundtrack there is nothing good about that movie.
 

esmufc07

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Cameron quote here



90's De Niro was in amazing form - Heat, Goodfellas, Casino, Jackie Brown, Cape Fear, A Bronx Tale, Ronin. He's best movie post 2000 might be Meet The Parents!
I can see why you love Cameron :lol:
I’ve always regarded Goodfella’s as my favourite film but I love Casino. Stone is incredible. I want to go on a film binge now!
 

Redplane

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My wife and others always look at my in horror when I say this - but ive never been able to get through more than the first 30 or so mins of Titanic. Maybe because Ive tried to watch it after it received all its awards and I just felt like it wasnt living up to my expectations?
 

Sara125

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Really? It gets bad reviews? The love aspect of the plot was corny (especially when Rose got off the boat to be with him, like, get a grip!) but other than that you can’t say the plot was terrible, seeing as it was based on a true story; plus the acting was amazing and so were the special effects and scenery, considering it was the 90s (I heard the size of the ship that James Cameron built for the movie was to-scale of the real Titanic)
 

Samid

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Di Caprio must have been the ultimate king of cheese back in the days with Titanic and R&J? Surprised he didn't make an appearance in Love Actually to complete the hat-trick.
 

Raees

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Solid film. Acting is hammy in places but it has a good plot and is visually very impressive and flows as a film. A proper cinema event and most women seem to dig it so whilst it didn’t deserve Academy Awards, it was no turkey and is a cultural milestone which has decent rewatch value.
 

Sweet Square

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Those are some interesting points and I don’t disagree. I want to rewatch the terminator films now
Yeah after talking about Cameron I've just spent the last half an hour watching clips on YouTube(The sound of the grenade launcher :drool:)

I can see why you love Cameron :lol:
Cameron is very much a "we live in a society, dude" and more power to him.

Heat isn't an action movie.
It's a thriller/action movie, similar to how T2 is sci fi/action film. Heat has two banks heists(One of which is a massive shoot out the LAPD), catchphrases - "Don't let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner." and the iconic She's got a great Ass! There's even a helicopter chase scene.

Also not that it really matters but I'm pretty sure T2 has a lower body count as well.
 

DrRodo

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Solid, entertaining movie. Not much wrong with it. Not the best ever at all mind
 

Mike Smalling

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If you have an hour to spare and enjoy black humour, RedLetterMedia has a pretty good take on why Titanic is both a great and a terrible movie.

 

Tarrou

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It was alright. I wouldn’t watch it again or put it in my top 1000 films or anything and I haven’t seen that many yet.
 

Green_Red

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What? Didn't it get bummed to death when it first came out?

Was absolutely shit though.

Literally just a shit love story on a boat. The sinking was just like an afterthought. Clichéd to shit. Visuals were great for the time though I suppose.
Someone makes a movie called Titanic and the boat sinking is an after thought? Surely that's the first thing people think of when someone says Titanic.
 

krautrøck

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Have seen the movie once ages ago but doesn't it start sinking about half way through? The ship I mean, not the movie.
 

dumbo

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I rewatched it, and A Night To Remember.

Now look here, the wraparound story of the grave robbers, with the Pat Cash douchebag as cipher for douchebag James Cameron is fecking dreadful. The acting is bad, it's long, it's boring, it's nerdy indulgence, and I really don't need 40 minutes of Cameron doing his tedious hobby. Cut this to a 5 minute intro, or better yet cut it altogether and we're cool. Then:

Titanic is just about a great film. Silly? yes, ludicrous characters and love story plotting? sure, subtle? no. However Winslet is dynamite, DiCaprio is perfect, it has a great ensemble cast. The Jack and Rose relationship is a pound land Edith Wharton and a ridiculous cheesy hook, but it's sweet and their chemistry is good.

I would put Titanic up there with the best disaster movies like Poseidon and Towering Inferno. It's exciting and genuinely panic inducing. The way the water creeps round doors, the pacing of the action, the way madness rises as the ship sinks further is all masterfully captured. It's horrible and thrilling. The effects are stunning and really hold up, as they usually do with Cameron. They look and feel real, they are carefully crafted and have weight. It succeeds where a lot of modern expensive action films look like shit. I can't think of any action blockbuster of recent, that can favourably compare.

I honestly can't see why the critics were so sneery. It's broad and bold and is not trying to hoodwink anyone. There is the ineffectual class commentary and depictions in steerage that might be offensive if they were not so laughable. But we know these are Hollywood brush strokes. I like that teenage girls seemed to take it under their wing.

A Night to Remember is subtler, similarly spectacular and provides the template, it's an unqualified great film. Titanic honours it well.
 

krautrøck

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So what is cooler then? The Titanic replica they built for this or the full size submarine set they built for Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou?
 

sullydnl

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I rewatched it, and A Night To Remember.

Now look here, the wraparound story of the grave robbers, with the Pat Cash douchebag as cipher for douchebag James Cameron is fecking dreadful. The acting is bad, it's long, it's boring, it's nerdy indulgence, and I really don't need 40 minutes of Cameron doing his tedious hobby. Cut this to a 5 minute intro, or better yet cut it altogether and we're cool. Then:

Titanic is just about a great film. Silly? yes, ludicrous characters and love story plotting? sure, subtle? no. However Winslet is dynamite, DiCaprio is perfect, it has a great ensemble cast. The Jack and Rose relationship is a pound land Edith Wharton and a ridiculous cheesy hook, but it's sweet and their chemistry is good.

I would put Titanic up there with the best disaster movies like Poseidon and Towering Inferno. It's exciting and genuinely panic inducing. The way the water creeps round doors, the pacing of the action, the way madness rises as the ship sinks further is all masterfully captured. It's horrible and thrilling. The effects are stunning and really hold up, as they usually do with Cameron. They look and feel real, they are carefully crafted and have weight. It succeeds where a lot of modern expensive action films look like shit. I can't think of any action blockbuster of recent, that can favourably compare.

I honestly can't see why the critics were so sneery. It's broad and bold and is not trying to hoodwink anyone. There is the ineffectual class commentary and depictions in steerage that might be offensive if they were not so laughable. But we know these are Hollywood brush strokes. I like that teenage girls seemed to take it under their wing.

A Night to Remember is subtler, similarly spectacular and provides the template, it's an unqualified great film. Titanic honours it well.
There is definitely a point to be made that teenage girls are often ill-served by cinema and any blockbuster that engenders and embraces their enthusiasm is A Good Thing.
 

amolbhatia50k

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It was an excellent film. Not among my all time favourites or anything but as far as blockbusters go, it's up there. Strong characters, incredible spectacle, visually stunning for its time - the problem with Titanic was that it actually got too big. It swept cinema, the song became ridiculously famous, and it won all the awards. One of the most noteworthy films in terms of impact on pop culture. Not the most realistic film and hence wouldn't be rated among the very best ever by most but it's a blockbuster so had to be seen as such.