"Titanic" (1997) was the world's top grossing movie until director James Cameron did "Avatar." Cameron also directed this blockbuster. It tells two tragic stories: the story of the ill-fated ship and the story of a doomed shipboard romance aboardship. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Jack Dawson and Kate Winslet as Rose. DiCaprio's boyish looks and slim body opposite Kate's rather chunky, hippy body make him prettier and more lithe than she. Both are captivating. It's probably Di Caprio's best role because it fits his youth and personality.
 There's some fanciful and improbable stuff going on in the bow of the ship. I've never been on a cruise ship yet where passengers had such access to the bow so they could stand up and act like they're the ship's fugureheads. In an early scene DiCaprio and his buddy are in the bow; how two steerage passengers got access to it is beyond belief. Later there are the famous scenes of the lovers cavorting at the bow. In several early scenes DiCaprio from Steerage seems to have too much run of the ship.
 The overhead shots of the ship are very impressive: the camera glides over the majestic funnels and decks from stern to bow. The technical features of the movie are quite well done. The ship's architect is aboard as is the president of the company, Ismay, who wants to see the ship break TransAtlantic speed records. The captain does not want to push the engines to capacity especially in iceberg-infested waters. The ship is reliant on two lookouts in the crow's nest to spot bergs.
 The two lovers, even as the ship is sinking, are pursued by Rose's manic, wild-eyed fianc (actor Billy Zane) and a gun-toting bodyguard. They're like classic Perils of Pauline villains. (Cameron never strays too far from the roots of cinema even when he's doing his breakthrough technical shenanigans.) Melodrama for sure, but what could have been more melodramatic than an unsinkable liner going down on its maiden voyage? The gutsy, outspoken Unsinkable Molly Brown (Kathy Bates) is aboard.
 The story is framed by a story within a story with an expedition exploring the ship's remains in the 1980's being the framing story. The centenarian Rose flies out to the discovery ship and relives her love affair. It's a great romantic movie of young love combined with a disaster flick.
"Titanic" (1997) was the world's top grossing movie until director James Cameron did "Avatar. " Cameron also directed this blockbuster. It tells two tragic stories: the story of the ill-fated ship and the story of a doomed shipboard romance aboardship. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Jack Dawson and Kate Winslet as Rose. DiCaprio's boyish looks and slim body opposite Kate's rather chunky, hippy body make him prettier and more lithe than she. Both are captivating. It's probably Di Caprio's best role because it fits his youth and personality. There's some fanciful and improbable stuff going on in the bow of the ship. I've never been on a cruise ship yet where passengers had such access to the bow so they could stand up and act like they're the ship's fugureheads. In an early scene DiCaprio and his buddy are in the bow; how two steerage passengers got access to it is beyond belief. Later there are the famous scenes of the lovers cavorting at the bow. In several early scenes DiCaprio from Steerage seems to have too much run of the ship. The overhead shots of the ship are very impressive: the camera glides over the majestic funnels and decks from stern to bow. The technical features of the movie are quite well done. The ship's architect is aboard as is the president of the company, Ismay, who wants to see the ship break TransAtlantic speed records. The captain does not want to push the engines to capacity especially in iceberg-infested waters. The ship is reliant on two lookouts in the crow's nest to spot bergs. The two lovers, even as the ship is sinking, are pursued by Rose's manic, wild-eyed fianc (actor Billy Zane) and a gun-toting bodyguard. They're like classic Perils of Pauline villains. (Cameron never strays too far from the roots of cinema even when he's doing his breakthrough technical shenanigans. ) Melodrama for sure, but what could have been more melodramatic than an unsinkable liner going down on its maiden voyage? The gutsy, outspoken Unsinkable Molly Brown (Kathy Bates) is aboard. The story is framed by a story within a story with an expedition exploring the ship's remains in the 1980's being the framing story. The centenarian Rose flies out to the discovery ship and relives her love affair. It's a great romantic movie of young love combined with a disaster flick.