Before its release, many critics predicted that Titanic would be a huge box office disappointment, especially since it was the most expensive film ever made at the time. As we know, upon its release in 1997, Titanic became a box office sensation raking in $2,185,372,302 worldwide. It proceeded to garner eleven Academy Awards, including Oscars for Best Picture, Director, Visual Effects, Cinematography, Sound, Song, Music, Costumes, etc. And for a while, you couldn’t go anywhere without hearing the film’s love theme, “My Heart Will Go On” sung by Celine Dion.
The story begins in the present as Brock Lovett (Bill Paxton) is searching for the famed ‘Heart of the Ocean’ diamond lost with the sinking of the Titanic. While exploring the wreckage, he uncovers a well-preserved sketch of a nude, young woman wearing the famous jewel. Thousands of miles away, an elderly lady (Gloria Stuart) sees a news report about the discovery. She is quickly reminded of a time decades before, filled with love and tragedy, as a passenger on the Titanic. The elderly woman—Rose DeWitt is brought aboard Brock Lovett’s vessel to tell the story of her fateful 1912 journey.
Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Jack, a poor American artist looking for a way back to his homeland. Having won his ticket during a game of poker, Jack makes it to the boat in the nick of time. When he rescues the lovely Rose from a suicide attempt, he is invited by Rose’s presumptuous fiancé, Cal Hockley (Billy Zane) to join them the following night for dinner. Longing glances across tables and flirting around the boat, eventually leads to Rose posing nude for Jack to draw her portrait and sweaty sex in a car. Despite Cal’s numerous underhanded attempts to separate them, Jack and Rose will stay together, no matter the cost, until the ship inevitably sinks.
The story isn’t particularly original—Romeo & Juliet get shipwrecked—and the script written by director James Cameron is uneven, but the film still works. Jack and Rose’s slow romance takes up the first half of the three-hour running time, with the remainder being the non-stop action of the sinking. For 1997, the special effects are ground-breaking. James Cameron truly makes the legendary luxury liner come to life. A true master of the “Big Picture,” Cameron had a gimballed full-scale replica of the Titanic” docked in a man-made tank in Mexico. He really worked to make the disaster sequence exciting. My favorite moment is when that digital person falls and gets hit by the propeller on his way into the water. Cameron and his two co-editors deserve a lot of credit for putting together several moments of real suspense.
Titanic made Leonardo DiCaprio a bonafide mega-star. While he does an okay job playing the heroic Jack, his performance is more workman-like than spectacular. Meanwhile, Kate Winslet, whose early resume included such period pieces as Sense and Sensibility and Hamlet, clearly feels comfortable in her corset heavy wardrobe and possesses a spot on upper-crust American accent. Billy Zane is perfectly unlikable as the villain—callous, brutish and cruel—he drips bile from the moment he first appears on screen. The supporting cast, which includes Kathy Bates, Frances Fisher, Bernard Hill (as Titanic’s captain), and David Warner (as Cal’s no-nonsense manservant), is faultless.
Presented in the 2.39:1 aspect ratio, Titanic’s 4K UHD debut is immaculate across the board. The image is flawless and the colors vivid, with just a slight film grain. Depth is strong throughout and blacks are deep and inky. Skin tones are natural and consistent throughout. Facial features and textures offer wonderful clarity. The print appears flawless. The result is everything a 4K transfer should be.
The Dolby Atmos track offers a wonderfully full audio experience. There’s great balance and depth throughout. The track makes use of all channels, creating a truly immersive experience. Well balanced and natural, dialogue is clear and effects are strong. The sounds as the ship breaks apart are simply breathtaking. James Horner’s lovely score comes across magnificently.
English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles are available.
The following extras are included:
4K UHD:
- Audio Commentary with Director James Cameron (2005) He begins the track by discussing the opening titles and the making of the underwater footage. From there he discusses the picture’s themes, the cast, the research and attention to detail in the film, minor inaccuracies, real Titanic history, the digital effects, the picture’s sets, and more.
- Audio Commentary with Cast and Crew (2005) Executive Producer Rae Sanchini, Producer John Landau, Deep Dive Technology Coordinator Ralph White, Second Unit Director Steve Quale, Actor Bill Paxton, First Assistant Director Josh McLaglen, Re-Recording Mixer Gary Rydstrom, Art Director Martin Laing, Camera Operator/Steadicam Jimmy Muro, Actress Gloria Stuart, Actor Lewis Abernathy, Actress Kate Winslet, Actress Frances Fisher, Costume Designer Deborah Scott, 4-Ward/VFX Supervisor Robert Skotak, Actor Danny Nucci, Composer James Horner, Music Editor Joe Rand, Director of Photography Russell Carpenter, Actor Jonathan Hyde, Actor Jason Barry, Actor Billy Zane, Actress Kathy Bates, Production Designer Peter Lamont, Actor Victor Garber, Actor Bernard Hill, Etiquette Coach Lynne Hockney, Unit Production Manager Kevin De La Noy, Digital Domain-VFX Supervisor Rob Legato, Sound Designer/Re-Recording Mixer Christopher Boyes, Stunt Coordinator Simon Crane, Actress Jeanette Goldstein, Actor Ioan Gruffudd, Core Extra Ellen Mower, Core Extra Judy Prestininzi, and Actress Suzy Amis all contribute in some way, usually specific to their area of expertise or role in the film. Though most have been recorded individually and the track has been edited together after the fact, it’s a captivating listen that covers pretty much everything there is to discuss about the film. Music, sound effects, destroying the ship, plot points, themes, digital effects, the cast, etc.
- Historical Audio Commentary by Don Lynch and Ken Marschall (2005) The Historians discuss the plot, performances, the film’s structure, costume accuracy, set details, prop specifics, the general history of the ship and the time of its one and only departure, filmmaking techniques, digital and model work and more.
Blu-ray Disc:
- NEW!! TITANIC: Stories from The Heart (HD, 35:58) James Cameron, Jon Landau and Kate Winslet offer anecdotes about the pre-production, production and more of Titanic.
- Reflections on TITANIC (HD, 1:03:47)
- NEW!! TITANIC: 25 Years Later with James Cameron (HD, 42:06) James Cameron discusses the criticisms leveled against the film. essentially, he wants to prove that both Jack and Rose couldn’t have survived their floating situation.
- Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary by James Cameron (HD, 57:28)
- Behind-The-Scenes Presentation Hosted by Jon Landau (HD, 34:13)
- Additional Behind the Scenes (SD, 34:54)
- Deep-Dive Presentation Narrated by James Cameron (SD, 15:31)
- $200,000,0001: A Ship’s Odyssey (The TITANIC Crew Video) (SD, 17:54)
- Videomatics (SD, 3:14)
- Visual Effects (SD, 7:46)
- Trailer Presentation Hosted By Jon Landau (HD, 8:16)
- Music Video “My Heart Will Go On” By Celine Dion (SD, 4:45)
- Still Galleries (HD) – “TITANIC Scriptment By James Cameron”, “Storyboard Sequences”, “Production Artwork”, “Photographs”, “Ken Marschall’s Painting Gallery”, “Concept Posters And One Sheets” (Includes new feature “Fan Poster Art”)
- Credits (2005)