*Warning: This analysis contains spoilers about Titanic and is intended for audiences who have already seen the film.
Of course, for my very first Book/Movie review, I had to start with my absolute favorite movie: Titanic (1997). A cinematic masterpiece, the epitome of artwork, the quintessence of storytelling – such does not even begin to encompass the breadth of Titanic’s beauty. Very few stories have the fortune of being presented in such a heart-capturing manner that compels you to watch and re-watch every last second, devour every last detail. Titanic, to its finest details, is one such story, one such work of art. Before this review becomes an incoherent gush, let me categorize what exactly I love about this movie.
The Script
The beauty of Titanic lies largely in the way the story is told and the amount of thought behind each word in it. As most avid Titanic watchers may have noticed, when Rose first meets Jack, she warns that she’ll “let go”, as in jump from the back of the Titanic and into the freezing ocean below, or in other words to her death.
Then towards the end of the movie, as Jack and Rose struggle to remain on the sinking ship, they clamber onto the edge, and are once again hanging off the back of the ship and Jack subtly says “I won’t let go” as he helps Rose onto the rail.
And then of course, at the very end of the movie, Rose famously says “I’ll never let go” before letting go of Jack’s hand.
The use of “letting go” had several different meanings throughout the film, which I didn’t recognize at first glance. In saying “I’ll never let go” in this scene, Rose not only promises Jack that she will never forget him, but also alludes to her desire to “let go” at the beginning of the film and how she will never consider it again.
This is just one of the many examples that demonstrate the amount of thought Cameron put into each word in his screenplay. Several other instances throughout the film further reflect Cameron’s thoughtful narration, such as when Cal ironically exclaimed “God himself could not sink this ship.” Not only did this dialogue serve to highlight Cal’s belief that man-made luxuries are above God, thus accentuating his ego, but it also subtly reminded audiences that there is no such thing as an unsinkable ship.
Attention to Detail
One of the most admirable aspects of James Cameron’s movies is the amount of thought and research he puts into the smallest details of his films. He himself went down to explore what remains of Titanic at the bottom of the ocean to ensure each detail was given justice. Furthermore, the incorporation of signs that seperated the social classes were subtle but reminded audiences of the heavy socio-economic division of the time that continues to seep into society today. Cameron’s effort to keep the movie as closely aligned to the reality of the shipwreck made it even more heart-wrenching as we watched the elderly couple (who represented Ida and Irados Straus- founders of Macy’s) cling to one another as water poured into their cabin,
as we watched Mr.Guggenheim and his companions “dress in their finest and go down as gentlemen”,
as we watched Edward Smith, riddled with guilt in his final hours, resign and accept death
as we watched Mr.Andrews set the time on his clock at 2:20 (the actual time the ship sank)
as we watched the baker toss furniture overboard and get so drunk his blood was warm enough to withstand freezing water
as we watched the mother tuck in her children in hopes that they wouldn’t feel the pain of their death
These small details significantly enhanced the quality of the experience, providing insight to the very real regret and anguish and noble sacrifices made by many individuals in the midst of the actual sinking. Of course, only those individuals who were aboard Titanic will ever truly understand the horror of its ruin; however, Cameron was able to evoke these emotions as realistically as cinematographically possible through his thorough research and attention to detail.
The many themes presented throughout
- The value of life
Apart from the layered meaning behind Rose’s famous “I’ll never let go” line, the audience is given further insight to Rose’s new understanding of the value of life. Part of this understanding came from her love for Jack, obviously. Perhaps one of the things that kept her clinging to the life she so detested was the stability of it, but Jack showed her that it is possible to live a life beyond simply surviving, that there is beauty in living an unpredictable life. Jack especially emphasizes this during his iconic speech at the first class dinner when he said “I mean, I got everything I need right here with me. I got air in my lungs, a few blank sheets of paper. I mean, I love waking up in the morning not knowing what’s gonna happen or, who I’m gonna meet, where I’m gonna wind up.” Jack’s appreciation for life, despite his possession of precious little ignited Rose’s desire to break free and seek a different life, rather than no life at all. Another part of Rose’s appreciation for life came when the decision to end it was taken from her and placed in the hands of fate. First, when Rose slipped from the back of Titanic, she was certain she didn’t truly want to die. And then, as Rose watched the returning lifeboat slip away, she realized she did, in fact, want to survive as she had promised Jack.
And of course, audiences are reminded that life is not a promise as they watch the unsinkable ship sink before their eyes, as it did over 100 years ago. The depiction of this scene serves to remind audiences to appreciate life before it is taken away.
- Class differentiation
Another major theme of Titanic, both the film and the actual event, was the difference between the wealthy and poor. Throughout the movie, there are several scenes in which signs that say “1st class passengers only” can be seen, true to the actual ship itself. Furthermore, the juxtaposition of the quiet and formal 1st class party
in comparison to the loud and vivacious 3rd class party (AKA MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE PART OF THE MOVIE AHH)
serves to draw attention to the pretentious living of higher society in 1912 and even today.
The movie also emphasizes class struggles by reminding audiences that the rich often thrive on the backs of the poor and such is evident by the fact that majority of the wealthier characters- Mr.Ismay, Cal, Lizze Dewitt Bukator, and Rose- survived, however every 3rd class passenger introduced in the film, such as Fabrizio, Tommy, Helga (Fabrizio’s lover), Jack, and even Rose’s maid-Trudy, died. Leonardo Di Caprio’s magnificent acting adds further depth to this theme in his exchange with Cal regarding arrangements for a lifeboat. Cal tells Jack that he has a lifeboat prepared for himself, to which Leo’s expression portrays a number of emotions, including an especially heartbreaking one- acceptance of society’s way of favoring the wealthy.
Through his directing, Cameron supplied justice to the cruelty faced by lower classes aboard the Titanic through his depiction of the 3rd class being barred from the lifeboats until after the wealthy had boarded them- a detail that is true to history. Cameron further highlights this inhumanity by incorporating remarks such as Rose’s mother’s especially ignorant question “Will the lifeboats be sorted by class?” MAN THIS LINE MAKES ME WANT TO PULL MY HAIR OUT EVERY SINGLE TIME ARHGHFSHH HOW CAN SOMEONE POSSIBLYEJSEKLFSJD.
ANywAy, though Cameron depicts a disparity between the rich and poor, he reminds audiences that money does not always translate into happiness, as evidenced, of course, by Rose. For someone as youthful and spontaneous as Rose, the highly structured predictability of high society becomes imprisoning, despite the promise of stability. Her freedom from the expectations that surround her is beautifully symbolized at the end of the movie by the Statue of Liberty itself.
- Superficial satisfaction
Another key exploration within Titanic is the source from which the value of life is derived. Cal measures his worth in terms of success and money, which eventually drives him to end his own life when he was “hit hard by the crash of ‘29” as Rose mentioned towards the end of the film. Jack juxtaposes Cal in his ability to find value in life despite his lack of material possessions. Instead, Jack finds the value of life to be in art, which Cal vehemently scorns.
This same concept is further enhanced when Brock Lovett (explorer who was searching the wreckage of Titanic in hopes of finding the Heart of the Ocean) threw his special cigarette, which he was saving for when he found the diamond, into the ocean. Lovett’s abandonment of his search for the superficial aspects of Titanic towards the end of the movie in contrast to his mocking attitude regarding the wreckage in the earlier parts of the film highlight a growth in character that demonstrates his understanding of the true sentimental gravity of Titanic. Similar development can be seen in Lovett’s partner Lewis Bodine, as Bodine is seen tearing up at the end of Rose’s heart-felt retelling of her experience aboard Titanic.
Lastly, the most iconic symbolism from Titanic was Le Cour De La Mer, or the Heart of the Ocean. While in the beginning it served as a representation of wealth and superiority, as Cal saw it, it later served as Rose’s only remembrance of Jack and in that way symbolized her promise to him to persevere and live a full life. Towards the end of the movie, Rose is seen infamously tossing the Heart of the Ocean into the sea to depict the fulfilment of her promise to Jack. Attestation to this fulfilment can later be seen through the pictures of Rose enjoying the experiences life has to offer.
…
Overall, Titanic is a beautiful love story, but it is so much more than just that- it is the story of a girl learning to fall in love with life, despite the horrors it presents. It is the story of the thousands aboard Titanic on April 14th, 1912. It is a story of the unjust disparities between the wealthy and the poor. It is a story as much as it is art. That is what makes this movie timeless.
That wraps my review/analysis/gush about Titanic. Honestly, the list of things that make this movie stand out is ever-growing because every time I watch the movie I discover details I hadn’t previously noticed. Such can be attributed to the brilliant visionary director, James Cameron, and his ability to tell a story in a manner that captures the heart. Not only did Cameron create a cinematic masterpiece, but he also endeavored to serve justice to the true tragedy of Titanic.
