Movie Review: Titanic with Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio

Titanic is one of the highest grossing films in romance. Romeo and Juliet were not as star-crossed as Rose and Jack. Interesting how both couples names start with R and J.  Before you ask, Rose and Jack are a fictional couple not based on historical accounts. A J. Dawson did exist but he was a Joseph Dawson who worked down in the boilers. The romance was invented to keep moviegoers engross in the unfolding historical catastrophe.

I found this interesting website that looks into the fact and fictions of the movie compared with real life and it makes for a really great read. There are also several actors and actresses paired against photos of their namesakes in the movie. This was fun to see because some are very uncanny in how alike they look.

Jack Dawson, played by Leonardo DiCaprio in this disaster film, wins a poker hand and gains a ticket on the RMS Titanic for its maiden voyage for America. Excited by this once in a lifetime opportunity Jack Dawson rushes to the harbor and scrambles as quickly as he can onto the departing vessel. As his ticket is a third class ticket, he's living below deck much like the ship hands were. Life is an adventure for him and every moment was not to be wasted. His life's philosophy is to make it count.

Rose DeWitt Bukater, played by Kate Winslet, is a poor little rich girl stuck in an engagement she does not want with the snobby and slimy Cal Hockley, Billy Zane. Distraught by the life she sees unfolding before her, Rose attempts to commit suicide off the back of the boat. Jack casually smoking nearby comes to her rescue as her attempt almost succeeds and she slips off the railing.

Her shriek alerts Cal and sailors who were nearby and they hotfoot it to the scene. One glance and it appears that Jack was attempting to rape poor Rose which would have lead him to be locked up were it not for Rose's intervention and a quick story. Jack confirms her telling.

From there the pair meets up again and again, sneaking off and running around the ship. They fall head over heels in love and Rose gets the nerve to act on the lust she feels building inside her for Jack. One risky and risqué nude drawing later and Rose has had enough of proper conventions and respectable distance. They make love in a car, steaming up the windows as they pursue the phantom edge of ecstasy.

After this fated moment, the story turns as the RMS Titanic hits the iceberg and time as Jack and Rose knew it runs out. Desperate to see her safe, Jack struggles to get Rose to safety and in the process is framed for theft, locked up below level with frigid water rushing every second into the room. Their story is heart wrenching and tear jerking as they fight for their love swearing to do so to their dying breaths.

The movie won 11 Academy Awards. Here's the list:

  • Best Picture
  • Best Director
  • Best Costume Design
  • Best Visual Effects
  • Best Sound Mixing
  • Best Sound Editing
  • Best Original Score
  • Best Film Editing
  • Best Original Song
  • Best Art Direction
  • Best Cinematography

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Buy: Titanic (10th Anniversary Edition)

Titanic NEW SEALED 10th Anniversary 2 disc WS DVD

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DVD Titanic Leonardo DiCaprio Kate Winslet

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Titanic DVD 1999 Sensormatic

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Titanic and Pearl Harbor Collector Edition DVDs

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Titanic The Mystery The Legacy 5 pack DVD 1998

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Titanic DVD 2003 Studio Classics Clifton Webb

Titanic DVD 2003 Studio Classics Clifton Webb

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Originally posted 2008-10-23 10:44:27. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Movie Review: Sense and Sensibility Miniseries (BBC TV 2008)

I’ve always been a fan of the Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, and Alan Rickman version of Sense & Sensibility, but I must say this new miniseries has quite blown my mind. It’s wonderful, sumptuous, superbly acted adaptation. Andrew Davies did a fabulous job with the screenplay.

We all know the story behind Sense and Sensibility. It’s a tale of two sisters: one beautiful and romantic—the other pretty and far too sensible. The first, Marianne Dashwood, is vulnerable to any man bent on seduction. The second, Elinor Dashwood, is vulnerable to the dictates of society. She’ll lose her heart but keep that fact to herself, because young women should be reserved.

The first few times I saw this film, I was lukewarm toward David Morrissey, who plays Colonel Brandon. I warmed considerably to him by the third watching. He’s a great actor.

edwardferrars

Dan Stevens is gorgeous. Oh my, is he handsome. He’s so much fun to watch as Edward Ferrars. I wish he was in more scenes! Edward chopping wood in a wet, white shirt… be still my heart… sigh.

Hattie Morahan who is Elinor in this miniseries is stunning both in looks and acting. She’s quite moving to watch.

Charity Wakefield is lovely. I enjoyed her a lot. I know of a few people who did not, but I really thought she was exceptional.

Dominic Cooper as Willoughby… ugh. Not a fan. He’s so smarmy. Greg Wise from the other version was a much better fit in my opinion.

I disliked extremely the beginning seduction scene. It’s so disjointed from the rest. When I saw it the first time I thought I was watching a preview for another movie and it took watching it a second time to realize it was actually a part of the first episode.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Buy: Sense & Sensibility (BBC TV 2008)

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