Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Twelve Years Ago This Week...

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... James Cameron became the King of the World.
How have you been handling his reign? (I sent him my first born)

JA from MNPP here. Titanic swept the Oscars on March 21st, 1998. The back and forth and back and forth over the movie's worth still continues to this day - and only got reignited in recent months with Cameron's re-ascent to the top of the box office heap with Avatar, as I know y'all are only too keenly aware - but I've always been a fan. Of Titanic, that is. And all the cheesiness that non-fans decry make for my favorite bits! Kathy Bates telling Leo he shines up like a new penny. The spitting contest and the warm welcoming bosom of the simple ethnic po' folk downstairs. That scene where Frances Fisher appears to be violating her daughter while tightening her corset with violent tugs. Billy Zane's only-in-need-of-a-mustache-to-twirl performance. I love it all!

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26 comments:

Ryan T. said...

Yeah, I mean I get the "hate" the movie gets, but most of it is totally unwarranted. I own it, but I do also find myself watching it when I see it on reruns on TBS or whatnot. And of course who will ever forget the first time we lay our eyes on Ms. Rose DeWitt Bukater? GLORIOUS.

MattyD. said...

God, I LOVE "Titanic" and am so thankful for this piece JA! I agree with Ryan in thinking that most of the hate is totally unwarranted. Just take the film for what it is, and I love it for those things. It's perfect and it defined my early middle-school years, haha.

Derreck said...

People just love to rag on Titanic. Frankly, i liked it much more than Avatar. Like Ryan T., i do end up watching reruns when it's on TV. It's just one of those movies.

Plus, you can't keep your eyes off the screen when the ship is sinking. Even for a film made in 1997, the SFX were kick-ass.

Plus, i always do feel misty eyed at the ending. Not the Leo popsicle, but when they show the different pictures that Rose has by her bedside. oh...

I don't care what people say, but 'My Heart Will Go On' was a perfect song for the movie. The notes around the end of the movie just heighten the emotion.

But, one thing that ALWAYS angers me is when Rose throws the Heart of the Ocean off the ship. I mean, i get it in a symbolic sense and it was great that she never hawked it because of sense of pride and rebellion towards Cal, but why in the hell didn't she just give it to the people who were searching for it? Why couldn't she just give it away? Why couldn't she let it be put in a museum or something?

The alternate ending on the DVD doesn't make me feel better.

Dammit, Rose!

James T said...

I'm going to be honest. I don't really see the cheesiness in Titanic. I see simplicity, but not cheesiness. Perhaps it was because of the good performances. Great movie.

Jason Adams said...

Derreck - while I was listing the moments that make me smile or laugh I started to mention the noise that Old Rose makes when she drops the jewel into the the water, the old lady "Eh!" sound, because it always strikes me as the silliest noise she could've picked to make for that moment (thereby rendering it perfect). But I too am so annoyed every time that she's throwing the thing overboard and not giving it to these people that drug her ass out there and sat through her old lady rambling that I just couldn't include it.

Andrew R. said...

They nominated Gloria Stuart, but not Leo or Kathy? Tsk.

And while the film is GOOD, it's the most overrated film EVER.

Andrew K. said...

That Frances Fisher scene with the corset is just brilliant. I love the cheesy dialogue and when she covers her mouth in faux grief. Ah, classic. Glad you're a fan JA.

Tom Steele said...

Gosh, I'm so glad to stop feeling like a freak for loving that movie. As with most juggernaut movies over the years, it quickly became de rigueur to see it before everyone else and then trash it. I saw it opening night, cried my eyes out, and will defend it till my dying day.

Tom Steele said...

P.S. They were playing "My Heart Will Go On" at one of my local grocery stores, and I feckin' teared up right in the dairy aisle.

NATHANIEL R said...

i took my dad to it (one of the last movies i remember going with him too ... he doesn't like movies very much) and he LOVED it. so weird.

p.s. i also love it.

The Pretentious Know it All said...

"Do you want to see me work as a seamstress?"
I love love LOVE that she can barely say the word "seamstress."

NATHANIEL R said...

p.s. thank you for adding a mustache to Billy Zane's portrait. it brings his face together!

NoNo said...

My father loves this movie too! Every time it comes on TV, he bellows "This is my movie, right here!" I wasn't allowed to see it until I got older though. I was too young for Kate Winslet's breasts!

This was my first Oscars and by far my favorite. I think "movie snobs" love Titanic far more than they would admit.

Amy said...

I will remember this movie always as the ONLY film my workaholic uncle went to see in theaters, ever.

Also as the movie where my friend laughed hysterically through Leo's death scene because she thought the ice bits on his nose was funny.

RobUK said...

Absolutely adore Titanic; in spite of its shortcomings (which I perversely love) I think it's a masterpiece. It's also two movies for the price of one. A hammily enjoyable period romance with ropey dialogue ("And all the while..."), which transitions at a tangible moment ("Iceberg, right ahead!") into a masterfully paced action movie.

Realistically, it has no business beating LA Confidential in any contest of pure film quality, and yet I actually love Titanic much more. Hence I have no problem with the Best Picture win.

Andrew R - not sure I agree it's the most overrated film ever, because outside of the Academy Awards I never really get the sense that it's actually that, um, "rated". If anything, I think the ultimate backlash was too harsh and has diluted the consensus of respect for the film.

John T said...

Andrew-it's certainly not the most overrated film ever. There are multiple contenders (though I wouldn't argue with a film that rhymes with Car Pores)

Andrew K. said...

"P.S. They were playing "My Heart Will Go On" at one of my local grocery stores, and I feckin' teared up right in the dairy aisle."

Someone give Tom a hand. One of my favourite comments.

Dell said...

Thank God history didn't repeat itself this year.

kin said...

Much better than Avatar at least.

Unknown said...

I seriously can't believe its been 12 years. This was my first Oscar race and I'm still pissed about (almost) every acting category!!
Kim Basinger? Helen Hunt?
That 12 years have passes and Julianne is still Oscarless just makes me sad!! The world would be such a better place if she had won for Boogie Nights.

Henry said...

*sigh* Here we go...

The argument for and against Titanic is starting to tire me. Like the arguments on Forrest Gump.

Bryan said...

I was also too young to see Kate's breasts, apparently!

My parents made me wait a few years, and when I finally saw it, it had lost some of its magic because I had teased the plot out of my family and friends. And when I say plot, I don't mean that the ship sinks and Jack dies. I mean, I was asking questions like, "So when Mr. Andrews apologizes for not building a good enough ship, how does Rose respond?" I was obsessed.

I love the movie. It was when I first realized that I love Kate Winslet (I was too young for Heavenly Creatures and, as a seven-year-old, completely unaware of Sense and Sensibility's existence).

MRRIPLEY said...

I LOVE THESE LINES "OH STOP IT MOTHER YOU'LL GIVE YOURSELF A NOSEBLEED" AND "I'D RATHER BE HIS WHORE THAN YOUR WIFE"

Glenn said...

This movie is incredible, but then I remember that the reason the movie has so many "haters" (if you will) is because it grossed $1.8billion and then I remember that I'm sure the majority still likes it.

Magicub said...

A movie that I try to hate, but i can't. If you jump i jump, remember?

Andrew Bayless said...

I watched this last summer and the title menu had me and my friend literally crying before we could press play. Love this movie, always have, always will.