You say this film has a 'hatedom' because it's popular and how it is incorrect to call it 'a crap film'. I agree, it is a film that is very well made cimatically. But the question I pose is this: Is the reason why people think the film is crap is because they can't get emotinally invested in the story. Speaking from personal experience I couldn't wait for the ship to sink because I wasn't emotinally invested in these characters, so I didn't care if they lived or died.

In my opinon this is why Avatar is the worst film I've ever seen (unrelated I know, but bare with me). At no point do I sympathy with any of the characters because their too bland and boring. Thus no matter how good the visuals are, if one can't 'get' into a film then it's going to live them dull and unimpressed.

Titanic, as you point out, is a well-made film. But I do believe that if had been shorter and the characters were a bit more interesting (instead of just tropes to fulfil the required roles), then it wouldn't have people incorrectly regarding it as 'crap'

Wait...'Avatar' is the worst film you've ever seen? Avatar?

You lucky bastard. =P

On a more related note, however, I thought your post conveyed all the film's problems perfectly without seeming hateful, as did the review.

My only complaint about Titanic is how damn long it is. I can deal with so-so characters and meh writing fine, but not if it's for SO LONG. Which it is.

Indeed, to call Avatar "one of the worst films" is extremely harsh, its not even a bad movie, certainly above average. It was done pretty well and the only real major faults it has is that the premise has been done to death and it was very heavy handed with its political message and symbolism (which to be fair has always been one of Camerons traits, though admittedly, his older films didn't have my eyes rolling out of my skull when I noticed it) . That said, I never got into all the hype and came into the film knowing nothing about it so maybe I'm far more lenient on the film that those that got let down by its apparent heavy hype machine.

Guess hype can be a major killer of movies and some studios need to learn where to stop with the hype cause if you hype something up too much, it will fall hard when it doesn't live up to that. I imagine if this film didn't have that kind of hype to it or wasn't quite as big of a name/popularity it wouldn't get nearly half the hate it gets now. Also it being 3D probably didn't help it despite being probably one of the best 3D experiences.

Though I will apologise to FilmBrain seems I too up two paragraphs with an off topic rant. On to Titanic... Honestly, I've been fairly dismissive of the film and though I do begrudgingly respect for it. Like with Peter Jackson on the King Kong and Lord of the Rings movies, you get a feel that this movie means more to the director than a quick cash grab and he had genuine love for the subject.

However, I think my reasons for not giving it much of a chance are that I never used to like Leonardo Decaprio, I always thought he was some stupid pretty boy actor, that and watching it a few times with my mum and seeing her crying over the end sent me more bitter about it than anything else being pretty young at the time and soppy stuff seemed stupid and unappealing. I didn't care about characters, plotting or pacing back then, film coming out in winter 1997 and not hitting VHS (thus me being able to watch it) until much later, I'd have been 7 and thus it was more action and horror movies for me (Favourite movie at the time was Aliens).

I didn't start gaining respect for Leonardo Decaprio until a good couple years later when I got over my hate of him and finally popped in a copy of Gangs of New York. As for films, as I grew older and lacked many friends I was raised on movies and video games and thus had much more respect and knowledge about them.

Continued...

I do plan on giving the movie another go and seeing what I think of it with a more mature mindset. Though I will admit you are right with Camerons approach to villains always being pretty cheap and heavy handed to the point that I don't think he knows how to handle human villains without making them strawmen or caricatures. Cater Burke was probably the best human villain he's written which doesn't say much for him.

Though overall I did like the review and you've convinced me to give the film another try.

Edit: To add further to this, one big question... wtf happened to Billy Zanes career? Not seen him in much in... probably a decade.

Sowolf - according to IMDB, Zane's been acting steadily since then, although it doesn't seem as if the years have been kind. He went from the Phantom and Titanic to appearing in the third Scorpion King movie (alongside David Bautista, whose work the Film Brain has reviewed before). If I enjoyed the misery of British people, I'd ask the Brain to review it, but unfortunately I only enjoy the Nostalgia Critic's pain. Either way, Zane's appeared in a number of movies where he's only shown on the extended IMDB list, way down near the bottom. He's listed in six movies just in 2011-2013 that are in post-production, and it looks like he's just trying to pick up a check at this point.

As for Avatar, I refused to see it in theaters because the plot was basically Pocahontas In Space. And while that would normally be an awesome plot, I wasn't going to fork out the cash just for the special effects. I missed out on most of the hype, but I still figured it out from a basic synopsis of the plot that I heard from friends.

I do agree with you on Cameron having trouble with human villains. The Terminators (at least in I and II) scared me, as did the Aliens, because there was nothing there, aside from an instinct to kill and a drive that would keep them going no matter what. Human or human-like villains don't scare me, because they can be reasoned with and feel fear themselves. As odd as the rest of that movie was, The World is Not Enough had a villain that actually scared me (instead of all the others, who just made me laugh), because Renard had no real emotions aside from an obsessive dedication to Electra and murderous rage towards everything around him.

Brilliant analysis, FB!

I really didn't like this film because, yes, it was boring. It was way too long and the characters were just dull. 90% of the scenes felt contrived and it just didn't fit somehow. That's why people hate it. As with Ratin8tor, I also don't like Avatar for the same reason. It's not a 'crap film' in a technical, filmmaking sense, but from an entertainment stance, it is quite overrated in my opinion.

I HAAAAAATE this Titanic movie soooooooooooo DAMN MUCH!! I prefer the made for TV version of the story with Tim Curry as the asshole crew-member.
This movie gets waaaaay too much credit to me but I've never been into love stories!
The only good things about this movie were the jokes of it that were made! Like the SNL skit where the fat guy and the other researchers beat the hell out of old Rose for telling them a 3 hour story and throwing the diamond overboard!

There was a made for TV version that had Tim Curry in it? Where do I find this??

Welshy but no Panda... but they're a duo. Like Salt and Pepper, C3P-O and R2-D2, Chips and Coke. Panda and Welshy.

Back to Titanic.
Agree about Cameron writing great female characters. I genuinely think that his treatment of Ripley in Aliens propelled her to the greatest female lead of all time.

Agree completely with Mathew. Hate it if you must, but to say there's nothing redeeming or watchable about Titanic is just silly.

Ironically, literally the only part of Titanic I'm not as fond of is when the ship sinks. I could have watched the whole movie with it never sinking, and I think I'd have much preferred it.

No, I can safely say it's a bit crap. Its over long, terminally dull and centres around character I found completely unlikeable. It is decently acted and well shot, but that doesn't make it a good film, it makes it a nice looking bad film.

I think it could have been far better by taking focus away from Jack and Rose and covering a lot more of the people on the boat so that the audience could be more invested. As it is, if you don't care about the two leads you are left with absolutely nothing.

I thoroughly enjoyed Titanic. it was very well made, written, and performed. was it the BEST movie i've ever seen, no. but it's still one of my favorites.

also, you neglect to mention that this year is also the 100th anniversary of the sinking, which i think also plays a big part as to why exactly the movie was re-released at this time.

I actually did in the 3D portion of the video.

YES! This is exactly what I've been saying about Titanic the whole time! I would have LOVED to see an ensemble film about the Titanic rather than some story about Jack and Rose (and some boat was there too). I never knew quite how to feel about the film because the love story was so bland, but... those sets. Wow. And the vignettes right around the time the ship was sinking... the band... that old couple on the bed... I would have liked to have seen more of that. More of what it was like to be on the Titanic, and more of what it was like to go down with the Titanic... and not so much what it was like to date some ideal boy. Then again, maybe I'm just thinking of myself. Romances are always in style.

I guess what I would have loved to see most was for James Cameron to direct his big Hollywood epic for the masses, then once the interest was there, used the beautiful sets and special effects they had developed for the movie and directed a dramatized documentary comprised largely of vignettes of people during the last days and finally the sinking of RMS Titanic.

My opinion of Titanic, which I've only seen from beginning to end once, and that was in the theater, was: "Eh. Not bad."

I didn't think it was great, but I didn't hate it either. I think Mat hit on all of the problems I had, and even a few I didn't notice. Leo's acting was hit or miss, but I thought he got better as the movie progressed... which is odd because I'm pretty sure they don't film in script order.

I still have no idea how the movie made as much money as it did, but then again I also don't understand how movies like Avatar and Twilight make more than a dollar ninety-five minus taxes. I should just be glad that a movie I liked was successful, even if the scale of the success was insane.

Still, major points to Mat in regards to the need for the film to focus on the supporting cast. That would had truly been a better use of the film time... and I'm still annoyed at the "Sit down" seen with Molly Brown. Sorry, if they got the character right, the real Molly would had taken that ass**** and thrown him out of the boat. That moment was an insult to the real woman and a disservice I don't forgive Cameron for. It was on scale with the Greedo shot first screen, if not worse.

Still, massive kudos to Kate Winslet. She's a damn good actress who I still don't understand why she's not in more major productions nowadays.

Edit: Oh, and I look forward to the final product being done by (forgive the term) Channel Awesome Europe.

I have natural abhorrence towards Hollywood films centered around real tragic events. I don't care how much James Cameron was supposedly obsessed over Titanic and is trying to make me care, but all that's being shoved in my face are the star-crossed lovers. I've said it a million times and I'll say it again: Hollywood films set amidst the backdrop of tragedy are awful. They are awful because they're over-sensationalized to make their appeal sexy. This film is living proof.

Not is to say I dismissed it, because I didn't. I watched it. Who didn't? And I still don't care for it. And I still call it awful.

wow...ive never really seen it in that way...thank you FB

Yeah I guess I kinda agree with what you said about the film. I was an oddity among my friends, in that the dreamy-ness of Leo was not enough for me to like the film. I love the beginning and I love the end, but Jesus fucking Christ is the middle a pain the get through. The movie goes for three hours!!! You would think with three hours to spare they could give some greater mention to the other people on board, especially for those played by some stellar character actors. Like the Captain or Kathy Bates' character? I loved them! But instead we get a bore-fest between two characters, whose pretty outward shells do little to maintain interest for the period of time intended. And Billy Zane?? Fuck, man. Very little of the gorgeous scenery was left without his teeth marks...

Anyways, I loved the compassion and heart given to the film by Cameron. As a cinematography fangirl, I was never left unimpressed. It is a success as a film in it's ability to project its intended emotions on the audience - the horror, the sorrow, the empathy - but I don't believe that made up for sleep intervention I would have to inevitably endure for this film.

Bit sad to hear about the 3D, though. The grandiose set pieces for the film seem to almost scream for it. Oh well. Great review :)

While I enjoyed Kate Winslet getting naked (and honestly, who doesn't?) I was far less interested in the main characters than in the background characters. I was a fan of the actual Titanic for years before this movie came out, and was disappointed that the real stories were glossed over for what was essentially a high school romance.

Personally, I think "A Night to Remember" was a far superior film about the Titanic. The ship hits the iceberg about 20 minutes in, and the rest is about the actual people, and it even has multiple scenes set on the Carpathia, the ship that turned off their telegraph and could have saved many of Titanic's passengers.

Not gonna watch the 3D Version... saw it 2 times in 1997, that's enough ^^.

What happened to the guy who directed Terminators 1 and 2? I loved those movies. When I've seen what he's done since Titanic, it's become super sappy and overly sympathetic. He should've just stuck to action movies, where his strong suit was.

You havent seen Kate Winslet's tits until you've seen Kate Winslet's tits in 3D

Ah, this movie always makes me think of my dad. He loves this movie.

By which I mean, he loves watching the effects as the Titanic sinks. I might take him to see this. We'll just wait outside the theater for an hour or so.

Well reviewed FB, best work you've done in a while.

The Titanic is an important film. Just not for the three main characters. I wanted to see more of the back-up people ones to fill in spaces. The guy over excited to travel to a new land (Jack bf who he doesn't talk with at all) the Captain, the man Mr. Andrews who created the ship even the lady who was of new money seem more real there was a young girl we only seen once. I wanted to know about her. I always skip through to the end because that's where it gets real. I'm from Nova Scotia and the sinking of the Titanic is a part of our history we've even gave a grave yard in Halifax to some of the "unknown" people who were lost at see. We all mock the "I'll never let go" part because it feels to fake. Seeing Mr. Andrews die standing, the band kept playing, the Captain went down with his ship holding on. It's hard to say but the way the other people took on the fact we're going down was more touching then Rose and Jack ever were.

We've even gave you Celine Dion and the famous song "My heart will go on". You'll never forget it because it'll always keep going on..and on..and on (annoying) lol

Yeah I am in agreement on this. While the film is not bad, it focuses way to much on Jack and Rose. A film this long would have benefited so much from a esemble cast, thats part of the reaon why the Lord of the Rings movies hold up so well.

I asked this on one of Mike J's posts, but never got a reply. Concerning the NerdQuest donations, some of the perks involve getting items sent to me before release. However, it is very likely that I change address before the movie is complete and I receive my perk. Is there anyway for me to change my address for this reason AFTER I submit money to your cause?

I'm sure if you contact MikeJ about it, I'm sure it can be arranged.

Ok, thank you. I have now contributed to the campaign :)

Your right on the film needing to be an ensamble piece, I find it hard to sit through the first 2/3 of the film as there is such a heavy focus of the 3 leads. When it comes to the sinking i can't help but wish I knew more about the side characters given that i was always drawn to them more.

On billy Zane your right when it comes to Cameron's writing being weaker for male characters but i feel like Zane was just miscast in general, with his strenghts lying along the more family fun and comedic side of acting.

I can't help but love this film, but I must admit the criticisms you give are solid. I would have loved to see more of the other characters and Jack is a bit dull, but I like Leo and Kate's chemistry so much I don't mind what we got.

I've not watched it all the way through, Because it bored the hell out of me....!!!!

I saw the movie on the big screen when it first came out, and I think that's probably the best way to see it. But I tried re-watching it recently and found that I couldn't sit through the first half. It wasn't even that I disliked Jack, but I couldn't stand how cliche and (as you aptly put it) cartoonish Cal was, which made the Jack/Rose romance utterly bland and predictable. Still, it has some very good music (aside from Celine Dion, who I still despise immensely) and beautiful visuals, so I can easily remember what made the movie so popular back in the day. This was an excellent and thorough review, good job.

Great review FB

I stand by my belief that Titanic was at best a mediocre film. It gets way more credit than it deserves. Cinematography and musical score aside, the movie is kinda bland. It was an absolute travesty when it was awarded best picture of 1997 when there were far better films. I'm certainly not alone when I say L.A. Confidential had a far more engaging story, dynamic characters, relative topics (ie. racial profiling), etc. etc. I have never trusted the Oscars since.

You stopped trusting the oscars in 1997? How old are you?
Sure it's entertaining for some people, but something to trust? No.

Well Matthew, what you explain both the flaw and strong points about Titantic is something I wish I could've said better myself, in regards of my best friend that he, accordingly to others who has the same issue, hates this film because the love story was B-O-R-I-N-G. As a whole with a boring love story between Jack and Rose, it's his main problem with it.

I can see why as you pointed out. It's pretty obvious, especially that I think Billy Zane's character was rather misunderstood in several occasions - the part where he and Jack watches Rose on the life-boat until she, for some reason, jumps back on the sinking ship. Back then, I was it was subtle as cute. Now, it was more like WHAT? WHY?! Which it reinforces Zane's character to poorly draw out his gun and starts shooting. Right now, I'm thinking "Yeah, shoot those two STUPID NIMRODS!" What exactly did Rose thought it will serve a reason to jump back to the ship? Just so she wants to be with Jack ALL THE TIME? If anything on that, that's silly and nuts. I mean, arguably speaking, the moment Zane and Leo were standing side-by-side watching Rose to safety away from the ship, I think it was a temporary moment they put aside the hatred they built up eariler of the film just to have their lives AND Rose's out of danger, no matter how trivial the circumstances are. That's the only problem I'm having trouble to understand this unless anyone could interpreted that scene and could make me understand what does that scene serve the purpose to push the love interest further to the rest of the film towards the end.

But, regardless of that and above, I am one of those who has a secret "love" for Titantic. I still have it on the Two Part VHS copy and, as far as how strong Avatar can hold, I argue to think that this film holds stronger one way or another, hated or otherwise. It's a film that has a "STORY" to tell and I love how it pave it's way to tell it. So yeah, one major nitpick to complain, but as a whole I still stand what I said, and I'm not ashamed to still own it after all these years since it first came. Good review Mat.

P.S.: And since I have the VHS copy, I'm not planning to see it in theaters....3D or not. Not worth it whatsoever.

Yeah, that film would have been awesome if Zane had managed to shoot these punk kids!
Scene I'd like to see!