Titanic The Best Film I Have Ever Seen - Essay Example

THE BEST FILM I HAVE EVER SEEN I rate James Cameron’s 1997 epic disaster “Titanic” as the best film I have ever seen due to its impressive and harmonious combination of a legendary tale, gripping love story, fabulous performances by cast members, extraordinary visual effects, impressive soundtrack and awe-inspiring climax. As the foundation of the story, the magnificent ocean liner – the subject of legend and lore ever since its death in 1912 – is re-created by Cameron so meticulously and historically accurately that viewers feel they are personally walking the decks of the mighty ship.

Cameron weaves the tale of the ill-fated voyage around an intense love relationship between two mismatched and star-crossed protagonists whose affair seems doomed to failure because of class differences. Handsome Leonardo DiCaprio as the poor artist Jack Dawson and beautiful Kate Winslet as the American debutante Rose DeWitt Bukater give stellar performances, ably supported by outstanding acting by Billy Zane as Rose’s cold-hearted fiancé Cal Hockley, Frances Fisher as Rose’s financial ruin-facing mother Ruth DeWitt Bukater, and Bernard Hill as the imposing ship captain Edward John Smith.

By ensuring the tragic sinking of the Titanic does not eclipse the protagonists who are in priority focus from start to end, Cameron adroitly sidesteps a common failing in most epic disaster films – too many sub-plots interwoven around too many supporting characters. Two other contributors to the gripping nature of the film are its powerful visual effects whereby computer-simulated realities are used with devastating effect, and the outstanding soundtrack, especially “Hymn to the Sea” and the super-hit number by Celine Dion “My Heart Will Go On.

” Although 80 per cent of the 3-hour plus film comprises flashbacks, Cameron’s use of genuine documentary images traverses the thin line between illusion and reality so effectively that viewers do not just watch the film, but vibrantly experience it right from the day the ship was launched in Southampton to the time it sinks. The climax of the film is undoubtedly the overwhelming scenes of the mighty ‘unsinkable’ ship in its death throes as it slowly but surely sinks into a cold watery grave.

After viewing ‘Titanic,’ I was so awe-struck that it seemed James Cameron went to great lengths to specially construct a brand new ‘Titanic’ ocean liner, launch it with grand pomp and fanfare, and then let it sink with terrible grandeur……I have no doubt ‘Titanic’ is the best film I have ever seen; such is its absolute magnificence, that it is highly unlikely to be surpassed by any other film, ever. References used:Berardinelli, James. “Titanic (1997).” Reelviews.net. 1997. 11 Nov. 2007. Cameron, James “Titanic.

” Paramount. 1997.