*** THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE "TITANIC in 3D" MOVIE on BLU RAY ***Holidaying in Ireland, I happened on the preview day of James Cameron's "Titanic in 3D" at the new Odeon Cinema in The Point Area of Dublin's refurbished docklands (or "The Quays" as they're known locally). We caught the first showing on 5 April 2012 debuting on their all-bells-and-whistles "iSense Screen". "iSense" features razor sharp Real-3D imaging on a gigantic screen with state-of-the-art surround sound. So myself and the two kids popped along donned the crazy specs and started to watch. The sheer spectacle of what came next has prompted me to write this review...
I've seen about 10 films in 3D some like "Despicable Me" have impressed and actually met the hype the rest have either felt gimmicky or a downright hindrance or worse a crass monetary exploitation. Even the new Aardman Animation feature film "The Pirates..." which we'd seen some days earlier is not great in 3D (although it's a top movie and thoroughly recommended). But Cameron's complete reshaping of "Titanic" into a 3D realm is a different beast. It's incredible and at times I was genuinely gobsmacked. I saw the film on its original outing in 1997 (which was a cinematic experience to say the least) and I'd estimate that 65 to 75% of this version has been improved by the 3D process with the remaining portions varying between not changed at all or just slightly better but definitely better.
So what's changed? Scenes that were somehow 'ordinary' before are now 'dimensional' at times you feel you could reach out and actually touch them...
Examples the front railings of the sunken liner at the bottom of the Atlantic at the beginning of the film, the unmanned sub that is filming it then making its way through the insides of the wreck you now feel the machine and its cables the space around it the bubbling of the water the barnacles and silt disturbed to the left and right. When the engine room ship-sized pistons kick into gear as the last boilers are lit their size and power; the drinks glasses on the table at dinner as Bruce Ismay pompously tells of how he arrived at the ship's name they have space around them and you feel you could almost lift them off the tablecloths. Even something as unassuming as Molly Brown's decorative hat as she talks to Jack (at a later dinner table setting) now reaches out of the screen into the aisles with extraordinary depth. Winslet's costumes are glorious too her radiant eyes and lustrous hair. The feeling of sea air and wind on the ship's gangways when Rose and Jack walk and talk and discuss art is accentuated more realistic.
But if I was to note just one scene that sums up how improved this version is it would be the one where Rose tries to kill herself by jumping off the back of the ship. As she steps over the railings and the camera looks down at the cold wash below suddenly the distance and the hugeness of the ship becomes 'real' looking downward and with that added depth you can 'feel' that fall...that freezing water below...
The sound is huge too groaning steel creaking wood the water crashing out of the screen right into your face as it floods corridors...
There were occasions where 3D didn't work where the effect was detrimental rather than an enhancement the boarding of the great ship at Southampton was one scene where too much was going on in the crowd sequences for the 3D to catch up. Other offences would be that one character on screen would be razor-sharp image-wise (usually the one talking) while those beside them or to the left of them would be slightly blurred. But these were rare.
What you also forget is what an incredible movie "Titanic" is. Like that other maverick filmmaker Ridley Scott ("Blade Runner", "Gladiator" and "The Kingdom Of Heaven") James Cameron isn't afraid of spectacle he embraces it. He brings it to the screen with bravado and a passion for 'detail' that few have matched. His new 3D rendering of "Titanic" is the same it seems like he's worked everything to give you the viewer as much as possible or at least more than you saw the last time. And when the actual sinking finally comes in the early hours of 15 April 1912 the horror and heartbreak still has the power to make your heart race and bring a tear to the eye. Captain Smith holding the wheel as the ocean crashes through the glass into the bridge area, the ship's funnel that breaks loose and collapses on the bodies below, the propellers rising out of the water, bodies bouncing off the ship's steel structures as the huge hull rises up and they slide downwards to their death the camera panning back as Rose emerges from the swell to an ocean of bodies flaying about in the agony of the icy Atlantic the guilty faces on the lucky ones in the boats that got away hearing their screams and cries for help yet not going back for survivors and knowing they should...
Cameron's version of the sad tale has heart too through all that technical excellence it doesn't forget to show and somehow respect the human cost. There's the rage and helplessness of the third class passengers locked into steerage below while the 'quality' on the decks above get the 'priority' placing in the lifeboats their tickets paid for the band unselfishly playing "Nearer My God To Thee" as the ship goes down by the head, the priest praying with terrified passengers trying to give them strength, the elderly couple holding each other tightly on the bed as the sea floods their cabin the Irish mum telling her two children of 'Tir na N'Og' the mythical 'land of the young' as the inevitable closes in around her beloved...
Then of course there's the cast Bill Paxton as the obsessed present-day treasure-seeker, Gloria Stuart as the elderly Rose recounting the tragedy to an enrapt crew, Jonathan Hyde as Bruce Ismay the White Star Line egotist who ordered the number of lifeboats to be reduced from 48 to 16 (compliant with Board of Trade laws at the time) so as not to clutter up the promenade decks for the first-class passengers and then once onboard practically ordering Captain Smith to open all engines to full speed ahead despite the danger (only to save himself in one of the last lifeboats an act infamous now in history). Frances Fisher is Rose's social-climbing mum, Billy Zane as Rose's manipulative and jealous boor of a fiancé, David Warner as his dastardly man-servant, Bernard Hill as the overwhelmed and ill-fated Captain Smith, 'new money' Kathy Bates as the 'unsinkable' Molly Brown all of them exemplary. Victor Garber adds huge gravitas too as the ship's architect Thomas Andrews a decent man grappling with his thoughts as it all falls apart around him (his dialogue titles this review).
But the movie belongs to its two young leads Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet as Jack and Rose a 17-year-old lady of art and means who falls in love with a 20-year old street-rat who paints to survive. While DiCaprio is good and couldn't go anywhere for a few years due to screaming girls (he was 22 at the time) it's Winslet who impresses the most. She is sensational in the role voluptuous, ballsy and humane. She also exudes an acting confidence that is staggering for a 21-year-old. In my book only Kiera Knightley gets this close to that kind of inner belief.
With regard to the 3D Film on BLU RAY (Sept 2012) it arrives in multiple versions a 2D Standard Blu Ray set, this 4-disc 3D version and a DELUXE BOX SET with memorabilia. There are 6 hours of extras, over 25 deleted scenes and endless in-depth interviews. It's a feast of detail. And there's also no doubt in my mind that Cameron has given '3D' a huge boost with this extraordinary rendering of his 1997 classic...
To sum up even if you don't want to see this film again and suffer through that dreadful Celine Dion schlock song at the end think of James Cameron's "Titanic in 3D" as sheer cinematic spectacle. My kids are 18 and 14 and given that their generation is so easily bored and their timespan for attention virtually nil they didn't notice the three-hours-plus playing time go by. In fact my son Sean announced at the end "...that was a great film Dad...really good." I could see it in his young face he was genuinely moved by what he'd just seen.
Praise indeed.
Here's what one can look forward to in this edition:
New high definition digital transfer with the main feature spread over two discs to get the highest possible picture and sound quality...and thankfully it does include DTS6.1 ES track!!!
Never before seen footage (approximately 58 minutes, alongwith the main film but it will be available through branching option on the disc unlike LOTR EXTENDED editions!!)
All-new making-of featurettes which will include time lapse footage of the massive set and studio construction.
Incredible Alternate Ending "Brock's Epiphany"
29 Never-Before-Seen Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary which include romantic moments between jack and rose and historical and action shots as well!!
Commentary by Academy Award-Winning Director James Cameron
Cast and Crew Commentaries by Stars Kate Winslet and Gloria Stuart and Oscar-Winning Producer Jon Landau and Executive Producer Rae Sanchini
Historical Commentary
Visual Effects Breakdown of the Unforgettable Stunts
Music Video "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion
...and much more!!
Titanic collector's edition is a dream come true not just for all those titanic fans out there but it will be a jewel in any dvd collection!!
AND LAST BUT DEFINITELY NOT THE LEAST.......if you own a multi-region dvd player or watch dvds from all regions on your DVD ROM, then you have an option of buying from amazon UK where you can choose between the two disc and the four disc set!!Having garnered 11 Academy Awards in 1998, a reported production budget of over US$200 million (thus making news headlines in 1997) and earning over US$1 billion in box-office receipts worldwide (quite a percentage of those are due to repeated theatrical viewings), Titanic (1997) has finally been given the enhanced DVD edition many have been looking for.
Having "suffered" a mediocre vanilla (single) DVD release in 1999, the title has finally been given better treatment (better film-to-video transfer and extensive bonus materials) by Paramount Home Entertainment for Region 1 or regions using the NTSC video system and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (Other regions or regions using the PAL video system) before 2005 ends.
Paramount Home Entertainment will be releasing a single 3-disc Special Collector's Edition (SCE) for Region 1 (US) whilst Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment will be releasing 2 editions: 2-disc Special Edition (SE) and 4-disc Deluxe/Definitive Collector's Edition (DCE) for the international markets.
DVD Release Dates Table for the 3-disc SCE for Region 1 and 4-disc DCE for Region 2 / Region 4.
Region 1
Editions
3-disc SCE
Release Dates
25 Oct 05 (U.S.)
8 Oct 05 (Japan and Korea)
25 Oct 05 (Canada)
Region 2 / Region 4
Editions
2-disc SE
4-disc DCE
Release Dates
8 Nov 05 (UK)
21 Oct 05 (Mexico)
27 Oct 05 (Sweden)
28 Oct 05 (Italy)
11 Nov 05 (Brazil)
30 Nov 05 (France)
30 Nov 05 (Australia)
30 Nov 05 (Netherlands)
30 Nov 05 (Belgium)
1 Dec 05 (Germany and Spain)
On Disc 1 & 2 of 2-disc SE (R2/R4), 3-disc SCE (R1) and 4-disc DCE (R2/R4)
The feature film Titanic (1997) will be split onto first 2 discs (as per LOTR Special Extended Edition sets) when the enhanced DVD edition is release during the months of Oct Dec 05 worldwide due to the limitation of the DVD format.
For all editions of all regions, the feature film (HD transfer) is presented in 16 x 9 Anamorphic Widescreen (2.35 : 1) with the usual Dolby Digital Surround EX 5.1 soundtrack, there is also the DTS-ES 6.1 soundtrack included. Hopefully, the part of the feature film on the first disc ends on the appropriate scene for a short toilet/snack break.
note: the behind the scenes branching option means when you're viewing the film a little icon will appear at the bottom of the screen allowing you to jump to that part of the film to see how they done that.
The bonus materials included in the first 2 discs of the DVD set (Applicable for all regions) are listed as follows:
3 AUDIO COMMENTARIES WITH
DIRECTOR, JAMES CAMERON (Run Time 194m 46s)
CAST (Kate Winslet & Gloria Stuart) AND CREW (Producer Jon Landau and Executive Producer Rae Sanchini) (Run Time 153m 47s)
HISTORICAL LOOK ON TITANIC BY DON LYNCH & KEN MARSCHALL (Run Time 194 min 46s)
BEHIND THE SCENES FOOTAGE VIA BRANCHING (Run Time 62m 16s) / Spread over first 2 feature discs.
POD 01 DEEP DIVE
POD 02 UPSIDE-DOWN WRECK MINIATURE
POD 03 ESCONDIDO UNDERWATER SET
POD 04 TWO ROSES
POD 05 SINKING SIMULATION
POD 06 1912 MORPH TRANSITION VFX
POD 07 SOUTHAMPTON FLOP
POD 08 A VIEW FROM THE PUB VFX
POD 09 LEAVING PORT VFX
POD 10 MELTING POT
POD 11 THE MILLIONAIRE'S SUITE
POD 12 THE ENGINE ROOM
POD 13 TITANIC AT SEA
POD 14 DIGITAL PEOPLE
POD 15 THE MILLION DOLLAR SHOT
POD 16 THE BIG EXTERIOR SHIP SET
POD 17 ROSE SUICIDE
POD 18 BIG SHIP SET VFX
POD 19 TUX STORY
POD 20 THE GRAND STAIRCASE
POD 21 COSTUME DESIGN
POD 22 FIRST CLASS DINING ROOM
POD 23 DINNER SHOOT
POD 24 THIRD CLASS PARTY
POD 25 A WOMAN'S PLACE
POD 26 THE ETIQUETTE KID
POD 27 THE BOILER ROOM
POD 28 FLOODING HOLD MINIATURE
POD 29 ICEBERG/DECK VFX
POD 30 BOILER ROOM FLOODING
POD 31 FIRST CLASS LOUNGE MINIATURE
POD 32 SHOOTING IN STEERAGE
POD 33 KATE'S ACTION COSTUME
POD 34 CRANE AS HELICOPTER
POD 35 LIFEBOATS 13 & 15
POD 36 FLOODED FIRST CLASS DINING ROOM
POD 37 STAGE 2 SINKING SET
POD 38 FAKING A TILT
POD 39 THE SINKING RISER
POD 40 SHIP EXTENSIONS
POD 41 FALLING FUNNEL
POD 42 GRAND STAIRCASE FLOODING
POD 43 MINIATURE HALL FLOODING
POD 44 JUMPING STUNTS
POD 45 TILTING POOP DECK
POD 46 DECK SLIDERS
POD 47 DIGITAL STUNT PEOPLE
POD 48 SINKING VIDEOMATIC
POD 49 SHIP SPLIT MINIATURE
POD 50 VERTICAL POOP DECK STUNTS
POD 51 THE TOILET PAPER SHOT
POD 52 FINAL PLUNGE VFX
POD 53 UNDERWATER GREENSCREEN
POD 54 INTERIOR TANK SHOOT
POD 55 BREATH SHOTS
POD 56 EXTERIOR TANK SHOOT
POD 57 ICE MAKEUP
POD 58 OPEN LIFEBOATS AND THE CARPATHIA
POD 59 CARPATHIA MEDAL
POD 60 THE FINAL SHOT
POD 61 MAKING THE MUSIC VIDEO
MY HEART WILL GO ON MUSIC VIDEO (Run Time 4m 42s)
ALTERNATE ENDING "BROCK'S EPIPHANY" WITH OPTIONAL COMMENTARY BY JAMES CAMERON (Run Time 9m 15s)
Bonus Materials on Disc 3 (R1) and Disc 3 or 4 (R2/R4)
note: The film itself was suppose to run for 5 hours and 20 minutes but over 147 minutes had to be cut down for pacing. The 29 deleted scenes + the alternate ending were originally meant to be in the final cut of the film. Unfortunately were deleted before its release.
29 DELETED SCENES (COMPLETE SCENES WITH FINISHED EFFECTS) WITH OPTIONAL AUDIO COMMENTARY (Run Time 45m 57s)
#1 I'LL BE THE FIRST
#2 ROSE FEELS TRAPPED
#3 BROCK'S DILEMMA/ ROSE VISITS THIRD CLASS
#4 ROSE'S DREAMS
#5 COME JOSEPHINE...
#6 EXTENDED SNEAKING TO FIRST CLASS
#7 EXTENDED ESCAPE FROM LOVEJOY
#8 A KISS IN THE BOILER ROOM
#9 WIRELESS ROOM/ THE CALIFORNIAN
#10 HOW 'BOUT A LITTLE ICE?
#11 FLIRTING WITH ICE
#12 THE FIRST S.O.S.
#13 ISMAY PANICS
#14 MOLLY BROWN'S ROWING SCHOOL
#15 IRISH HOSPITALITY
#16 IDA STRAUS WON'T LEAVE
#17 FAREWELL TO HELGA
#18 BOAT SIX WON'T RETURN
#19 RELEASE THE HOUNDS
#20 ROSE GETS A HUSBAND'S LETTER
#21 JACK AND LOVEJOY FIGHT
#22 GUGGENHEIM AND ASTOR
#23 I'M NOT GOING
#24 CORA'S FATE
#25 EXTENDED JACK AND ROSE IN THE WATER
#26 OUT OF THE QUESTION
#27 HOW DARE YOU!
#28 CHINESE MAN RESCUE
#29 EXTENDED CARPATHIA SEQUENCE
1912 NEWS REEL WITH OPTIONAL COMMENTARY BY ED MARSH (Run Time 2m 11s)
CONSTRUCTION TIMELAPSE SEQUENCE WITH OPTIONAL COMMENTARY BY ED MARSH (Run Time 4m 19s)
DEEP DIVE PRESENTATION NARRATED BY JAMES CAMERON (Run Time 15m 29s )
TITANIC CREW VIDEO (Run Time 17m 26s)
A SHIP'S ODYSSEY (THE TITANIC CREW VIDEO)
SHIP'S TOUR MONTAGE WITH OPTIONAL COMMENTARY BY ANDERS FALK (Run Time 7m 33s)
VIDEOMATICS AND VFX (Run Time 8m 38s)
VIDEOMATICS INTRODUCTION
SINKING SEQUENCE
DEEP DIVE
VFX SHOT BREAKDOWN: "ENGINE ROOM"
VFX HOW-TO FOR "I'M FLYING"
VFX HOW-TO FOR "FIRST CLASS LOUNGE"
TITANIC SINKING SIMULATION
STILL GALLERIES
TITANIC SCRIPTMENT
STORYBOARD SEQUENCES
PRODUCTION ARTWORK
PHOTOGRAPHS
KEN MARSCHALL'S PAINTING GALLERY
BY THE NUMBERS
BIBILOGRAPHY
BREAKING NEW GROUND THE MAKING OF TITANIC TV Special (Run Time 42m 50s)
TITANIC FEATURETTES ELETRONIC PRESS KIT (Run Time 18m 10s)
NEWSPOD #1: STORY FOCUS
NEWSPOD #2: ACTOR FOCUS
NEWSPOD #3: BUILDING THE SHIP
NEWSPOD #4: POPULATING THE SHIP
NEWSPOD #5: SINKING THE SHIP
NEWSPOD #6: JAMES CAMERON FOCUS
NEWSPOD #7: DEEP DIVE FOCUS
CONCEPT POSTERS AND ONE SHEETS
Bonus Materials Exclusive to 4-Disc (R2/R4) Release Not Applicable for Region 1 Release
HBO FIRST LOOK THE HEART OF THE OCEAN (Run Time 27m 30s)
TITANIC IN 30 SECONDS WITH BUNNIES (Run Time 0m 47s)
MTV MOVIE AWARDS TITANIC SKIT (Run Time 4m 21s)
TITANIC (1997) S.E. EASTER EGG SNL SKIT WITH BILL PAXTON AND JAMES CAMERON (Run Time 4m 47s)
TRAILERS & TEASERS IN WIDESCREEN OR FULL FRAME (Approximately 25 minutes)
TITANIC TV SPOTS IN FULL FRAME (Run Time 5m 26s)
DESTINY
OPPOSITE WORLDS
KNOW THE LEGEND
NOTHING YOU EXPECT
HEART WILL GO ON
SEE IT AGAIN:15
HONORED
TITANIC SINKING SIMMULATION
RTLT TV SPOT GERMAN
SOUND QUALITY
2-DISC SET 2.0 / 5.1 / 6.1 DOLBY DIGITAL SURROUND SOUND WITH DTS
3-DISC SET 2.0 / 5.1 / 6.1 DOLBY DIGITAL SURROUND SOUND WITH DTS
4-DISC SET 2.0 / 5.1 / 6.1 DOLBY DIGITAL SURROUND SOUND WITH DTS
PICTURE QUALITY
2-DISC SET WIDESCREEN ANAMORPHIC 2.35:1
3-DISC SET WIDESCREEN ANAMORPHIC 2.35:1
4-DISC SET WIDESCREEN ANAMORPHIC 2.35:1
SPECIAL FEATURES for the 2-DISC & 3-DISC & 4-DISC EDITIONS
TITANIC SPECIAL EDITION 2-DISC SET
The movie itself on disc 1 & 2
3 all new commentaries
POD Behind the Scenes branching option
"My Heart Will Go On" music video
All new nine minute Alternate Ending: Brock's Epiphany
2.0 / 5.1 / 6.1 dolby digital surround sound with DTS
2.35:1 Widescreen Anamorphic
TITANIC SPECIAL EDITION 3-DISC SET
The movie itself on disc 1 & 2
3 all new commentaries
POD Behind the Scenes branching option
"My Heart Will Go On" music video
All new nine minute Alternate Ending: Brock's Epiphany
29 deleted scenes with optional commentary
Production and special effects featurettes
"Breaking New Ground" TV speicial
Visual effects breakdown of the stunts
Construction Timelapse with Optional Commentary
Titanic Ship's Tour with Optional Commentary
Easter Eggs
Still Galleries
Visual Effects
Videomatics
Titanic Crew Video
Deep Dive Presentation
1912 Newsreel with optional commentary
2.0 / 5.1 / 6.1 dolby digital surround sound with DTS
2.35:1 Widescreen Anamorphic
TITANIC DELUXE COLLECTOR'S EDITION 4-DISC SET
The movie itself on disc 1 & 2
3 all new commentaries
POD Behind the Scenes branching option
"My Heart Will Go On" music video
All new nine minute Alternate Ending: Brock's Epiphany
29 deleted scenes with optional commentary
Production and special effects featurettes
"Breaking New Ground" TV speicial
Visual effects breakdown of the stunts
Construction Timelapse with Optional Commentary
Titanic Ship's Tour with Optional Commentary
Easter Eggs
Still Galleries
Visual Effects
Videomatics
Titanic Crew Video
Deep Dive Presentation
1912 Newsreel with optional commentary
HBO "Heart Of The Ocean" documentry
3 TITANIC parodies
15 trailers and TV spots
2.0 / 5.1 / 6.1 dolby digital surround sound with DTS
2.35:1 Widescreen AnamorphicThe 3rd disc has 3 hidden easter eggs and here is how to find them:
SNL Skit: Go to Deleted Scenes and the last page with Chapter 29. Move the cursor so the picture for Chapter 29 is highlighted in an orange border. Hit the RIGHT cursor (nothing will happen) and then the DOWN cursor and the faint couple near the bottom will highlighted in a white border.
MTV Skit: Go to the Marketing Menu and highlight "Fox Special: Breaking New Ground". Hit the RIGHT cursor (nothing will happen) and then the DOWN cursor and the newspaper in the lower right of the screen will be highlighted in a yellowish border.
Titanic in 30 Seconds with Bunnies: Go to Special Features, then Still Galleries, then Production Artwork. Move the cursor RIGHT until "View Entire Gallery" is underlined. Hit the UP cursor TWICE until the blue arrow in the middle of the screen is highlighted.
These are really great and you will be very happy to see them!! :) :) :)
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