I don't usually jump in and write an Epinion on something with hundreds of reviews already but when I noticed that the first page of "Titanic" reviews were predominantly negative I felt my hand was forced.

"Titanic" obviously named after the boat could have been named after the budget without changing the title. However, these dollars were well spent. Writer/Director James Cameron ("Terminator," "The Abyss") created a masterpiece. Yes, it ran long, which is a slight drawback, but I don't think it could have been shorter without taking away from the plot. Essentially, Cameron took a true, epic disaster from human history and did a better job of humanizing the story than anyone in Hollywood has before.

The lead actor, Leonardo DiCaprio ("The Quick and the Dead") was certainly propelled to fame by his performance. He is young and only time will tell if his excellent portrayal of nomad painter Jack Dawson was a fluke, but he certainly performed wonderfully as a young man who travels the world and takes each day as it comes.

Our leading lady is another story. Kate Winslet ("Sense and Sensibility") played well, the role of Rose Calvert the spoiled little rich girl with the weight of the world on her shoulders. This was the performance of a lifetime as none of her many previous roles indicated any unusual talent. Frankly, a lot of the credit for her character goes to the costumers and make-up people who made a normally plain looking woman appear, at the very least, attractive. I wouldn't look for anything greater from her career.

To me, the most outstanding performance was by Gloria Stuart ("The Million Dollar Hotel") playing Rose (Calvert) Dawson 80 years later. Her feisty performance was right on the money and was a pure delight each time they switched back to the present. Another dynamite performance was by Billy Zane ("Zoolander," "The Phantom") playing Cal Hockley, the fiance of Rose. Cal was beyond spoiled in only the ways that the truly rich can manage and Zane was magnificent portraying a man having trouble getting what he wanted for the first time in his life.

The only other notable performance was Kathy Bates ("Misery") as The Unsinkable Molly Brown. Unlike the other first class passengers Molly was made of new money and therefore looked at the world with wonder instead of demanding to have more. She was more of a minor character but enhanced every scene she was in.

Bill Paxton ("Twister") did a credible job as Brock Lovett the man searching for the lost diamond necklace but it was somewhat lackluster when compared to some of his other roles. As his character was only important for perspective in the storytelling it had little effect on the film.

As for some of the other minor roles; Frances Fisher ("Unforgiven") played Rose's mother well but it did not appear to be a very difficult role. Essentially she was a broke aristocrat widow seeking to regain wealth through her daughter's marriage. Victor Garber ("Legally Blonde") plays the ship's designer Thomas Andrews and he played it well enough to have hoped for more scenes from him, but then again, the movie was long enough.

And then there was Suzy Amis ("Blown Away") playing the granddaughter of a Rose as an old woman, fortunately a small role. Usually Amis is simply another pretty face in the crowd. I don't mean her roles, I mean her performance. She's a former model (Ford Motor Company--and she wasn't a car) which is no surprise considering she's tall, pretty and smiles well. She's been in numerous unsuccessful movies and several plays. She is not an actress that will amount to much. Normally I don't have much criticism for casting in a Cameron flick but I originally wondered why she was there. The explanation came sometime after the release when Cameron divorced Linda Hamilton ("Terminator") and married Suzy. I wouldn't be surprised to see her in later Cameron films.

I could go on commenting on small roles and the performers that went with them or I could delve into plot details. However, neither is necessary. No one else, good or bad, effects the movie enough to make note of and the plot is simple. The sinking of The Titanic is the backdrop for a love story between a rich girl and a poor boy developed well and presented excellently. This movie had humor, tears, jeers, frustration, suspense, action and effects. It was a chick flick, disaster movie, love story and action film. Most likely you've seen it and know the plot well. If you haven't then you should rent it quickly as it's well worth the three hours of viewing more than once.

Recommended:
No

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Good Date Movie
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 9 - 12