Titanic Memories

It was like the slap of a wet mackerel to the face today to realize that it’s been 10 years since the release of the blockbuster film Titanic.

During the filming of James Cameron’s monolithic production, as members of the Titanic Historical Society Wray and I were among a select few who were invited to fly to Nova Scotia and be fitted for a period costume to be an extra in Titanic. However, having a job and obligations and being unable to languish on the east coast for the six week shoot, I turned the privilege down. But it was neat to be able to pick out a familiar face or two in the background of certain scenes in the movie.

With a $200 million price tag, Titinic was, well, a titanic production and a new standard in lush and realistic movie-making. It won a mantle-ful of Oscars and remains the top grossing film of all time. But look what has happened to the industry. The flops are bigger and more expensive and story films are now largely independent productions not financed by the big studios which want huge returns on gargantuan investments.

When I think of the movies I want to see more than once, effects-laden flicks are generally not among them. I want stories and people and laughter and maybe a tear or two sometimes. I want Muriel’s Wedding and Never Been Kissed and When Harry Met Sally with their clever dialogue and original takes on life and not a blue-screen shot among them. I was amazed at how much I enjoyed Transformers but it’s not something I’d ever watch again or want in my collection. If I’m going to get emotionally involved in the story of a robot, I’ll take the simple animation of The Iron Giant and bawl my eyes out at the end every time, thank you!