Titanic
Dir: James Cameron
1997
**
The world went mad for Titanic on its release. Big budget, impressive cast and experienced director when it comes to big productions and developing new film making techniques. We were promised historical accuracy and respectful handling of actual people. What could go wrong? Well, on first viewing there was nothing wrong, it was nothing short of gobsmackingly impressive. The SFX are still impressive, it's as if you were watching the actual Titanic sinking. Then you watch it again, and again and you begin to see that all is not great. It isn't historically accurate and some of the dead from that fateful night have been wronged in their portrayal. This is a big no no as far as Cinephile Crocodile is concerned. Then you remember other things, in the film we see Picasso's painting "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" go down with the ship. It didn't though, it's hanging in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Why would you go to great lengths to ensure historical accuracy and then throw something like that in? On reflection the characters are either overblown or two dimensional. The script is overcooked and generally doesn't fit with the time period or with the situation. Personally I think it was a missed opportunity, although I'm sure Mr Cameron's bank manager would disagree. It really isn't the classic we all thought it would become.