Worth the Watch
I picked up this DVD at my local library, as it's originally a National Geographic film which runs about 47 minutes. It has no subtitles but I was able to access them through the closed caption option on my remote.
In this documentary, James Cameron the writer and director of the iconic 1997 movie "Titanic" (which is probably by favorite film of all-time) looks back, now 20 years after the premiere of the movie, to see what he got right or wrong re the technical aspects of the production.
Rather amazing to see the detailed work Cameron put into "Titanic" to make it as realistic as possible. No wonder it came across as such a masterpiece.
In this doc, he examines how exactly the H.M.S. Titanic may have sank, the question of whether additional lifeboats would have made a difference, and how exact were his sets in the movie. In 1985, oceanographer Robert Ballard found the wreckage of the ship and Cameron, using a submersible, examined the wreckage in detail. Rather creepy to hear that human bones dissolve at those depths while articles such as boots and shoes, treated with tannic acid remained intact.
Cameron admits that in trying to get at the exact technicalities of the disaster, he can lose sight of the human loss (nearly 1500 passengers and crew died-with about 700 rescued) and the cost to families over generations. He interviews some surviving relatives of that fateful night in 1912, who share their thoughts and memories of their loved ones.
Overall, an interesting re-examination of the Titanic sinking, interspersed with movie clips and interviews. Worth the watch for sure, in my opinion.
In this documentary, James Cameron the writer and director of the iconic 1997 movie "Titanic" (which is probably by favorite film of all-time) looks back, now 20 years after the premiere of the movie, to see what he got right or wrong re the technical aspects of the production.
Rather amazing to see the detailed work Cameron put into "Titanic" to make it as realistic as possible. No wonder it came across as such a masterpiece.
In this doc, he examines how exactly the H.M.S. Titanic may have sank, the question of whether additional lifeboats would have made a difference, and how exact were his sets in the movie. In 1985, oceanographer Robert Ballard found the wreckage of the ship and Cameron, using a submersible, examined the wreckage in detail. Rather creepy to hear that human bones dissolve at those depths while articles such as boots and shoes, treated with tannic acid remained intact.
Cameron admits that in trying to get at the exact technicalities of the disaster, he can lose sight of the human loss (nearly 1500 passengers and crew died-with about 700 rescued) and the cost to families over generations. He interviews some surviving relatives of that fateful night in 1912, who share their thoughts and memories of their loved ones.
Overall, an interesting re-examination of the Titanic sinking, interspersed with movie clips and interviews. Worth the watch for sure, in my opinion.
- larrys3
- Feb 24, 2019