Product reviewsTitanic (DVD, 1999, Checkpoint)

Titanic (DVD, 1999, Checkpoint)

The story of TITANIC is one that has been told dozens of times both in print and in numerous films. It is the story of more than 1500 lost lives, destroyed families, and more than 150 orphaned children. In addition to the immediate carnage, dozens of the survivors lost hands, feet, even legs to frostbite and exposure from the bitterly cold air and water.
Most of the books and movies only deal with the human interactions on board this beautiful vessel, with stories of Princess this, or Lady that, or Sir whoever. This is the trapping of a privileged, royalist, society such as England and most of European nations at this time. The truth is that as horrible as this tragedy was, it is no different from a current day plane crash with high loss of life, or any other disaster. The numbers are just larger. Sadly, the lost story, the glossed-over truth is much more important. This part of the story has not yet been told. The truth is that Titanic sank because of human error; human greed; human pride; human stupidity! With 1912 technology, a 900' long ship traveling 22Kn (about 25 mph) would take around four miles to stop, and about 2/3mile to appreciably turn out of the way of the berg. The binoculars were locked up, and the night was moonless. All accounts claimed that the darkness was so complete that the iceberg was only 1/2mile or less away when spotted. In modern terms, the violation would have been for "Failure to Control Speed". The water-tight compartments only extend upward to "E" or "F" deck. Common sense says that as one compartment overfills, there is nothing to keep it from flooding into the next. Extending these bulkheads to a point where spillover wouldn't be possible would have added extra weight, which translated into more fuel consumption, hence higher operating costs. Likewise, the grossly inadequate number of lifeboats was paramount. After all, if the more than adequate lifeboat davits had been propely utilized, this ship could have easily carried fifty-six full-sized lifeboats plus the collapsible boats. This wasn't done because White Star didn't want to make the decks appear "too cluttered" to first and second-class passengers. It is constantly touted by everyone that the few number of lifeboats was due to British Law. This is a LIE! There was no limit to how many boats could be carried, just the minimum number of boats. After all, even White Star had said it was unsinkable that "Not Even GOD Could Sink This Ship". This whole disaster was about money. The most staggering evidence is the fact that White Star attempted to gather the entire British crew back to England before American courts could hold an inquiry. As the crewmen of Titanic was being offloaded from Carpathia, at night in the dark, White Star had another ship standing by with steam up ready to sail as soon as the crew could be loaded. This wasn't successful, so the officers just LIED under oath trying to protect White Star from insurance liability. This was proven, and is a matter of court records and testimony.
It was big bragging rights to be able say that your ships were the most luxurious, biggest, and fastest. Also it is stark arrogance to say we were first to build it. . . This is exactly what was said with British Comet Jetliner! It was first, fastest, and a major jump into the future. However, it was ultimately unsafe because of inadequate engineering and testing. This need to be the BIG KID also killed people. By their own greed, Britian again failed.Read full review...

The oldest tale of all in a magnificent setting

There really are only a few stories in the movie theatre and this is, perhaps, the oldest of them all. Boy from the wrong side of the tracks meets socialite girl. Girl is engaged to mountainously wealthy boy. Girl's mother has, in fact, lost all the family money and is keeping up appearances so that daughter can marry big money. Girl falls in love with the poor boy and their brief romance reveals the tawdry vacuousness of wealth, compared with the tough honesty of poverty. All familiar so far? But it is all set against the background of the early 20th century and the magnificence of an ocean-going liner in the Atlantic, and recounted eighty-some years later by the socialite girl, now a grandmother wistfully recalling her first true love and the brief romance before RMS Titanic sank. This is an elegant and technically brilliant film directed by James Cameron, featuring stellar performances from Kate Winslet and Leonardo di Caprio. You can revisit an age of opulence symbolized by a massive diamond, Rockefeller-style wealth, the arrogance of the rich is a ship that enforces rigid class distinction. As the romance develops against the certainty of destruction, you weep for Kate Winslet and ask, with Thomas Hardy, "What does all this vaingloriousness down here?"Read full review...

ONE MUST SEE SHIPWRECK!

Features Acotrs:Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio,Frances Fisher,Billy Zane,Kathy Bates, Jonathan Hyde,Victor Garber
Running Time:194 Min.
Rating:PG-13

This movie is about a romance between two young people from different backgrounds. In Rose (Kate Winslet, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) and Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio, The Aviator), you had a romance that women could identify with, as there are obstacles thrown up to prevent true love for the couple. The most notable obstacle being class, as the early part of the century featured groups that were very structured by how much they made and what their standing in life was. In Rose's life, her mother Ruth (Frances Fisher, House of Sand and Fog) plays a huge part in it, and has virtually arranged a marriage to Cal (Billy Zane, The Phantom) that will put both women in the lap of luxury. Jack just has his sketch pad, and lives the bohemian lifestyle, enjoying every minute of it.
Then the ship hit an iceberg in the North Atlantic, sinking the unsinkable ship, resulting in a massive loss of life. And Cameron's depiction of the events that led to the final hours is both vivid and unsettling. The thing that stays in someone's mind is that when compared to the real-world events. It focuses more on a romance that may work on the screen, but the written word is as wooden as the life boats on the ship.

This is a must see movie, not only a part of history but also takes you back in time, and shows you how different things used to be.A great love story filled with laughter & tears!Would recommend to rent or buy!Hope this helps you decide.Thanks for reading! :)Read full review...

Riveting

Great movie. 👍 Wonderful attention to detail costumes and lighting . One of my faves.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: second.sale

A good, happy purchase, with a smile.

Well, after all these years, I finally watched The Titanic on my flat screen TV, and it was a pretty darn good movie. The whole experience worked out great!

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: dvdirect

Great movie, good product

This is a great movie, very touching, romantic, with heros and villians. i give this 4 stars since I think there was a small glich on the DVD. Otherwise, good product.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: decluttr_store

Best movie

I've loved this movie since it first came out and it also helped that it was in great condition and excellent price

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: howcaninot20147

The title is what the story is about, two people on this ship.

Show this movie before, enjoyed the story and the actors was great. The writing of the story was great.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: kh765

Titanic

Thus is a great movie I love it

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: dreambooks_co

Love the movie.

Great condition well packaged. I still love the movie even at 32 years old.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: decluttr_store