THE DEPTH AND ARTISTRY OF JAMES CAMERON'S

The paintery quality of the movie

"In spite of the wonderful, massive action that exists in 'Titanic,' what resonates with people is the love story. Those young people, Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, caught the imagination of this generation the way Bergman and Bogart did in 'Casablanca' 60 years before. You fall in love with the characters, and that's why, in my opinion, 'Titanic' equals 'Casablanca' as an iconic love story." -  William Friedkin, director of The Exorcist and The French Connection

Titanic, along with Avatar is one of the two colossal highest grossing movies of all time was a once in a lifetime event at the time of its release. It was the first time when friends, friends of friends, families, coworkers, teachers, preachers, grandmothers - all went to see the movie and the world went Titanic crazy. Titanic had beaten every possible record in every possible area.  Even over a decade after its release, when most people know every line by memory, its re-released 3D version pulled numbers as big as those of big budgeted hits of 2012 such as The Hunger Games. Titanic had something for everyone, engaging, knuckle whitening tense action (which ran non stop for over an hour!), magical, beautiful score, engaging characters, love story, great visuals and grandeur. James Cameron is known not only known as a creator of very heart touching stories and insanely intense action scenes, but also as a visual artist who does not limit himself to canvas'. Cameron mentioned that the movie, the picture for him is no different than the painting and so, he is known for some great, subtle visual imagery and stunning cinematography direction and design.

The following fan favorite highlights have been pointed out by James Cameron and other filmmakers involved in making the movie. None of it is author's interpretation. ALL of the following are taken from various magazine & video interviews, as well as commentaries and articles.

 

1. The butterfly hairpin symbolizes Rose's character which was trapped but bloomed/turned into butterfly thanks to Jack

2. Great visual storytelling and imagery: The lighting in the modern-day sections, where an elderly Rose tells her story to treasure hunters searching for the Heart of the Ocean, casts everyone but Rose in cold blue light, contrasting her humanity against the others'.

3. When Jack first sees Rose she's on an upper level by the railing, angry after storming out from that dinner. That scene is suppose to express an image of a princess trapped in a high castle tower that needs to be saved/freed

4. When Cal comes in and shuts the music box its suppose to convey 2 things - him being completely inconsiderate and oblivious to Rose' things and desires and , in Jim's words "always shutting her music", as in free spirit, carefree joy. In the same scene, when Cal gives Rose the necklace its saying that Cal gives her his heart, which is of course a cold heart of stone

5. The 1st class' sterile, porcelain life almost killed Rose not only psychologically (she wanted to jump off the ship feeling trapped), but also physically since it was the typical upper class dress' decorations that caused her to slip

6. Poetic imagery and sub context: the dress in which Rose tries to commit suicide is blood red

7.  Another thing Jim points out on the commentary is the painting in the room during the scene when Ruth laces Rose's corset. He says the ballerina painting symbolizes Roses inner self . The painting is there in a middle of synthetic decorations of a first class, as is Roses spirit. Corset naturally symbolizes all the restrictions her mother and 1rd class pout on her. Note another both literal and poetic meaning - Ruth is tying up Rose so tight she can barely catch a breath, literally and in her life. All the paintings actually had some inner meaning within the story:

"To reveal character, Cameron wrote in Picasso for Rose (who admires his courage to try new things), Monet for Jack (who likes viual truth) and Degas because he almost exclusively painted joyful dancers, indicative of the way Rose wants to feel." - Titanic Illustrated Screenplay 1997

8. During some of the action/sinking scenes, Kate Winslet wore a size eight coat, rather than the four gowns she sported in other scenes. The oversized garment is meant to convey her character's vulnerability.

9. The shot of the sinking bow symbolizes not only the death of the ship but the death of Jack and Rose's dreams and future together. This is the place where they first kissed and decided to be together, this is the place of their most romantic moment

10.  Dramatic Symmetry: At the end of the movie Jack and Rose end up in the same place where they met, with an ironic twist that at first Rose was trying to die, at the end at the very same place she is fighting for survival

11. Another reference to the butterfly motif. By taking off her Kimono, and doing something competely against what she was taught, she is sort of shedding her skin, emerging from and dropping her cocoon. The kimono was designed to support the theme

11. Throughout the first part of the movie, Cameron emphasized how huge the ship is. In the second part, its shown as a tiny and isolated loner

12.  Narrative Symmetry/rhyming:  "Not letting go is a thematic element in the relationship between Jack and Rose from the moment they meet to the moment Jack dies.  In post I actually copied the voice track from where Jack is pulling Rose back onto the ship after her suicide attempt (Ive got you, I wont let go) and copied it into this scene to make the strongest possible rhyming sequence"- James Cameron, Titanic Illustrated Screenplay 1997

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