Miscellaneous Musings - June 7, 2024

 June 7, 2024
 
On One of the Strangest (and Most Pointless) Debates in Movie History
 

1997 was a fairly good one for films. The year saw the release of around 246 movies, and it started off rather strong, with Beverly Hills Ninja, Fierce Creatures, and Waiting for Guffman to name just of few of its earliest releases. February was no slouch either, heralding such releases as Absolute Power, Fools Rush In, Vegas Vacation, Rosewood, Hard Eight, and Donnie Darko. And the year didn’t let up after that. Just check out this partial list of movies that hit cinemas over the next ten months: The Game, Tomorrow Never Dies, Love Jones, Ponette, Jim Carrey in Liar Liar, Selena, Chasing Amy, Grosse Point Blank, Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, the first Austin Powers movie, The Fifth Element, Night Falls of Manhattan, the second Jurassic Park film, Con Air, Temptress Moon, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Face Off, Disney’s Hercules, Men in Black, and Spike Lee’s 4 Little Girls. There was also Contact, George of the Jungle, Air Force One, In the Company of Men, Cop Land, The Full Monty, Event Horizon, G.I. Jane, Two Girls and a Guy, L.A. Confidential, In & Out, The Ice Storm, Boogie Nights, Gattaca, Eve’s Bayou, Starship Troopers, The Wings of a Dove, The Rainmakers, The Sweet Hereafter, Good Will Hunting, Amistad, Scream 2, The Apostle, As Good As It Gets, Titanic, Jackie Brown, Kundun, Wag the Dog, and The Boxer. The beginning of the year also brought with it the re-releases of the original Star Wars trilogy, the popularity of which demonstrated once again just how much those films continued to resonate with audience.
 
Were there controversies? Sure. The special edition of Star Wars initiated an unnecessary debate over whether Han or Greedo shot first and a number of people let out a collective sigh when the alien at the end of Contact turned out to be in the form of Ellie’s father. Donnie Darko divided viewers, and Wag the Dog has such an impact on American politics that when President Clinton took military action in Iraq, he was asked, “Sir, is this just Wag the Dog?” (Strangely, few people batted an eye when it came out that Air Force One does not really have an escape pod.) However, none of those debates has had the lasting power as one involving a remnant of a once mighty ship.
 
Back in 1997, I took my girlfriend to see James Cameron’s epically long film Titanic, and while my ex bawled her eyes out, I let out a hefty sigh. Suffice to say, I was not a fan of the film. In fact, I even went on to create a skit in which I highlighted all of my grievances with the film and even performed it in one of my Chinese classes. So, in the spirit on Shakespeare, Oh, Titanic, how do I hate thee? Let me count the ways. The greedy relic hunter. The old woman who you just know will warm his heart. Everyone sitting in front of said 100-year-old woman so that she can take them back to the Titanic. “I can’t still smell the paint.” The presence of Billy Zane means he’s the villain. His evil henchman-servant. “That water looks pretty cold.” The spitting scene. Of course, she notices there aren’t enough lifeboats on board. “I’m flying!” “I thought you would come to me last night.” (based on what exactly?) We didn’t see the iceberg because we were watching two young lovers kiss. Whose narrating this story again because Rose couldn’t possible know what happened on the other side of the ship. The blatant plagiarism of half of A Night to Remember. And finally, the Titanic as heaven, where Rose spends eternity with a guy she knew for a week and not a guy she met and married over the next eighty years of her life.
 
I realize that is quite a long list of complaints, but notice what is missing. In all my playful critiquing of the film, I never once mentioned whether there was enough space on the door for both Jack and Rose, and the reason is simple - the scene is perfectly logical.
 
Think back for a moment. Jack and Rose has just survived the sinking of the Titanic. To their great relief, they see a detached door floating on the water and feverishly swim over. Rose gets on first because, as adult Rose explains, Jack is a gentleman. Then it’s Jack’s turn. Only his hopes are dashed when the door appears to begin sinking into the abyss. Now remember Jack’s personal code – respect and chivalry. This is a young man who appears willing to jump into the sea after a suicidal stranger, a young man who is as respectful to a group of wealthy individuals just looking for a reason to mock him as he is the jovial inhabitants of the lower deck. Given the possibility of the door not being able to support both of them, his response is instantaneous - he slides into the water and assures her that he’ll be all right. Why should we expect any less?
 
As for Rose, she has fallen in love with a young man who is the polar opposite of her fiancé, and through her encounters with him, her faith in romantic love, chivalry, and destiny have all been restored. Bear in mind, this is a young man who somehow was aware of techniques that enabled them to survive a sinking ship. Why wouldn’t she allow herself to believe that he could also handle the cold water of the Atlantic Ocean until someone came to their rescue, a rescue, I might add, that she likely thinks is imminent.
 
See, the scene makes sense; the controversy, however, has its roots in something else entirely. As with many Oscar winners, time has a way of eroding past support. Titanic, at one time, was the most successful movie in the history of film (not adjusting for inflation, of course), and success like that often breeds contempt. The film also included a career-defining hit for Celine Dion, one that, unfortunately, many people got tired of hearing long before its accolades ceased. In such a situation, it is not unheard of for critics to search for something – anything – that confirms their belief that a “masterpiece” does not live up to its reputation. Star Wars has the location of the control panel for the tractor beam, Citizen Kane has its sled, and, in the eyes of many people, Titanic has its door. And that door has been used to mock and diminish the film ever since the first detractor stood up and exclaimed, “Just move over!” It’s unfortunate really because there’s just so much more to complain about.