‘Titanic’ returns
James Cameron’s mega-blockbuster is back on the big screen, where it belongs
In anticipation of the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912, James Cameron’s “Titanic” will be re-released Wednesday with a technical overhaul— including a watertight 3-D conversion. The 1997 Leonardo Dicaprio-kate Winslet blockbuster, which won 11 Oscars, was the first movie to cross the billion-dollar mark in worldwide box office receipts and was the highest-grossing film for a dozen years (until it was dethroned by Cameron’s “Avatar”).
Here are five reasons to climb to the top of the mast one again.
3-D! 3-D! 3-D!
In a time when the box office is bursting with 3-D options, Cameron has painstakingly remastered and converted “Titanic” into 3-D to give audiences a fuller experience.
“There’s a whole generation that’s never seen ‘Titanic’ as it was meant to be seen, on the big screen,” Cameron said in a written statement. “With the emotional power intact and the images more powerful than ever, this will be an experience for fans and newcomers alike.”
SOUND CHECK
Celine Dion’s iconic “My Heart Will Go On” will be even more crystal-clear as it’s amplified over theater speakers, and that is just the tip of the iceberg.
From the first straining creaks of the ship’s floor to the whines of a lone violin against the aural backdrop of crashing waves, “Titanic” is also an amazing showcase of sound effects.
JAMES CAMERON: ADVENTURER!
The writer-director doesn’t just imagine the impossible, he lives and breathes it. Last week, he boarded a submersible and took a 6.8-mile plunge into the deepest place on Earth — the dark depths of the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific — to explore the recesses of a largely untapped, underwater realm. Calling it “The culmination from my perspective of a lifelong dream,” Cameron, who’s not shy about publicity, caught the attention of journalists and exploration aficionados alike with his gutsy solo journey.
CENTENNIAL OF SINKING
Replicas of the doomed ship are being toured throughout the world, and in bars and restaurants, “Titanic dinners” will be served on the anniversary and museums are highlighting press coverage and local history.
BOX OFFICE BUCKS
Europe’s largest betting company, Paddy Power, has been taking bets on whether Cameron’s first “biggest movie ever” will overtake his other “biggest movie ever” thanks to the money from this 3-D reissue.
Domestically, “Titanic” is at more than $600 million, while 2009’s “Avatar” is at $760 million-plus. That’s a big leap, but if history does happen, this is one trip you may want to be on board for.