James Cameron's TITANIC IMAX 3-D

"You become a part of the action, walking down decks, flying in the air above the massive liner, descending the Grand Staircase, clinging to a railing for life, or staring up as the huge propellers loom overhead"

Bill Paxton as Treasure Hunter Brock Lovett in James Cameron’s TITANIC states towards the end of the film that for several years he could never “let TITANIC” in”. After hearing the emotional story of Rose DeWitt Bukater, set against the historically accurate details of this famous maritime disaster, Lovett finally understands the deeper significance of what happened on the night of April 14th 1912. This sentiment seems to directly echo Cameron’s own statements that he had very set ideas about the RMS TITANIC while repeatedly going down in deep ocean submersibles to initially film for his blockbuster hit. However, it was not until Cameron himself “let TITANIC in” that he said the pieces started to fall into place. 

In spite of this almost over saturation of TITANIC history as the 100th Anniversary of her Maiden Voyage and horrific sinking draws close, I think seeing Cameron’s IMAX 3-D re-release of TITANIC made me feel that I could perhaps begin to “get it” myself. 

This new 3-D version is more than spectacular. The detailed work of Cameron and his phenomenal team to technically modify the original film is simply mind blowing. Apart from the fictionalized story of Jack and Rose, the three dimensional rendering draws you into TITANIC as if you are really there.    Rather than just watching a film, you become a part of the action, walking down decks, flying in the air above the massive liner, descending the Grand Staircase, clinging to a railing for life, or staring up as the huge propellers loom overhead before crashing down on hundreds of struggling victims below.  The true beauty of this infamous White Star Liner is breath taking, as is the sheer horror of what happened.
  

On a very personal level I felt a very surreal connection, far more emotional than anticipated. Apart from a lifetime interest in Ocean Liners and all things TITANIC, I have now spent almost a year working on 41W 50 N, my new play adaptation based on the true voices from the 1912 TITANIC Senate Hearings. Dissecting over 1,100 pages of actual testimony I feel I have been living with many of these people portrayed.  

In December of 1997 when I watched the first version of TITANIC I had yet to make a Transatlantic Crossing. I never imagined that a little over 10 years later I would be on the Queen Elizabeth 2 shooting a documentary and participating in a rare TITANIC Memorial passing directly over the site of TITANIC on her 96th Anniversary. 


I had no idea that I would one day lecture for Cunard Line and make multiple crossings back and forth between New York and Southampton, each time passing within miles of TITANIC. Nor could I dream of going to the site of TITANIC for the 100th Anniversary. 


Cameron’s 3-D re-release so beautifully recreates the true sensations of a grand liner voyage that it catapults the experience from 100 years ago to present day. Perhaps, in reverse, it transports us back in time to momentarily walk those decks and watch the frothy wake slip away towards a distant horizon. 

TITANIC 3-D brought to the surface all the immediacy of the tragedy, leaving me devastated and even a little bit apprehensive of what it will be like to stand on the very spot, 100 years later to the very hour, where so many suffered.  It’s a brilliant film and a stunning experience, but be prepared.