Remastered (this time anamorphic) from the first DVD release in 1998, this is a substantial upgrade. The fuzzy, almost laserdisc-like quality of the first single-disc edition is cleared up in its entirety. Detail and clarity is stunning, a true showcase for a format that just keeps surprising people.
Black levels have been adjusted as well, creating incredible contrast and a better sense of how terrifying it was when the electricity went out. It's hard to see anything from a distance, only adding to the effect, not detracting. Color has been brought out to stronger levels, this time showing off the intricate detail of the ship. Compression problems, evident in the original release as it was crammed onto a single side of one DVD, are nearly completely absent in this three-disc version. (*****)
The film is split onto two discs this time, likely to increase video quality and offer the best sound work yet heard on a DVD. The 5.1 EX mix is great, certainly an improvement. However, it's the DTS 6.1 track that simply destroys any other movie you can compare it to.
It's impossible to imagine audio playing a bigger a role in the enjoyment of a film. Here, it's essential, and a perfect example of what audio can do for a film. Most of it comes from ambient bass as the ship slowly comes apart, eerily lingering in the background, and always present to remind viewers the inevitable is coming closer. The louder the bass, the more desperate the situation. It's never overbearing either unless it needs to be. The EX mix lacks the full impact.
That doesn't even begin to touch the rear surround work. Water clashes, people panic, and the creaking of the Titanic as it descends are flawless. It's more effective at the end as the helpless passengers scream for help in the now calm waters all around the sound field. This is a new standard in home movie audio. (*****)
As if those weren't enough sound options, you'll have three full-length commentaries, one from James Cameron, another from the cast (Gloria Stuart, Kate Winslet, Lewis Abernathy, Jon Landau, Rae Sanchini), and the final by Don Lynch and Ken Marshall. The latter are Titanic historians, discussing inaccuracies in the story when mistakes are made. The three commentaries provide of mix of filmmaking and reference.
Also spread though the movie is mini-features. These are selectable through the menu (thankfully), or can be viewed during the film by pressing "enter" when the icon pops up. In total, 61 of these informative short pieces are available, coming together nicely as a single piece if watched straight through.
Article comments
1 - Jake Ludington
And somehow, even in the special collector's edition the boat still sinks at the end.
Oops - I just spoiled the movie.
2 - Joanie
Gawd! I still can't watch more than 30 seconds of this dreck. Thanks for enduring it for me!
3 - Ken Edwards
Matt it is clear to me that you do not "get" this movie.
By your account, you would have rather seen a documentary by James Cameron. This would have been dry and would have been a huge flop.
At the most basic level, the love story was a means to an end. Sure, some of the interactions between people did not happen, but most of them did.
As horrific as the Titanic tragedy was, the story would not have resinated with the audience. Thus the love story connects the audience with the history.
I agree, this was a long movie to get through in one sitting. I remember in 1997 it was about the longest movie ever put in theater (if memory serves) and good lord it is still hard to watch it in one sitting today.
Can you imagine how hard it would be to watch with those 29 deleted scenes!
The 61 "follow the sinking ship" features as I call them (homage to "follow the white rabbit" in The Matrix) were wonderful to watch. It was also great that the DVD developers added a scene selection menu for this.
I hadn't seen this film since I got it on VHS (!) so it was great to watch Titanic again. And the amount of special features is just spectacular.
If only more directors would give so much setup on the commentary of the deleted scenes, not to mention actually give you a chunk of theatrical footage to get you grounded in the scene.
It is a shame the 4th disc did not come to the state side release. Why is is that the US never gets the good stuff? It always seems that way. You can import it of course. You would need a DVD player to play Region 2 and PAL.
It can be had for (about, last I checked anyway) $19.33 USD from the Amazon UK site.
Definatly one of the better produced DVD box sets that have come out, both for amount of content and production value of the DVDs themslves.
4 - Matt Paprocki
I didn't want a documentary. James Cameron had the perfect opportunity to create the most amazing recreation of human tragedy EVER. The previous Titanic films (Night to Remember comes first in mind) was great, but with the effects of the era and budget, it wasn't the be all end all. That's what this should of been.
Again, why spend $200 million for accuracy and NOT make the story accurate? How would the deaths of hundereds (thousands?) of people not work on an audience? There were many "characters" on the ship to follow. He created fake ones and in the end brings with it questions of authenticity. Sure, it's impossible to be 100% right, but to do what the writers did here is unforgivable.
5 - Dax Montana
As Ken already stated, it's clear that Matt doesn't "get" this movie.
It's a MOVIE, not a recreation of factual events exactly as they happened.
Hmmm...let's watch what the real people did...that sounds interesting. Oh look, they're eating dinner and chatting about their kids. Wait, now they're lounging on the deck, chatting about their jobs and how chilly the wind is. Oh boy, this part is really terrific, they're sleeping...but WAIT, some of them are STILL AWAKE (can you believe it!) and they're playing cards up in the lounge. Fascinating stuff. Gripping.
Matt, the only way a disaster movie can have any emotional impact is if the audience actually cares about the people involved. And the only way to care about the people involved is to get to know them, and realize that they share many of the same characteristics that we do. The fear of being trapped in a life not of our choosing. The desire to win the heart of someone we feel is far out of our league. The adventure and heartache and happiness of participating in a forbidden romance. The hope and promise of making that decision to shed your former life and face the unknown for the very first time.
If you skip all that, then you just have a two-hour boat-sinking flick that holds nothing more than visceral appeal. You have no reason to care about the people who are dying. Sure, it's sad that so many people died, but it's 100 times more emotional when you actually know a handful of them.
And at the end of the day, who's to say that these events didn't happen? Perhaps the scenes in present day didn't, but who's to say that two people didn't fall in love on that ship?
The chance that it DID happen is what makes this movie special.
Anyway, there's no point in arguing. Clearly the vast majority of people who saw the movie were touched by it (the positive word of mouth on this movie surpassed any in the history of film-making).
Perhaps you should stick to reviewing Stallone flicks.