Titanic - Leonardo DiCaprio

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

directed by James Cameron
USA 1997

The worlds most expensive film of all time. Production cost, before post production and marketing, ran over $200 million. Winner of 11 Oscars, amongst them - best film, sharing the spotlight with “Ben Hur” (1959), it was suggested that Cameron paid for the Oscars, as the film did little to impress critics. While it looked stunning and towering, as en epic love story should, especially the poor dialogue stood out, and several critics noted, that maybe some of the films excessive budget should have went to a writer. Audiences were also not bemused, and “Titanic” flopped at the box office, making only $28 millions in its opening weekend, not even a third of what Spielberg’s “The Lost World” made. But thanks to a constant audience, thanks to 14 nominations, and especially thanks to 11 Oscars, “Titanic” never sunk, never suffered the same fate as “Cleopatra”, but finally began making money and eventually turned out to be one of the most earning films in movie history.

As a film, “Titanic” is quiet bad. The dialogue is very poor, at time campy. The story is contrived and as common as any piece of trivial literature, hardly superior to Danielle Steele or other such writers. Everything is staged in order to get a drama out of it, almost like a soap-opera or sit-com. In short, “Titanic” is as story and writing on par with a three hour episode of “Days of our Lives”.

All this is cleverly camouflaged by grand-scaled and epic set design, a modern day deep sea salvage investigation and a third act of disaster and death, which actually is staged as to surprise the audience with the iceberg, even though everyone with the slightest knowledge of history would know, that one cannot say Titanic without saying iceberg, even though I personally know of at least two people for which the accident came as a total surprise (“Oh no, I hope the ship doesn’t sink.”)

Personally, I find “Titanic” tasteless and exploitive, using the death of over 1500 people as entertainment. One thing is historical accuracy in depicting the ship, the locations and the people, but another thing is historical accuracy in depicting how so many people died.

And let's not forget the many factual errors of the film, not just continuity errors, but really stupid errors like echo on an open sea.

But even so, being a poorly written story using peoples death as entertainment who gave its critics more ammunition in form of stupidities, there is something magical about “Titanic”. The love story between commoner Jack and upper-class Rose may be silly and contrived, but it is almost timeless in quality, thanks to a superb Kate Winslet and the boyish charm of Leonardo DiCaprio. As corny as it all is, one cannot resist watching and continue to watch. Also the set design and computer graphics are, and still are today, impressive. They are, in every sense of the word, epic in scale.

Regardless of everything, “Titanic” is a major epic and deserves its places as one of the greatest films Hollywood ever has made.

Henrik Sylow

Posters

Theatrical Release: November 1, 1997 (Tokyo International Film Festival)

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DVD Comparison:

Paramount (10th Anniversary Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. 20th Century Fox / SF - Region 2 - PAL vs. 20th Century Fox / SF (DeLuxe Collector's Edition 4-Disc) - Region 2 - PAL

Big thanks to Henrik Sylow for all the Screen Caps!

(Paramount (10th Anniversary Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT vs. 20th Century Fox / SF - Region 2 - PAL - MIDDLE vs. 20th Century Fox / SF (DeLuxe Collector's Edition 4-Disc) - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers
Distribution	Paramount (10th Anniversary Edition) - Region 1- NTSC	20th Century Fox / SF Region 2 - PAL	20th Century Fox / SF Region 2 - PAL
Runtime	194 minutes	3:06:54 (4% PAL speedup)	3:06:52 (4% PAL speedup)
Video	2.35:1 Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 7.57 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	2.27:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.19 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	2.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 8.145 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: 20th Century Fox / SF
Bitrate: 20th Century Fox / SF
Bitrate: 20th Century Fox / SF (DeLuxe Collector's Edition 4-Disc)
Audio	DD 5.1 EX English, DD 2.0 surround English, DD 2.0 surround French, DD 2.0 surround Spanish, DTS 6.1 ES English	2.0 Dolby Digital English (192Kbps), 5.1 Dolby Digital English (384 Kbps)	2.0 Dolby Digital English (192 Kbps), 5.1 EX Dolby Digital (448 Kbps), 6.1 ES DTS English
Subtitles	English, None	English, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Icelandic, Dutch, Portuguese, Polish, Hungarian, Czech, Greek, Hebrew, None	English, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Icelandic, Portuguese, Greek, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Paramount Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 2.33:1 Edition Details: • Audio commentary by James Cameron; audio commentary by Kate Winslet, Gloria Stuart, Lewis Abernathy, Jon Landau, and Rae Sanchini; • Historical Commentary by Don Lynch and Ken Marshall; • Branching to Behind-the-Scenes Featurettes; • Alternate Ending; “My Heart Will Go On” music video DVD Released Date: November 20th, 2007 slim double keepcase with cardboard slipcover 64 chapters	Release Information: Studio: 20th Century Fox / SF Aspect Ratio: Widescreen letterboxed - 2.27:1 Edition Details: • Theatrical Trailer (2:33 / 1.76:1 / 4:3) • THX Intro (0:28) DVD Release Date: March 1, 2004 Keepcase Chapters 30	Release Information: Studio: 20th Century Fox / SF Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 2.33:1 Edition Details: • Disc 1 and 2: • Audio Commentary by James Cameron • Audio Commentary by Cast and Crew • Audio Commentary by Don Lynch and Ken Marschall • Behind the Scenes Branching Footage (1:03:01/ 1.33:1 / 4:3 / 61 chapters) • ... • Disc 1 Only • THX Intro (0:32) • THX-Optimizer (in Setup) • ... • Disc 2 Only • Alternative Ending Branching with Optional commentary by James Cameron (8:58) • Music Video 'My Heart will go On' by Celine Dion (4:33 / 1.96:1 / 4:3 / 2.0 DD) • ... • * See Complete Disc 3 and 4 details in Comments DVD Release Date: November 7, 2005 Digipack Box Chapters 66

Comments:

ADDITION: Paramount - 2-disc (10th Anniversary Edition) - November 07': James Cameron’s Titanic was released in December 1997. The movie first hit DVD in August 1999. At the time, Paramount loudly proclaimed that the movie was the first to ship a million units on DVD (with non-anamorphic video). However, shipping a million units and selling a million units are not the same thing, and the studio never really publicized how well (or how poorly) the first DVD did. My guess is that the first release mustered so-so business because so many people had just bought the VHS tape release in 1998.

In October 2005, Paramount and Fox released a multi-disc special edition box set. Depending on where you live in the world, this Special Edition consists of 3, 4, or 5 discs. Considering that Titanic is an American production and that it grossed more than $600 million in theatres here, it’s odd that Region 1 got the short end of the stick with the 3-disc version.

Now comes November 2007; Paramount is dipping into the Titanic well yet again with a Tenth Anniversary 2-Disc Collector’s Set. Guess what? You get the exact same discs as the first two discs of the Special Edition sets. I have no idea why Paramount made this move as big-time fans probably already own the Special Edition and casual fans can content themselves with the one-disc release. For the movie’s Tenth Anniversary, Paramount should’ve given Americans and Canadians the chance to own NTSC versions of the 4- or 5-disc sets. Perhaps even a bare-bones HD DVD might’ve been welcome.

Considering that Amazon.com is selling the 3-disc Special Edition for less than either the 1-disc or this new 2-disc set, I strongly urge you to boycott this slap in the face.

Video:
While the 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen presentation is an improvement over the 1-disc’s non-anamorphic picture, precious space was eaten up by eight audio tracks and branching software for the featurettes. The image is on the soft side, and backgrounds can get blocky when there’s a lot of grain or smoke.

On the plus side, this release doesn’t have a video flaw that plagued many R1 pressings of Disc 1.

Audio:
The DD 5.1 EX English and DTS 5.1 ES English tracks are reference quality as far as SD DVDs go. These two choices should’ve been the only audio options on the discs as the commentaries are ho-hum and cover the same grounds as the branching featurettes and other documentaries in the 3/4/5-disc Special Editions.

Those of you without 5.1 set-ups should watch the movie with the DD 2.0 surround English downmix. You can also watch the movie with DD 2.0 surround French or Spanish dubs. Optional English subtitles as well as optional English closed captions support the audio.

Extras:
You get the same three audio commentaries, branching featurettes, alternate ending, and music video as offered by Discs 1 and 2 of the 3/4/5-disc Special Editions.

--Miscellaneous--
Instead of the thick cardboard box used for the 3/4/5-disc Special Edition, you get a cardboard slipcover covering a slim double keepcase this time.

- David McCoy

ABOUT THE PAL RELEASES:

About the Transfer
The two transfers have different Aspect Ratios. The original DVD edition is presented in 2.27:1, whereas the new DVD edition is presented in 2.33:1. The difference between the two ratios is, that the new edition is a different scan, having more details right (0.65% 5px@768px), bottom (3.2% 11px@341px) and less top (2.35% 8px@341px). Apart from these scanning differences, frame information is the identical.

The color definition of the new edition is superior to the old. Fleshtones are now more neutral, where the old was a bit red/pink-ish, blues, blacks and shadows are darker, solid and look perfect, and colors are more saturated.

While the contrast level is higher on the new edition, the boost does not distort or remove details. Note Image#3: The clouds and the crane in the background to the right are actually more details than in the old edition. Superb picture control. Level of details is the same on both edition.

Compression is an issue. Comparing size, we see the following

Old Edition 7.292GB
- Film 6.399GB
- 2.0 Dolby Digital 265MB
- 5.1 Dolby Digital 530MB

New Edition 10.805GB
- Film 8.731GB
- 2.0 Dolby Digital 262MB
- 5.1 Dolby Digital 612MB
- 6.1 ES DTS 1043MB
- 3 x 2.0 Dolby Digital Commentaries @ 131MB each

Disc 1 5.584GB
- Film 4.669GB
- 2.0 Dolby Digital 147MB
- 5.1 Dolby Digital 342MB
- 6.1 ES DTS 578MB
- 3 x 2.0 Dolby Digital Commentaries @ 73MB each

Disc 2 5.221GB
- Film 4.044GB
- 2.0 Dolby Digital 115MB
- 5.1 Dolby Digital 270MB
- 6.1 ES DTS 465MB
- 3 x 2.0 Dolby Digital Commentaries @ 58MB each

Extras on the new edition take up space as well, so both editions are pretty much optimized in terms of compression. Having said that, the new edition is less compressed, both by being 16x9 and by taking up 48% more storage.

The old edition was actually a very beautiful transfer, but shows very visible signs of especially color banding, but also macro blocking. The new is basically flawless and as perfect as expected. There are very minor, but not in general visible artifacts.

All in all, the image of the new edition is as perfect as can be. It looks breathtaking.

About the Split
The film is interrupted at 1:45:34, just after the captain has been informed about how long still before the ship has sunk, starting on Disc 2 with Rose and Jack running on a deck.

Considering pace and story, I would say the split should have been at 1:30:46, as it ends with Rose and Jack making out and then cuts to a long shot of the ship, just before they discover the iceberg. But the split does not interfere with the flow of the narrative more than it has to. It could be argued, that the split is placed exactly after the fate of the ship is revealed and thus functions as a cliff-hanger. As such, a very good split.

About the Sound
There are three soundtracks on the new edition. The first is the original 2.0 Dolby Digital surround stereo track, which from what I can hear, is the exact same as the one on the old edition.

The new 5.1 Dolby Digital is however a 448 Kbps versus a 384 Kbps on the old, as well as being EX encoded. It is a superior track, more depth, more details, more surround, better separation, better LFE.

Added is a 6.1 ES DTS track, which apart from being 3-6DB louder than the 5.1 Dolby Digital track, is slightly better adjusted, in lack of a better word.

About the Additional material
The film comes with 3 (that is 9 hours of listening) audio commentaries. The first is by Director James Cameron, who talks about the film, the production, its homages, its inspirations and so forth.

The second is a Cast&Crew commentary with Executive producer Rae Sanchini, Producer John Landau and in short everyone who worked on the film (at least one gets that impression) representing the Crew, and Gloria Stuart and Kate Winslet representing the Cast. A lot of this commentary repeats what Cameron also says, but with far less enthusiasm.

The final commentary is by Historians Don Lynch and Ken Marschall, who, speaking of the historical facts and how the film represents them, to a point also repeats what Cameron has said, but here continues with going into more detailed comments.

The entire film is watchable with Behind the Scenes Branching Footage, which is 61 small minutes long featurettes, footnotes so to speak, which will interrupt the film at a given moment. The footage is also watchable each on their own or all thru Play All. Superb notes.

For those who enjoy the pain, Celine Dion's music video is also present. It was great, when the film came out, the definitive pick-up song, but today it feels turgid.

On Disc 3 we find three superb parodies on Titanic, including the Flash animation (30 seconds with Bunnies). Sadly "Thumbtanic" isn't part of the parodies. These parodies are hidden features on the 3-Disc R1 edition.

Also here are 45 minutes of deleted scenes with optional commentary by Cameron. As the alternative ending, which can be found on Disc 2, these scenes very clearly point out why they have been deleted.

On Disc 4 is trailers, behind the scenes, press kits and featurettes. Present here, but not part of the Region 1 edition is about 1 hour of additional material, starting with the the half hour "HBO First Look: The Heart of the Ocean" program, and concluding with another half hour of 7 Trailers and 8 TV Spots.

Edition Details for Disc 3 (region 2,4 and 5)
Parodies
- Saturday Night Live skit (4:48 / 1.33:1 / 4:3)
- MTV Movie Award skit (4:23 / 1.70:1 / 4:3)
- Titanic in 30 seconds and re-inacted with Bunnies (0:30 / 1.33:1 / 4:3)

29 Deleted scenes with optional commentary by James Cameron (44:40 / 2.28:1 / 16x9)

Edition Details for Disc 4 (region 2,4 and 5)
Marketing (1:51:32 / 4:3)
- HBO First Look: The Heart of the Ocean (27:33 / 1.33:1 / 4:3)
- Fox Special: Breaking New Ground (42:47 / 1.33:1 / 4:3)
- 7 Press Kit Featurettes (18:21 / 4:3 / Play All)
- 7 Trailers (19:07 / 4:3 / Play All)
- 8 TV Spots (3:44 / 4:3 / Play All)
- Concept Posters and One Sheets

Special Features (56:02 / 4:3)
- 1912 News Reel with optional commentary by Ed Marsh (2:13 / 1.33:1 / 4:3)
- Construction Timelapse with optional commentary by Ed Marsh (4:20 / 1.33:1 / 4:3)
- Deep Dive Presentation (15:33 / 4:3)
- Titanic Crew Video (17:29 / 4:3)
- Titanic Ship's Tour with optional commentary by Anders Falk (7:36 / 1.33:1 / 4:3)
- Videomatics (3:13 / 4:3)
- Visual Effects (5:38 / 4:3)
- DVD Credits

Still Galleries
- Titanic Scripment (482 pages)
- Storyboard Sequences (532 pics)
- Production Artwork (148 pics)
- Photographs (628 pics)
- Ken Marschall's Painting Gallery (82 pics)
- By the Numbers (25 pages)
- Bibliography (72 pages)

- Henrik Sylow

DVD Menus

Paramount (10th Anniversary Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC

(20th Century Fox / SF - Region 2 - PAL - LEFT vs. 20th Century Fox / SF (DeLuxe Collector's Edition 4-Disc) - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)

Extras on Supplementary Discs of Collector's Set