Contrary to many critics, and people in general, who say with great confidence, "Of course the theatrical version was by far superior, {to the television miniseries}!", I believe in many respects, that this humble, human take on the story, featured some aspects, and yes, even performances, that indeed out-shined those played out in what I consider an extremely overrated, "Let's see how big a "blockbuster" movie James Cameron can make", movie.
I was so moved by the chemistry between, and charisma exuded by CatherineZeta-Jones, and Peter Gallagher, playing "Isabella", and "Wynn".. what a magnificent couple they made.
The story here was so filled with who the people were, how they lived, what they cared about, what their lives had been, and where they were going! My head spun with the meticulous attention payed to even the most infinitesimal details, and the simplicity in which it was told.
The casting, sublime.. with the possible exception of the fact that the inimitable Kathy Bates boarded the other "Titanic".. my favorite part of that version! I felt that each one of these people on board were real people! I felt their struggles, their despair, and their hopes.. their fears, their dreams, and their nightmares.. their great wealth, and their poverty.. I felt swept away to where these actual human beings had been on that fateful day in April, 1912.
The people that they were, noble or ruthless, rich or poor, romantic or hopeless, was all so vividly portrayed, you could feel the pulse of these people's hearts, and each individual's reasoning.. right or wrong. Why they were the way they were was so palpable.. it was quite chilling. You even felt for the dastardly, and yes, despicable, "Simon Doonan", played to perfection by the the irrepressible Tim Curry.. so clever a man, Doonan, with a wealth of talents and knowledge so disastrously wasted, the poor schnook.
I would go to see Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Peter Gallagher any day over Kate Winslet, and Leonardo DiCaprio, so completely, woefully miscast in the Cameron production.
The only characters I thought were equally superb in BOTH versions, were the players of Captain Smith. The man in the theatrical release.. I had not seen before, and I felt he embodied the legendary captain to an eerie degree, and with incredible insight, bringing to life again the honor, grace and stoic peace-of-mind so often attributed to the real individual. And George C. Scott, well, it just doesn't get any better than that. Performed with his signature passion and intensity, he gave us a heart stopping portrayal of Capt. Smith's quiet dignity to the very last, tragic, historic moment.
I will remember the individual people of this tender, and powerful.. intricate, human, and masterful rendition for the rest of time.
I will be recalling the ringing in my ears I experienced for many months, from the "My HEART Will Go On" song, {at first beautiful}, that went on and on, wailing throughout the theatrical extravaganza, and the grandeur of the sets, and the hype, and the technical bits, and the wonderful Gloria Stuart, {another true highlight, of but a few, in the BIG one}, for a long time to come.
I was so moved by the chemistry between, and charisma exuded by CatherineZeta-Jones, and Peter Gallagher, playing "Isabella", and "Wynn".. what a magnificent couple they made.
The story here was so filled with who the people were, how they lived, what they cared about, what their lives had been, and where they were going! My head spun with the meticulous attention payed to even the most infinitesimal details, and the simplicity in which it was told.
The casting, sublime.. with the possible exception of the fact that the inimitable Kathy Bates boarded the other "Titanic".. my favorite part of that version! I felt that each one of these people on board were real people! I felt their struggles, their despair, and their hopes.. their fears, their dreams, and their nightmares.. their great wealth, and their poverty.. I felt swept away to where these actual human beings had been on that fateful day in April, 1912.
The people that they were, noble or ruthless, rich or poor, romantic or hopeless, was all so vividly portrayed, you could feel the pulse of these people's hearts, and each individual's reasoning.. right or wrong. Why they were the way they were was so palpable.. it was quite chilling. You even felt for the dastardly, and yes, despicable, "Simon Doonan", played to perfection by the the irrepressible Tim Curry.. so clever a man, Doonan, with a wealth of talents and knowledge so disastrously wasted, the poor schnook.
I would go to see Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Peter Gallagher any day over Kate Winslet, and Leonardo DiCaprio, so completely, woefully miscast in the Cameron production.
The only characters I thought were equally superb in BOTH versions, were the players of Captain Smith. The man in the theatrical release.. I had not seen before, and I felt he embodied the legendary captain to an eerie degree, and with incredible insight, bringing to life again the honor, grace and stoic peace-of-mind so often attributed to the real individual. And George C. Scott, well, it just doesn't get any better than that. Performed with his signature passion and intensity, he gave us a heart stopping portrayal of Capt. Smith's quiet dignity to the very last, tragic, historic moment.
I will remember the individual people of this tender, and powerful.. intricate, human, and masterful rendition for the rest of time.
I will be recalling the ringing in my ears I experienced for many months, from the "My HEART Will Go On" song, {at first beautiful}, that went on and on, wailing throughout the theatrical extravaganza, and the grandeur of the sets, and the hype, and the technical bits, and the wonderful Gloria Stuart, {another true highlight, of but a few, in the BIG one}, for a long time to come.