Dear reader: As I was looking over my blog tonight, mulling over ideas of reviving it, I came across this old post that I wrote, but never published. It was back in April of 2012, when they were playing "Titanic" on the big screens again in honor of the 100-year anniversary of the ship's sinking. I, of course, went to see it, and it got me to thinking, which got me to writing, but apparently didn't get me to posting. So, why not? I'm posting it now. Enjoy....
We all have pieces of culture that we always will love simply because of the time in our lives they represent -- because we loved them at such-and-such age, and because once upon a time, they were awesome. A lot of these things are embarrassing, but we allow ourselves to continue loving them because of the nostalgia they bring with them. Don't laugh at me for laughing at "Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls" -- that movie was awesome when I was 12! Don't make fun of me for knowing all the words to all the songs on 'N Sync's first two albums -- their posters (along with those of the Backstreet Boys and 98 Degrees) were plastered all over my walls for two years.
Okay, okay -- you can laugh at those ones if you want. After all, the actual quality of those particular slices of American culture can easily be called into question. I don't love them because of their quality, but because when I partake in what they have to offer, I become that young girl again, and it's fun to go back in time every now and then.
The movie, "Titanic," is another one of those things for me. I was obsessed, not only with the movie, but with the historical event. Long before the movie came out, I was intriqued by it. And long after the movie came out, I was reading about it, listening to the music, and hanging pictures of Leonardo DiCaprio on my wall next to Justin Timberlake and Brian Littrell.
For many years, I have felt that small twinge of embarrassment when admitting that it's still one of my favorite movies (truthfully, it's tied for first with "Gladiator"), but I refuse to be embarrassed any longer. After seeing it on the big screen again yesterday, this time in 3D, I can do nothing but maintain that this movie is a legitimately amazing piece of cinematic history. It deserves to be on the American Film Institute's list of top 100 movies (it's No. 83), and it should have gotten all 14 of the Academy Awards for which is was nominated (it won 11 of them).
Unlike the future 20-somethings 10 years from now who will be trying to staunchly defend their love of the "Twilight" movies, I have nothing to be embarrassed about. This movie was a feat of special effects, and it made movie history at the box office. The script is excellent, and the cast didn't have one bad actor in it. At the theater last night, I was struck once again by the grandness of it -- as well as the tragedy.
I wonder if anyone ever scoffed at "Casablanca" or "Gone With the Wind" the way some now scoff at "Titanic." Probably. But I suppose we know who had the last laugh, because those movies are still making money, and for that matter, so is "Titanic."
Do any of you have movies, music, books ... or something else ... that you are somewhat embarrassed to love?
