Cameron, who previously used 3-D video in "Avatar" (2009), revisits the popular, screen-popping technology with his re-release of "Titanic" (1997), which was already a successful film in its own right it has grossed over $600 million since its original release.
Cameron worked with digital effects company Stereo D to make it look like the film was originally shot in 3-D, according to The New York Times. The process of updating the film occurred over 60 weeks and cost $18 million.
"Titanic" tells the story of Rose (Kate Winslet) and Jack (Leonardo di Caprio), a couple from opposing social classes who fall hopelessly in love aboard the massive, ill-fated ship. The film, which won Best Picture and awarded Cameron a Best Director award at the 70th Academy Awards, has become a cultural icon and jump-started the acting careers of Winslet and di Caprio. The re-release will only continue the hype that has endured for over a decade.
While I generally despise all things 3-D, I have to admit that "Titanic in 3-D" uses the technology quite well. Instead of having china plates or random objects hovering in front of your face, the 3-D of "Titanic" creates an intense sense of depth and space that is nothing short of awesome.
The precarious first meeting between Jack and Rose, for example, in which Rose is about to throw herself off the edge of the ship, only to be saved by Jack, is certainly made more dramatic in 3-D. The peril of plunging into the icy depths of the ocean seems more of a reality with the deeper perspective that the third dimension affords.
The raucous party scene below deck demonstrates another example of how Cameron's addition of 3-D really shines: Jack and Rose, as they cut through the boisterous crowd, pop off the screen, and their maneuvering is made all the more impressive with the new visual add-on.
The 3-D of "Titanic" amplifies just about everything the film has to offer. The large, sweeping scenes that display everyone's terror are made more perilous. The steamy scene between Jack and Rose, which occurs inside of an old-fashioned car, is even more intimate as the depth of the surrounding scenery intensifies the pair's on-screen presence.
Although watching Jack's exclamation of "I'm the king of the world!" in 3-D glasses seems a little more ridiculous than in two dimensions, audiences will undoubtedly smile regardless.
The heart-stopping, sob-inducing scenes of Jack and Rose's final, frozen moments together are more tragic the second time around in 3-D: As the viewer, you feel like you are right in the water on a nearby float.
Since the mega box office success of Cameron's "Avatar," which grossed $2.8 billion, many other films have followed suit in their use of 3-D technology. The trend of re-releasing older films in 3-D has so far been a profitable enterprise, seen in last year's re-release of "The Lion King" (1994) in 3-D, which earned Disney an additional $94 million on top of the film's initial gross, according to Forbes.
Films in 3-D are appealing for studios to produce, as their ticket prices are higher at the box office than their 2-D alternatives, and they thus generate far more revenue than the standard cinematic experience. The box office failures of "The Green Hornet" (2011) and "John Carter" (2012), however, suggest that it takes far more than just the appeal of watching people and objects pop off the screen to make a quick buck the films have to be decent, too.
In the upcoming months, 3-D films of a variety of genres are slated for release, including "The Amazing Spider-Man" (2012), "The Hobbit" (2012), "Jack the Giant Killer" (2012), and "The Great Gatsby" (2012).
The recent critical acclaim of Martin Scorsese's "Hugo" (2011), which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture, demonstrates how 3-D cinematography can be used to enhance the interpretation of character and plot, not simply as an entertainment gimmick.
Baz Luhrmann, who has directed "Moulin Rouge!" (2001) and "Australia" (2008), will integrate 3-D in his direction of "The Great Gatsby," which is set for release this December and also stars di Caprio. The film, adapted from the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, will be an interesting addition to the world of 3-D film. Luhrmann believes his use of 3-D will help "find a new intimacy in film," according to The Times.
The re-release of "Titanic" in 3-D certainly proves that the technology can successfully provide a deeper sense of intimacy. The film's flair for the dramatic is simply augmented by the use of 3-D, but it's not a bad thing, and it's actually quite an enjoyable experience, despite its length.
All in all, especially if you did not see it in theaters originally, go see "Titanic" in 3-D, if for no other reason than no one will be able to see you crying behind your 3-D glasses.
