Titanic in 3D (2012)

Re-releasing blockbuster movies will always be followed by the catcalls of the pessimistic, bellowing out accusations of greedy studio executives, who prey upon the naïve, movie going public. However, what many fail to appreciate is the enormous risk that re-releasing an old movie is, and how much is at stake. In this particular case, the reputation of esteemed director James Cameron was on…thin ice.
The majority of people know the story of Titanic, but for those few sheltered individuals, here it is: there was once a massive ship called the Titanic, which sailed for America, from England, in 1912. It was the largest of its time, and deemed unsinkable. On board it was a supreme example of elegance and sophistication (for the first class passengers anyway). However, during the course of its journey, it hit a massive iceberg and sank. The Titanic’s developers had not equipped it with enough life boats to save everyone, as they thought it was too unsightly having all those boats dangling on the deck, so half the passengers were left to drown in the freezing cold.
James Cameron’s movie follows the epic love story between a poor, young traveller called Jack (Leonardo di Caprio), and wealthy, upper-class Rose (Kate Winslet), who are on the Titanic during its epic adventure. The two enjoy a forbidden romance onboard the Titanic, forbidden because Rose is set to marry a rich, yet evil, aristocrat called Cal (Billy Zane). As Rose and Jack enjoy the freedom and liberation for which the Titanic stands for, their demise is left in the hands of fate.
The idea to re-release this movie in 3D is not as superficial as some may argue. There is a distinct enjoyment factor in seeing this movie again, in the cinema, in a new format. The screening which I attended in Leicester Square was filled with hard-core fans of the movie, as well as members of the press, and the reception was somewhere between eagerly impressed and a little bit less cynical respectively. Cameron’s abilities with 3D is unmatched, and he has turned his skills impressively to this movie from 1997.
Undoubtedly, if you were not a fan of the film the first time around, the extra visual dimension will not be enough to make you rethink your opinion, but there is something that might. This film represents a great opportunity for film fans to delve deep into a nostalgic cinema experience, whereby fans can gather together and watch their favourite movies collectively, on the big screen. Albeit Titanic was a safe option (being the second-highest grossing film of all time, after Avatar), it was also the perfect choice to see how this kind of movie event would go down with a cynical public, and it seems the results should be positive.
Also, this is the perfect opportunity for a fresh audience to watch the film. Having been out for 15 years, there is a new generation of movie fans who can now see the movie how it was meant to be viewed: in a cinema.
I would definitely not excuse movie studios just re-releasing any old film in 3D in order to make any easy buck, but there can certainly be an excuse for certain films. Even without the 3D it would still be great to see some of the best films shown again in cinemas, allowing moviegoers the chance to revisit some of their favourite classics.