Titanic泰坦尼克号

                                                          Hero: Leonardo DiCaprio

Hollywood lost at sea, or the Titanic sinks again .

I didn't want to write this article. I resisted, but now that "Titanic" has become the top grossing（income from the screening of a movie） film of all time - in the U.S. and the world, I feel compelled(captivating, attractive). Surpassing "Star Wars," "Titanic" has taken in some $1 billion internationally and $465 million domestically. Besides its dollar achievements, "Titanic" has received 15 Academy Award nominations and, from what I can tell, nearly universal acclaim(public praise for) - but not in our household.

This is not only a bad movie, it's a fundamentally(in basic way) immoral one – deceptive(misleading), manipulative(skilful at influencing sb or forcing sb to do what you want), offensive. A monument to the moral destitution(the state of having no money or possessions) of our society. Last night I watched a reporter interview a psychologist as to the meaning of the movie's success. I learned "Titanic" has achieved its extraordinary popularity because the American people are looking for stories about the meaning of life. Well, America, if you found "Titanic" satisfies this quest, our country is in a great deal of trouble. The psychologist closed saying that "movies are a reflection of what's going on in our culture." I agree. Boy, do I agree. One only has to study the American people's response to the scandals and crimes of the current administration for confirmation of this fact.

For those of you who have already seen the movie - and loved it, read on. Ask yourself if the stunning(very impressive or beautiful) superficial(only on the surface) beauty of this film obscured(cover) its underlying ugliness. For those of you who haven't seen it, ask yourself if a movie which upholds(support) the values "Titanic" does, can be a great movie despite its moral bankruptcy(a complete lack). The film's success, a hundred years ago, would have elicited(lead out) a nationwide uproar(public noise) concerning the relationship of art to morality.

So what's wrong with "Titanic"? Gee(used to express a reaction such as surprise or admiration), where do I begin? For starters, the "heroine" of "Titanic," Rose, is a self-absorbed(too concerned about yourself), spoiled aristocrat. She takes the fateful journey with her mother and wealthy fiancee, Cal, who presents her with a priceless diamond necklace during the voyage(a long trip by boat). She is having second thoughts about her engagement. You see, she doesn't love the arrogant(prideful), pretentious(self-important) Cal - she is marrying him for his money. Rose's misgivings predictably have nothing to do with a guilty conscience at her deception.

Let me pause to reflect on the general theme of the characterizations the screenwriters developed. There is a simple formula: All wealthy people are boorish(rude), overbearing(arrogant), dishonest, selfish, pretentious, and greedy -- some are evil. All people of limited means are genuine(real), loving, selfless, honorable and generous. This simplistic and shallow(superficial) way of portraying the movie's characters is truly sophomoric(silly in a way). But apparently the general public cannot see the injustice and inaccuracy of this propaganda(a government or organization spreads in order to influence people's opinions and beliefs). Can it be that the dumbing down of America, and the left's tactic(strategy) of fomenting(inflame) class envy has been so successful that they actually agree with the manipulators who produced this movie? I shudder(body suddenly shakes).

Back to our "heroine." She's unfulfilled by her life. Her intended doesn't appreciate her Picassos. She doesn't like cocktail party chitchat. She's misunderstood. So, she does what anyone in her situation would do. She makes a half-hearted attempt to kill herself by jumping overboard. During the botched suicide try, she meets the "hero," a young struggling artist who won his third-class ticket on the Titanic in a poker game. How does he make his living? Selling his third-rate sketches for ten cents each. As you can guess, using the formula outlined above, Jack is genuine, loving, selfless and honorable. He pursues Rose during the next few days finally convincing her to go below decks - where the poor people are. Rose has a wonderful time at a raucous(rude, noisy, and violent) party.

Stop the tape. Rose, an engaged woman, deceives her fiancé, and goes with another man to a party - where they kiss. How courageous. Cal's assistant witnesses her moral lapse(error) and reports back to the boss. The following morning, Cal has the audacity(boldness) to be angry at Rose! He turns over the breakfast table in a rage and tells Rose that no wife of his is going to act this way. To me this would be an understandable reaction. If the genders were reversed, the writers would have portrayed the offended female as righteously(fairly) indignant(angry). But he is a rich, white male - thus, we are encouraged to despise his actions and sympathize with Rose instead.

Rose has decided not to go through with the marriage - she loves Jack. What would a heroine do in this circumstance? She could go to her fiancé, explain she doesn't love him and call off(cancel) the wedding. Since the 500 wedding invitations have gone out, he is paying for her transit, and he will obviously be humiliated(to make someone feel ashamed or stupid) by her breaking off the engagement, she could delay a public display of affection for Jack until after their arrival in America. Or she could ask Jack, a man she just met, to draw her naked in her fiancé's sitting room. She could wear the fabulous(very large or great) diamond - a gift of her fiancé. Then she could leave that picture, along with the diamond and a cruel note in the fiancé's safe. Next she could go off with Jack and have sex in the back seat of her fiancé's car in the hold of the ship. Hmm. This is a difficult decision. What would a heroine do? Since the fiancé is a rich, white male - she does the latter.

Recommendation: Use your own perspective to appreciate this masterpiece.