Titanica
| Titanica | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Stephen Low |
| Narrated by |
Leonard Nimoy Cedric Smith (edited) |
| Distributed by | IMAX |
Release dates |
1992 1995 (edited) |
Running time |
95 minutes 40 minutes (edited) |
| Language | English |
Titanica is a 1992 IMAX documentary film about the RMS Titanic. The film was directed by Stephen Low and narrated by Leonard Nimoy. The film mostly focuses on footage taken at the wreck of the RMS Titanic, also featuring footage of the expedition crew searching the wreck[1] as well as interviews with Titanic survivors Frank John William Goldsmith and Eva Hart.[2] Using Eva and the crew members, Low conveys the voice of the documentary by showing the Titanic's wreckage as a graveyard which is to be respected and treaded with caution and care. It was the second feature length IMAX film released, following Stones at the Max in 1991.[1] An edited 40 minute version of the film was also later released for IMAX theatres in 1995;[3] this version was narrated by Cedric Smith.[4]
Production
The expedition crew was composed of a Russian, American and Canadian[1] who were operating off the Russian research ship Akademik Mstislav Keldysh.[3] Footage of the wreck was obtained by two Mir submersibles,[3] sometimes working together, that had been equipped with IMAX cameras and lights that generated 150,000 watts, capable of clearly lighting up the ocean floor.[1] Footage of the wreckage is often compared with historical photos, showing the full impact of the tragedy.
In the film, Eva Hart comments that prior to the Titanic striking the iceberg, her mother had commented that calling the ship 'unsinkable' was "flying in the face of the Almighty."[1][3][5]
Reception
The film holds a 60% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 5 reviews.[6] Roger Ebert gave the film 3½ stars out of 4, stating the footage "achieve[d] a remarkable intimacy" with the Titanic's wreck, though also stating he would have liked to see more footage of the Titanic and less of the expedition crew.[1] Margaret McGurk from the The Cincinnati Enquirer gave a positive review in 2000, particularly praising the detail and size of the footage, stating it was "an instance when the oversized Imax film format truly lives up to its potential."[3] Edward Johnson-Ott from NUVO spoke favourably of both the footage of the wreck and the crew, stating the crew added "welcome humor while maintaining the dignity such an excursion demands."[5]
Eva Hart, who had expressed concern about looting of the Titanic's wreck, commended the IMAX film, stating "The IMAX Titanic expedition weren't going down to plunder it. I think it's splendid."[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Ebert, Roger (14 April 1995). "Titanica". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
- ↑ "Titanica (1992)". Allmovie. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 5 McGurk, Margaret (25 November 2000). "Big-screen 'Titanica'". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
- ↑ "Titanica". IMAX. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
- 1 2 Johnson-Ott, Edward (1998). "Titanica (1995)". IMDb. NUVO. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
- ↑ "Titanica (1995)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
External links
- Titanica at the Internet Movie Database
- Titanica at AllMovie
- Titanica at Rotten Tomatoes