When Titanic was first released in 1997, I was 12. I saw the movie for the first time on opening weekend and went on to see it another five times in theaters. I, like many other 12-year-old girls of that era, was obsessed. I listened to "My Heart Will Go On" on repeat, cut out pictures of Leo from any magazine I could get my hands on and hung a movie poster in my bedroom.
A few years ago, my roommate and I decided to rent Titanic and watch it, unedited, from beginning to end for the first time in years. We were pleasantly surprised. That movie holds up. So when I found out sometime last year that James Cameron was planning to re-release the movie in 3D on the 100th anniversary of the Titanic disaster (that's the boat, not the movie), I knew I'd be one of the first in line for tickets. The thought of seeing that smokestack falling at me in 3D was really the only selling point I needed.
I finally got my chance last night, and I was not disappointed. But things have changed. When I was 12, I thought Titanic was a great movie because of the love story. Today, I think it's a great movie because of everything else. Below, a then-and-now comparison of the reaction I had to the movie at age 12 vs. the one I had last night, at age 26. When you're finished reading, I hope you'll go see the movie yourself.
What I Thought When I Watched Titanic at Age 12 vs. What I Thought When I Watched Titanic at Age 26
Age 12: Leo is such a heartthrob!
Age 26: Leo was so good in The Departed
12: Jack is so adventurous and romantic!
26: Jack should really get a job.
12: What does Rose mean when she says that woman is "in a delicate condition?"
26: Oh.
12: Cal is a jerk!
26: Cal is a typical member of the 1%.
12: Jack is so in love with Rose!
26: Jack has got some serious game.
12: OMG! They showed Kate Winslet's boobs!
26: Kate Winslet really does have an amazing set of boobs.
12: Rose and Jack are so in love!
26: Rose and Jack have only known each other for 24 HOURS!
12: Cal's footman is so mean!
26: Cal's footman is a certified psychopath. They should make an entire movie about him.
12: Jack would never have stolen the necklace, Rose. You have to believe him!
26: I wouldn't have trusted him either, Rose. BECAUSE YOU'VE ONLY KNOWN HIM 24 HOURS!
12: Wow! They steamed up that car! How romantic!
26: The physics of that just doesn't make any sense.
12: Watching this ship sink is so scary!
26: Watching this ship sink in 3D is f***ing terrifying.
12: It's so sad when Jack dies! I'm crying my eyes out!
26: It's so sad when the old couple, and the mother with her children, and the captain and Mr. Andrews die. I'm crying my eyes out!
12: "My Heart Will Go On" is my FAVORITE song!
26: "My Heart Will Go On" is a great song to sing at karaoke.
12: Why didn't Jack get on the board? There was so much room!
26: Why didn't get Jack get on the board? There was so much room!
12: If only Jack had lived! He and Rose could have gotten married!
26: If Jack had lived, he would have gotten fed up with Rose's helplessness in about six months.
12: Old Rose threw the necklace into the water so it could be with Jack!
26: Old Rose just threw her granddaughter's inheritance into the ocean for no reason.
12: This is SUCH a good movie!
26: This is SUCH a good movie!