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Film reviews, Revisited classics

Titanic 25 Year Anniversary Review (Revisited in IMAX 3D)

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“The magic doesn’t come from within the director’s mind, it comes from within the heart of the actors.”

-James Cameron

These words from Cameron hold true due to his magnificent directing from his current success with Avatar: The Way of Water which was many years in the making to his anniversary re-release of Titanic. I had the privilege of revisiting Titanic in the IMAX 3D format at Seven Bridges IMAX in Woodridge, Illinois. I have seen Titanic two previous times on the big screen, but this new and immersive experience made me feel like I was watching Titanic for the first time. The backstory of the archives, the many journeys below the deep, and the magnificent technology utilized will take your Titanic experience to a new level.

I remember seeing a documentary, Ghosts of the Abyss, in IMAX 3D directed by James Cameron, which enlightened me on the main Titanic film. Those were the days when IMAX was not big with blockbusters yet, but now big studios use IMAX all the time. Cameron, however, really knows how to bring his previous projects back with a sense of excitement as he does this time with Titanic.

The mind of Cameron is one that surpasses many directors because he always links his works to his previous projects. He takes the time to think about how his audience will appreciate his films years later. Above all, he spaces out the time frames of when it is the right time for his projects to be launched. Cameron consistently rewrites until his films are on-point. That is because he wants his characterizations, plot, and concepts to all have meaning. In all his projects they truly do. With Titanic back in 3D, 4K formats, and IMAX 3D, his emphasis on cinematic brilliance shows.

The experience of Titanic in IMAX 3D is one-of-a-kind. The image is the sharpest ever, the technological aspects beyond wonderful which make fans feel they are face-to-face with the monumental performances of Kate Winslet (as Rose) and Leonardo DiCaprio (as Jack). Find your local IMAX location, get your tickets, and experience Titanic like never before. It is rewarding to experience Titanic in this format for fans who are in love with the movie as well as those experiencing it for the first time.

To recap the plot, Titanic is based on the true story of the Titanic, a ship that sank after hitting an iceberg in 1912, resulting in over 1500 lost lives. Bill Paxton plays Brock Lovett, an oceanographer who is researching the shipwreck when a drawing of Rose is discovered. An aging Rose (played by Gloria Stuart) is brought in for discussion and she elaborates her story of being a passenger on Titanic.  Above all, her beloved memory is falling in love with Jack (DiCaprio). Rose’s story is the film’s backstory and creates one of the most wonderful and engrossing stories I have seen on film in my life. All my experiences with Titanic have been unforgettable and I’ve cried each time.

Experiencing Titanic in IMAX is incredible and goes far beyond watching as the ship is destroyed. The scenes with Jack and Rose will dazzle audiences in IMAX, especially the famous scene when Jack asks Rose to have her hand so he can hold her up at the front of the ship to make her feel like she is flying. This moment is one of the most vivid and exhilarating in the IMAX experience of Titanic and left me breathless.

Titanic has lived with me. It has been a monumental cinematic example in my life and has fueled my passion for movies. It has always inspired me to take what I love in movies and explain my fascination in my own voice. Titanic is completely rewarding because of the depth of characterization, its technological effects, the skillful writing, and the outstanding directing by Cameron.

For those who are considering this experience, it is not to be missed. Seeing Titanic again is simply awesome and seeing it in IMAX is vivid and dazzling. Join the journey and get back in Titanic mode to celebrate this film’s 25-year anniversary. Four stars.

Film reviews

Magic Mike’s Last Dance

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The concept of the Magic Mike films did not grab my attention when Magic Mike was released in 2012. However, Steven Soderbergh as the director was what caught my attention and caused me to give the first film a shot. Soderbergh did not direct the second film, Magic Mike XXL, in 2015 which was directed by Gregory Jacobs. In the third and final film, Soderbergh is back which is why Magic Mike’s Last Dance is quite fun and cheerful. Based on my experience, Magic Mike’s Last Dance is a decent conclusion, because this film has more meaning and does not rely solely on provocative repeats.

What I mean by “decent conclusion” refers to the approach Soderbergh took with the way the third film begins. In Magic Mike’s Last Dance, Channing Tatum is back as Mike Lane. It seems as if Mike is just doing gigs being a bartender at events and other side gigs to make ends meet. It seems as if the world of being a stripper has been dismissed from his lifestyle. This all changes when, through the grapevine a rich socialite becomes aware that Mike has experience as a dancer. This socialite is Maxandra Mendoza, played by Salma Hayek. Mike instantly grabs Maxandra’s attention, and she brings him into a project in London to put on a show. For Mike, this may be a chance to redeem himself, but also prove he is more than he thinks. When bigger things abound in Magic Mike’s Last Dance, viewers will come to understand my opinion that this film is a  “decent conclusion.”

There is more exploration into the depths of talent that lies within Mike. Maxandra sees that in him as well. Soderbergh’s directing of the connection between the two invigorates their mindset regarding success and talent. This time around, the art of dancing can be taken seriously. Admittedly, I had a hard time taking the dancing seriously in the first two films. With Soderbergh back as the director, he places more emphasis on the skills that Mike has honed over the years and is now using in the show he is working on with Maxandra. Magic Mike’s Last Dance channels the artistic value in Mike’s choreography and those he trains for the theatrical production. The film continues to build on elements more spectacular than just partying and stripping. The seriousness lacked in Magic Mike XXL, but it is regained with Soderbergh back as the director.

The film thrives on the theatricals of dancing and blending intimacy while Mike proves he can play an important role. This time around, he has so much more to offer than his sexy moves. What stands out in Magic Mike’s Last Dance is that Mike is taken seriously for a change. Of course, there are many intimate moments with Maxandra, but for once there is a person in his life to prove what he is worth. There is more interest and value in Mike’s character in this movie.  While it is a conclusion of many fond memories from the previous two films, the film builds for a big shot for Mike. In Tatum’s final time playing Mike, he regains his confidence and finally realizes that there is more to his art and his moves than to just get the ladies excited.

Linking back to my “decent conclusion” assessment, the film includes several theatrical concepts to fulfill its mission of being a monumental finale. It begins where the previous two films left off but doesn’t involve constant dancing and stripping. In Magic Mike’s Last Dance, the dance performances have a higher purpose, and no one could play the roles better than Tatum or Hayek. Magic Mike’s Last Dance is a fun finale even though it’s still a bit cheesy in parts. Three stars for Magic Mike’s Last Dance.

Film reviews

Sharper Review

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Sharper is another name for a swindler, especially at cards. In the movie Sharper, there is a whole lot of that going on. Directed by Benjamin Caron, the film blends con artists with a mixture of other characters in a way that is genius and enticing.

Sharper begins with a manager of a bookstore, Tom (played by Justice Smith). He meets a girl, Sandra (played by Briana Middleton), who seems to be a hardworking student, and they find romance rather quickly. Things change when Sandra tells Tom she has a brother with criminal problems who also owes someone money. Tom offers to help Sandra, but she leaves to make money (supposedly) for her brother.


The film continues with Sandra, and there is more to her story than the we realize. Her life is a web of unexplained behaviors and situations. Sandra meets Max (played by Sebastian Stan), and he offers to show Sandra how to be a con artist. After this, Sharper continues down a dangerous road. Max meets a woman, Madeline (played by Julianne Moore), who is supposedly his mother. Madeline has a new man, Richard (played by John Lithgow), who is a wealthy entrepreneur. Max acts like he has lots of problems, but his problems are a lie and Madeline knows it—but what does Richard know? What does anyone know about each other in this film? What’s true and what’s a lie? The theme of Sharper is to trust no one.

Each character in Sharper has an ego, an addiction, or a resentment with someone. The tensions and secrets continue to stir the pot. Is Max really who he claims to be? Is Sandra who she claims to be? Is Madeline who she claims to be? Audiences will not know who can be believed, and everyone is a liar on some level. The con artists also present themselves as high-class, but they are actually anything but high-class.

The full picture of Sharper is hard to explain, but the complexity is one of the things that makes it heart-pounding. The lies, improvisations, and deceit are never ending. Tom, Sandra, Max, Madeline, and Richard all intertwine in a world of creative lies in their attempt to profit, and their lies take them down a dangerous slope of irreparable consequences. This clever and dangerous puzzle of a film makes for a stellar masterpiece. Four stars for Sharper.