Review of Silent House

Silent House is a 2011 (released in the UK in 2012) independent horror film, directed by Chris Kentis and Laura Lau. The plot focuses on a young woman named Sarah (Elizabeth Olsen), who is terrorized in her family vacation home whilst she is there cleaning the place up with her father and uncle. The film is a remake of the 2012 Uruguayan film 'La casa muda' (The Silent House), which was allegedly based on an actual incident that occurred in a village in Uruguay in the 1940s. The films marketing was aimed at the fact that it was filmed in real time, and was edited so as to appear as a single continuous shot (similar to Alfred Hitchcock's 'Rope' in 1948).

Before I jump straight into this I am going to say that I am rubbish when it comes to watching horror flicks in the cinema, I'm fine when they're on the TV, but honestly, in the cinema I am a complete coward (has to be admitted). Obviously the best thing about this movie is that it was filmed to give the impression of real time, so as much of it as possible was filmed in one shot, which would be very difficult to do, not just in the case of filming, but it would be really tough of the actors, especially the lead role, in this case Olsen, because in any other movie, you'd do maybe a dozen or more takes, and they'd pick the best one, whereas in a scenario like this, nearly the whole film is one take, that's a lot of pressure and I think Olsen pulled it off fantastically. If she did slip up at any point she pulled it back and really sold it for me, she was excellent. Now back to the method of filming; I think the method of creating a sense of rel time worked really well, at first it looked a bit iffy because it looked very shaky as it followed Olsen around (it just looked like bad camera work), but as the film progresses you realise that it blends in with how the story is being told, and even something as simple as a shaky camera creates a sense of realism. Also the beauty of doing one continuous shot is that in order to preserve the realism, special effects are kept to a minimum (maybe even none at all), no CGI, just the right noises made at the right time. The whole thing is gritty, it's like all the modern computer work has been stripped back and has left nothing but a pure product of good acting and filming. It almost gives off the feeling of a found-footage movie, without the need for a running commentary to explain everything that is happening. So a wise choice by the directors on that one. It definitely creates a sense of realism which is difficult to create in a horror flick.

I've already mentioned how the acting is top notch, but that doesn't make a brilliant movie, in my opinion, it is the story that lets it down. It begins the way many horror films do, i.e. really slow, nothing much happening, and then slowly building up to something big. The problem is with this one, is that it just keeps building and building, an building, you keep anticipating a jump which doesn't happen! You'll get one decent jump scare (that's another thing, the atmosphere may build up a good scary vibe in the cinema, but the scares are all jump scares), and then you're left waiting for what feels like ages (which is surprising because it's quite a short film). Admittedly the story does pick up a bit near the end, it even takes a turn in a strange and slightly disturbing direction (honestly ' The Cabin In The Woods' didn't have a twist as good as this). By the end you don't quite know how to react to what you've just seen, you find yourself replaying the whole movie in your head trying to piece things together.

That's basically all I can say on this film without giving too much away. It was never going to a hugely successful film. It's good, in the sense that it looks good, and the acting's good, but the story does let it down, because even though it picks up near the end, there's a good chance it'll have lost some of its audiences interest by then. Basically if you're a film fan, and are interested in how films are made, then go check this one out, because the whole real time and one continuous shot method works well and it is a really interesting way to do it. It's the type of method that would only work with a horror. Like most independent movies, it wouldn't have had a huge budget, so this method of filming is a suitable substitute to pricey visual effects. It has a nice, gritty feel to it that can only be appreciated in the cinema. I'd give this film a 6.5/10.

I know that's a low rating, but like I said, if you're interesting in seeing different ways of filming and presenting a story on screen, then go check this film out. It's definitely worth your time.

The Build Up to American Reunion

For years the original American Pie series has had a special place in my heart, because even though they weren't well received by critics, they have still managed to secure themselves in modern pop culture (for example, what teenager today doesn't know what the word 'milf' means?). I find the films extremely entertaining and I still laugh every time I watch them. So here's a quick overview of where it all started (I'm mostly going to talk about the original three movies, the ones that were released in the cinema). I am not going to go into depth about film (i.e. cast and story) because it would take forever for me to do that with all seven films. This post does contain very mild spoilers.

Our Journey begins 13 years ago...

American Pie (1999)

This is where it all started, written by Adam Hertz and was a directorial debut for brothers Paul and Chris Weitz. The film followers a group of students in their final year of high school, on a mission to get themselves laid  before they leave. The goal of getting laid at prom being the main goal. Like I said, I'm not going to go in depth with the story, but the film goes on with each of the characters trying their best to achieve their goal whilst inevitably encountering awkward and embarrassing situations. With memorable characters and scenes that are now embedded into the minds of thousands of teenagers, 'American Pie may not have been a critical success, but it was most certainly a box office success. The film took in a gross worldwide revenue pf $235,483,004, $132,922,000 of which was from international tickets. The success of this movie spawned two immediate sequels over the next few years and a series of direct to video releases.

American Pie 2 (2001)

The sequel to the loved 'American Pie' continues the story of the same four friends as they now adjust to life at college, believing that their luck will change now that they are older and more mature. As their summer break comes up they decide to rent a beach house and have a party. Throughout the movie they encounter more hilarious situations, most of which top those of the first movie. For example, the scene when Jim's masturbating and he uses glue instead of lube, is possibly the best scene across the whole franchise! The film got mixed reviews, this time because it lacked the originality of the first movie, which is to be expected with it being a sequel, but it is still the best received film of the series.

American Wedding (2003)

This sequel was the final of the series to make it to the big screen for what would turn out to be 9 years! It ties up the story of Jim and Michelle, going from meeting in the first movie, to dating at the end of the second movie, to finally getting married in this installment. Story wise, this varied the most from the theme of the original movie. The story itself doesn't revolve around the main characters obsessing with getting themselves laid, but they obsess with helping Jim give Michelle the wedding she wants. Their journey takes them from dance offs in a gay bar, to strippers dressed as french maids and police women duck taping someone to a chair. Naturally the gang faces many challenges on the way to organising the perfect wedding, some more ridiculous than others, and for once we even see a little bit of characters development (many will disagree, but I don't think characters development has been strong in any character apart from Jim). One main notable point about this film is the absence of particular characters from the previous two movies, most the absence of   'Oz' who had to be written out due to scheduling conflicts. The other characters were written out because the writers didn't believe that they couldn't make an interesting  enough story that could include such a large cast of characters including the new editions.

Now we make to the stuff that didn't make it to the big screen...

American Pie Presents: Band Camp (2005)

This first installment of a new series of American Pie movies follows the characters of Matt Stifler, the younger brother of Steve Stfler from the original series. The story follwers the younger Stifler as he gets himself into trouble and is made to attend band camp, where he plans to reveal all the dark naughty secrets of the campers, but in the process discovers more about himself and becomes more attached to his fellow campers. This is my personal favourite from the spin off series. I don't even know why, I guess it's just because it sticks in my head the most due to a number of memorable scenes (i.e. the scene with the oboe).

American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile (2006) 

This is the second installment of the spin off series and it includes a new cast, including a new Stifler (two new Stiflers), and follows the story of the younger Stifler being given free pass by his girlfriend to go out and explore his sexual needs. Him and his friends journey to visit possibly my favourite Stifer from the spin off, Dwight Stifler, played by Steve Talley. The films is filled with raunchy drinking parties, and the famous naked mile run which the film is named after. It's a funny enough film, not the strongest of the series, but it has some laughs, and each of the main characters goes away with his own awkward sexual encounter, one of which is exceptionally hilarious.

A horrible point to mention is that back in 2007, a 22 year old man called David Reid, from Manchester died when copying the binge drinking game called "last man standing" depicted in the movie.

American Pie Presents: Beta House (2007)

This installment follows the story of the young Eric Stfler, now going to college to join his older cousin Dwight, and it follows him and his new friends campaigning to complete a set amount of tasks in order to become 'betas'. Inevitably the house has a rival house called the 'geek' house and the two come to blows at the end in the famous (banned) 'Greek Olympiad'. It is funny, but ridiculous at the same time. I'm really not a fan of this one, it kind of feels like a low point because it just doesn't feel like 'American Pie', they could easily have made it its own film, but instead they slapped a Stifler on it, and released it as part of a well-liked franchise.

American Pie Presents: The Book Of Love (2009)

To date this is the final installment of the American Pie spin off series. With a completely new cast, the film was set 11 years after the events of 'American Pie', the whole film ties in a lot of aspects of the previous films, and in my opinion, is an improvement on its predecessor. It is still not a fantastic film, but it brings back some of those magical elements of the original films and takes it in a new direction. The end of the movie suggests that it was the kick start the series again. So far their is no word on whether or not this series will be continued.

One thing all of the movies have in common, is the appearance of Eugene Levy, better known as Jim's dad Noah Levenstein. He is the main factor that binds all of the movies and has acted as a mentor and councilor to the main characters all the way through.It becomes clear as the movies go on that he isn't the sexually naive father figure that we are introduced to int he first movie back in 1999. 

And finally we are here, the end product of many years anticipation...

American Reunion (2012)

Also known as 'American Pie 4' and 'American Pie: The Reunion', obviously I cannot review the film yet because I won't be seeing it until early next week. So what can we expect? Well we expect some of the former glory of the original movies with the return of the original cast, now much older, but none the wiser. If the films good enough, it may act as a revival of the series, giving the writers a chance to explore new areas involving troubles in the adult life. It could also revive the spin off series, since the final installment leaves it open to many possible story lines.

I really hope 'American Reunion' does justice to the franchise, it is the first of the series to make it to the big screen since 2003. Theoretically it should do really well, because not only will fans of the original films want to go and see it, but it will attract attention from the new generation of teenagers who maybe aren't as attuned to the series as the rest of us.

Well I hope you enjoyed this quick catch up on the 'American Pie' series, it's hard to believe that a film, named after a song released that summer, went on to become something to large and culturally accepted (and on that note, the soundtrack to these movies across the board is amazing! There is even a cameo from Blink 182 in the first movie!). Thank you American Pie, we love you.

Look forward to my next to 'build up' installments where I explore the original 'Spiderman' trilogy and the history of the 'Batman' franchise in preparation for 'The Amazing Spiderman' and 'The Dark Knight Rises'.  

What Are Your Top 10 Comic-Book Based Movies?

Since this year is a very good year for superhero fans, I figured this seemed appropriate.

This is the first poll I'm publishing on this blog. Comment either on here or on Facebook, whichever is easier. Rate them from 1 to 10, 1 being the best. I am opening this with a clear statement that it DOES NOT INCLUDE THE AVENGERS, because it is too new and many haven't gotten around to seeing it yet. So my poll won't include it (but it would be top of the list).

10-Batman Begins
9-X-men: First Class
8-X-men 2
7-300
6-Captain America: The First Avenger
5-Batman
4-Kick-Ass
3-Iron Man
2-Spiderman
1-The Dark Knight

Comment and let me know what your top 10 is.

Review of The Avengers Assemble

The Avengers Assemble is a 2012 American superhero movie directed by Joss Whedon. Starring Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evens, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston and Samuel L. Jackson. It a cross over movie including the characters from the movies Iron Man (Iron Man 2), The Incredible Hulk, Thor and Captain America. This review contains mild spoilers. Nothing major.

I'm going to start with the fact that I personally have been excited for this movie since 2008 when it was hinted at at the end of 'Iron Man', so in my mind, it had huge expectation to live up to and it didn't disappoint. It's funny and its overflowing with greatly choreographed action sequences, what more could you ask for in a superhero movie? It is easily the best superhero movie ever made. There's simply no doubt about, the cast works perfectly together, the actions obviously great, the stories alright, the musics brilliant and everything looks epic. I saw it in IMAX (only the fourth film I've seen in IMAX, the others being 'Avatar', 'Tron Legacy' and 'Iron Man 2') and I have to say, it's the one that looks the best. For a post-conversion 3D movie, I was pleasantly surprised. By that I mean that it was actually the best 3D film I've ever seen! Everything was done so well, it gave the picture depth, stuff came flying out the screen (almost, it still could have been more eye popping). It made the sequences look more real.

One of the main concerns with the cast for this film was the fact that they all play larger than life characters whom most have had there own movie prior to this, so straight away Whedon was facing a challenge to ensure that each character had an equal amount of screen time, because obviously we already knew the characters (with the exception of Hawkeye with his first appearance only being a cameo), and every person has their favourite character before they go into the cinema, so he has to cater to everyone's needs. From my point of view, everyone got what they wanted, each character had a good amount of screen time. My main concern was that it was just going to turn into another Iron Man movie, but it didn't, however, some characters didn't get as much screen time as they could have, mostly Thor, Captain America (but I'm not saying that they were left out, they just weren't as much of a major role) and Hawkeye. Hawkeye is a victim of the story, even though part of the story revolves partially around him, he isn't used to the best that he could be.Jeremy Renner plays him brilliantly and the lack of Hawkeye at the beginning is made up by the end because he makes a bow and arrow look extremely cool. The two main stars are Iron Man and Bruce Banner/The Hulk. Downey Jr and Ruffalo are brilliant, both are really funny. Ruffalo's Hulk was the biggest surprise in the movie. He had big boots to fill (no that wasn't a Hulk pun), both Eric Bana (the name worked well for him) and Edward Norton played Banner really well (the movies may not have been brilliant, but they were). Ruffalo provides a fresh perspective on the character. He portrays him as an older, more wise version of Banner, who has came to terms with his condition, he almost understands it (accepted it even), but he still fears his other half. Ruffalo is the first actor to play both Banner and The Hulk in a movie (through the use of motion capture technology), so unlike the other movies, you can actually see the actors manor isms in The Hulk.

Some have complained about apparently Banner seems to just flick a switch and then he can now control The Hulk. I however think that this isn't the case, I think that now that he's older, he's began to understand that The Hulk is a part of him, it saved his life in the gamma accident. At the end of 'The Incredible Hulk' we see that Banner is still in there when The Hulk is unleashed, his mind is just overpowered, and near the end, he doesn't control The Hulk, but he manages to aim him. He directs his attention and anger towards his enemy, before he transforms. So that's what I think happens in 'The Avengers', he directs his anger, which in a way, almost controls The Hulk. Hope that made sense. Also many professional archers have complained about Hawkeyes method with his bow, to be quite honest, it doesn't really matter, it is barely noticeable. Most of his shots are impossible, it's obvious for everyone to see, but you have to bare in mind that this is a superhero movie, they can try and make it as realistic as possible, but that's what it is always going to be, so that gives the feeling of reality a knock before it even starts. Instead of complaining about little things like that, just enjoy it. You're complaining about how he holds a bow, when there's a Demi-God (at least I think that's what he is) fighting along side him, of course it's not going to be that realistic.

The story isn't spectacular, I'll admit that right now, but it doesn't have to be. It has a nice simple story, because the audience isn't going for a movie with a complex story that has to be thought about, they're going to see superheros fighting bad guys (and each other). So with the cast that they have, plus a great action choreographer, Whedon could afford a non-complicated story. It is everything it needs to be, action packed and funny (there are some really good lines throughout the film, some of them had the entire cinema laughing). Naturally with a movie like this, they want to leave it open for a sequel. As could be expected, there is a small scene after the movie to give us a hint as to what we can expect next. Even as a Marvel fan, I was surprised by what I saw. At first glimpse I thought I knew what it was, but then I was thrown by it. I still haven't worked out who/what it is yet. Which is a good thing because we don't want it to be too predictable.

So that is my near enough spoiler free review of 'The Avengers Assemble', hope you all liked it. Like I said, it is now my favourite superhero movie, and that's saying a lot because I never thought anything would top 'The Dark Knight'. It was also my best IMAX experience to date ('Tron Legacy' was very difficult to beat) and although there are a few problems through the journey, by the end, you don't care about them. For what mistakes are made, they are made up for in action by the end. On that basis, I am going to give 'The Avengers Assemble' a 10/10. Round of applause to Joss Whedon, you've done a real good job here.

Review of The Howling Reborn

The Howling Reborn is a 2011 werewolf horror based off the novel 'The Howling II'. The film is written and directed by Joe Nimziki and was released direct to video on 18th October 2011 in the United States and 9th April 2012 in the UK. The film stars Lindsey Shaw (Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide) and Landon Liboiron (Terra Nova). The film is in no way related to the original film 'The Howling', and from what I've heard, the film actually has very little in common with the novel it is based on, other than the fact that it is about werewolves (not quite sure how that works to be quite honest). Warning, this review contains mild spoilers!

This is my first direct to dvd review. I figured that since it only got released in this country this month, it's classed as a new release so it could be worth a watch. I'm going to straight away put some thoughts on the table before I get started. Firstly, I love werewolf flick, An American Werewolf In London is one of my favourite movies ever made, there is definitely not enough of these movies being made (and the likes of Twilight are destroying the appeal of werewolves). Secondly, I haven't watched 'The Howling' all the way through, when I tried to, it was late, I'd had a long day, and I fell asleep, human error, never quite got around to attempting it again. Luckily for me, as I began watching this film, it became apparent that it is in no way linked to 'The Howling'. Third, and finally, direct to dvd is always fairly low budget, so don't expect any amazing transformations, or end products.

Alright then, lets get started. I liked it. I really did. There's a lot wrong with it, personally I think that all comes down to budget, because most of the scenes that could have been improved, would have cost a bomb. Any werewolf film isn't cheap, due to the need for convincing costumes and special effects.I'm struggling to actually coherently put together a review for this that doesn't just knock the movie for being low budget, and on that note, I'm going to say that the acting is good, Landom Liboiron is a great young actor, it's a shame we don't see enough of this side of him in Terra Nova, and it's nice to see Lindsey Shaw outside of childrens television, a good change of scenery for her. The pair of them have good chemistry, there's a deep love story in this film and these two play it out so well, it shows something that goes much deeper than your typical high school romance film (by the way, it's set in a high school, but don't let that put you off). If I was to sum it up, it's like two people who, suddenly find each other, and have a bond which keeps them together, whilst around them everything is changing, including one of them (sounds very twilighty I know). The film also touches on other issues that child raising and the pressures a teen life. It tries to connect with a teen audience through the main characters narration. I did laugh a bit however, when the main character begins going through his 'changes', it has a very 'Spiderman' feel about it. Trust me, if you watch it you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. I don't want to give too much away, because the story in it isn't bad. Some parts you can work out yourself if you're really paying attention, but a few bits do catch you off guard.

Now the part which everybody looks forward to in a werewolf flick, the werewolves themselves. Basically,they look awful. The transformation is nothing to be proud of, I would even go as far as saying that An American Werewolf In Paris had a better transformation than this film (for those who haven't seen it, the transformation in that film is awful compared to its predecessor), and the end product is nearly laughable. Again, all down to budget. I'm not going to completely knock it because there is one point which I really liked about the werewolves in this film, it's something new (kind of); there is a clear difference between the 'ground' werewolves and the 'alpha', and the 'ground' wolves especially gives us almost an original design to look at for a lycanthrope (it almost looks vampirish), whereas the 'alpha' looks more like your tradition werewolf. It looks very much that the one used in the TV series 'Being Human' Another thing I liked was the fact that the 'alpha' werewolf has a tail, you don't see many werewolf designs with tails anymore, I thought it was strange seeing a werewolf on Skyrim with a tail, they should do it more often (just a thought). One thing I always look out for in werewolf film are the feet of the wolf, when it's a costume, the feet and legs are always a big give away and spoils the whole idea of realism. It even happens on big budget film like 'Underworld' (not as much in 'Underworld Evolution'). What I mean by this is that when you look at the feet, when it's an actor in a costume, they make almost no effort to make the feel look like paws, they think you won't notice and they just use trousers covered in fake fur that stretches from the waste down to the bottom of the foot. It just looks really fake. And another thing, I noticed in this film and in 'Being Human' and 'Twilight : Breaking Dawn Part One', they always give the werewolves huge gums. Seriously, it's obvious they're trying to emphasize the teeth, but it looks so stupid, it's like the design team just ran out of enough latex to finish off the snout and lips.

This review appears to have turned into a rant. I hope between the ranting you can see that parts of this film shine through, but it is held back by a low budget, hence is being a direct to dvd release. It was never going to be a blockbuster, but it's a good watch, well worth it if you've got nothing else to do like me. I'd give it a 6/10.

Review of The Cabin In The Woods

The Cabin In The Woods is a 2012 horror film directed by Drew Goddard and produced by Joss Whedon (the pair also wrote the film together). It stars Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Richard Jenkins, Bradley Whitford, Jesse Williams, Anna Hutchinson and Fran Kranz. The film was due to release by MGM in 2012, but was delayed due to ongoing financial difficulties at the studio. Eventually the film was bought by Paramount and the film was released on April 13th 2012.

I going to begin with the fact that the timing of this release couldn't be anymore perfect; with the release of The Avengers Assemble at the end of the month this film gives the audience a chance to sample some of Joss Whedon's work before his masterpiece comes to cinemas. We also get a chance to witness a bit more of Chris Hemsworth, who in my opinion, was perfectly cast as Thor and it is a good opportunity to raise some more interest in him before the 26th April.

Now onto the film itself, I have to admit, it was far better than I expected. I went into the cinema expecting a typical slasher mover with what appeared to be a game show type enemy organising the events. I was pleasantly surprised by what I watched. I don't want to spoil the film for people, so I'm going to keep as much as I can about the contents of the film out of this review. This is because an important part of the experience of The Cabin In The Woods is working out what is going on. It's one of those horrors that sets out to be funny, and isn't funny by accident like most horrors are (normally that is down to bad acting and hilarious kills), the whole movie acts like a criticism to its predecessors is the horror franchise. By this I mean that there is a lot in the film that is clearly a reference to an older horror movie. However these little references do not drive the film,  it doesn't make it merely a rip off of older films, they are there as a sort of test for fans of horror, as a way of sparking interest (throughout the film I was trying to pin point what came from what movie). It engages the audience in a way that most horrors do not, and that is that we actually witness plans being put into action against the main characters, we see the manipulation that normally isn't noticeable in a horror until the plot is revealed at the end. Naturally there are parts of the story that aren't revealed until the end, just like with any movie, you'll be pleasantly surprised with the ending, it is predictable yet surprising at the same time. Not anti-climatic like most horrors, which over time, have become boringly predictable.

WARNING THIS PARAGRAPH INCLUDES SPOILERS!
One bit of the film that I particularly enjoyed was the scene near the beginning when the main characters are given a little push to go down into the cellar, which turns out to be filled with old relics. This whole idea was brilliant, in that the main characters are choosing their own fates, which shows the potential of an idea like this one (it could provide endless possibilities for outcomes). They pick a certain relic, and the creatures related to that relic are released. It is a fantastic bit of writing.

Continuing with the non-spoiler section of this review. The cast was perfect for this film, Hemsworth and Williams giving the best male performances in my opinion and Connolly leading with the best female performance. The film has the typical chemistry for a horror, with particular cast members playing the typical roles (to a certain extent) and the cabin acting as the center point of events with it being out in the middle of nowhere with no help for miles in any direction (it's perfect!). The main thing that sets it apart from other horrors is the strong story behind it, it's the closest thing we've had to an original horror movie in a long time.

 It's an annoying film to review because you don't want to give much away, otherwise to surprise isn't there anymore, but overall the film is definitely worth a watch. I'm not saying that it is the perfect movie, there are definitely some parts that could have been done better, for example it could have been a bit longer, it is only an hour and a half long, which in my opinion is quite short for a feature film (it's the same complaint I have about Underworld Awakening). Overall, it is a lot of fun, not too scary but very entertaining which makes it all worthwhile. I'd give this movie a solid 9/10. It probably won't seem as good if I see it a second time, because the surprise is gone.

Review of Titanic 3D

Just like many boyfriends throughout the world, I have a girlfriend whom is in love with Leonardo DiCaprio and the whole love story of Titanic. However, I always enjoyed the movie when it was on TV and I've always wanted to experience more of James Cameron's work on the big screen. Before I get started on this review I am going to state that Titanic is one from my list of five classic movies I want to see in the cinema. These five films being Back to The Future (seen remastered on the 25th Anniversary), Jurassic Park (seen on re-release in 2011), Titanic (obviously seen the 3D re-release), Star Wars Episode 5: The Empire Strikes Back and Saving Private Ryan. Also I am not actually going to review the film itself, purely because it has been out so long that anyone who wants to see it, will have seen it by now. I am just reviewing the 3D conversion and the cinematic experience.

Firstly, this film is brilliant in the cinema, the atmosphere enhances the whole experience, the music, the sheer size of Titanic, the crushing forces of the water is magnetized. You feel a lot more involved than you do when you're just watching it on the TV at home. Now the 3D conversion of this film has been done fairly well, obviously the film was never made with 3D in mind, so there's no eye popping scenes with items flying out of the screen (but the scene where the guy falls and hits off the propeller is still highly amusing, and looks great in 3D), so the 3D in this film has been coordinated in order to make the things on screen look more real. This is most obvious in scenes between just two people (Jack and Rose for example), the 3D clearly defines the distance between the two people. Apart from that there isn't much else I can say about the 3D, apart from that it emphasizes the size of the ship, especially when it is sinking.

However, everything that is positive about the film I sore today, is the film itself. The 3D conversion may have made it look good, but for all I know, it probably looked brilliant in the cinemas when it first came out. A 3D conversion wasn't necessary, it was purely a way to make more money out of the film. It was bound to get a re-release anyway because of the 100 Year Anniversary of the sinking, so James Cameron decided to make it 3D like everything else coming out at the moment. Nothing decent ever seems to come out of converting a film into 3D, the only reason we go to see 3D re-releases is because we like the films they're bringing back out.

So in conclusion, it's a good film, one of those films you have to see before you die, the 3D makes it look slightly better, but it's not necessary (they probably would have made just as much just releasing it as it was). I sore the first showing of it at my local cinema, and it wasn't even half full, so it's debatable how successful this re-release will be. As a film, I rate Titanic an 8/10, it's a classic, a bit long (I was knackered by the end of it), but a really good piece of film work; but as a 3D conversion, I would only give it a 4/10 at the most.