TAGGED AS: Awards, movies, Podcast, romance
(Photo by Merie W. Wallace / TM and Copyright © 20th Century Fox Film Corp. All rights reserved. Courtesy: Everett Collection.)
At the Oscars in March 1998, James Cameron declared himself the King of the World – and while many people cringed, it was hard to argue with the superstar director. After all, his sweeping-romance-slash-terrifying-disaster-epic Titanic had just taken home 11 Oscars, tying Ben-Hur’s haul, and was sailing hard past box office records. The man who’d also given us The Terminator and Aliens deserved his crown.
While his film/pop-culture phenomenon hasn’t exactly bumped into any icebergs in the decades since its release – it remains beloved by many, if not the annual VHS-tape–tearing re-watch it once was – the waters are slightly rougher for Titanic than when it first landed in theaters. With the “wow” factor of its technical achievements dampened with time, modern audiences are largely left with the story of star-crossed lovers Jack and Rose (and total psycho Cal) and for many – including a number who swooned at age 15, but roll their eyes all these decades later – it’s a clichéd stinker.
(And yes, Rose definitely could have moved over a little and let him onto that damn door.)
In the latest episode of Rotten Tomatoes Is Wrong, we’re stepping aboard the Certified Fresh onetime biggest film of all time and asking: Did Titanic deserve all those awards and its place – in some people’s ongoing hearts, at least – as one of the greatest films ever made? Joining host Mark Ellis and Jacqueline Coley is Dorina Arellano, one third of YouTube’s Whirl Girls and co-host of Impolite Truths with John Rocha. While Arellano may have had her first kiss during a Titanic screening, that does not mean she was feeling that Jack-Rose heat.
Listen Now: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | Google Podcasts | Radio Public | Deezer | iHeart | Art19
Check in every Thursday for a new episode of Rotten Tomatoes Is Wrong (A Podcast From Rotten Tomatoes). Each week, hosts Jacqueline and Mark and guests go deep and settle the score on some of the most beloved – and despised – movies and TV shows ever made, directly taking on the statement we hear from so many fans: “Rotten Tomatoes is wrong.”
If you have a suggestion for a movie or show you think we should do an episode on, let us know in the comments, or email us at rtiswrong@rottentomatoes.com.
Meet the hosts
Jacqueline Coley is an editor at Rotten Tomatoes, with a focus on awards and indie coverage but with a passion for everything, from the MCU to musicals and period pieces. Coley is a regular moderator at conventions and other events, can be seen on Access Hollywood and other shows, and will not stand Constantine slander of any kind. Follow Jacqueline on Twitter: @THATjacqueline.
Mark Ellis is a comedian and contributing editor for Rotten Tomatoes. He currently hosts the Rotten Tomatoes series Versus, among others, and can be seen co-hosting the sports entertainment phenomenon Movie Trivia Schmoedown. His favorite Star Wars movie is Jedi (guess which one!), his favorite person is actually a dog (his beloved stepdaughter Mollie), and – thanks to this podcast – he’s about to watch Burlesque for the first time in his life. Follow Mark on Twitter: @markellislive.
On an Apple device? Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Apple News.
