Back Aboard the Titanic

"Fifteen-hundred people went into the sea, when Titanic sank from under us. There were twenty boats floating nearby... and only one came back. One. Six were saved from the water, myself included. Six... out of fifteen-hundred. Afterward, the seven-hundred people in the boats had nothing to do but wait... wait to die... wait to live... wait for an absolution... that would never come." — Rose, "Titanic"

100 years ago, the unsinkable ship sank. It was hard to fathom at the time, and is still a fascination for many 100 years later. That ship, of course, is the Titanic.

Three years ago, when I took a vacation to Las Vegas, one of the things I was most excited to see was the exhibit on the Titanic. It contained items pulled up from the ship's watery grave in the Atlantic Ocean. It included a piece of the hull, which I reached out and touched. There is something magical about getting an up close look at a piece of history. I couldn't help but think of the ship, what it must have been like, and how sad it is as a part of modern history.

It seems I'm not the only one that's fascinated by the Titanic. This year, in honor of the 100th anniversary, a slew of new specials and features are being released. A new mini-series — penned by "Downton Abbey" scribe Julian Fellows — is being released, and many documentary specials are available at local stores.

But it is perhaps the most famous incarnation of the story, the 1997 James Cameron film "Titanic," that is making the biggest return. The film re-opened in theaters on Thursday, and is now available in 3D.

"Titanic" won Best Picture. Though you could argue, in retrospect, that "L.A. Confidential" is the superior film, it's hard to doubt the work that went into "Titanic." It was an ambitious project that set records for production cost and Box Office gross when it was released. Doubtless it will only add to that with its re-release.

But beyond the scope and financials, it is the heart of the film that has always been appreciated. Sure, there are the trappings of a love story, an exploration of class warfare, and the typical fare that appeals to audiences of all ages. But Cameron also has a love and reverence for the story of the ship, and that is apparent in the 194-minute film as well.

Of all the films that have been re-released recently to capture on the 3D craze, this makes the most sense. It was a wildly popular film. Its the 100th anniversary of the historical event. And James Cameron, who directed "Titanic," started the 3D craze with "Avatar."

But for those that are more interested in the history of the ship than the ballad of Jack and Rose, I recommend checking out Cameron's other labor of love, the documentary "Ghosts of the Abyss," which features his dive on the actual wreckage of the Titanic. It's a documentary worth checking out.