I have just seen "Contact" and I was so impressed and also a little bit shocked how close this movie was to the general theme played in "Titanic". It was like moving one of Rose's dreams, in another time or dimension. The religious theme was dominant, there was the symbol of light, the power of love over time, the use of hands, symmetry, the necklace whirling in the air versus water etc. Does anybody else belive these movies are kind of similar? Or is it just a new era for the sci-fi movies that require a different dimension that used before? Especially that the Col War is now over...I felt that you could take the story of "Contact" and put it on Titanic. They are different but it boils down to similar conclusions. That's what I felt...

-- Dan Draghici (ddraghic@ccs.carleton.ca), February 13, 1998

Answers

Response to "Titanic" and "Contact"

I thought Contact would win the Oscar for best picture when I first saw it. A friend of mine was saying, "Dave, wait until you see Titanic first." I kept saying that it wouldn't matter, that Contact was better. Of 'course I had no idea, nobody did. Anyway, Contact is probably the second best film of the year but since it's a Sci Fi "flick" it won't win anything other than a special effects award. I sometimes get sick of the Academy and it's blatant biases, but that's the measuring stick for the industry. Man, we're lucky the rest of us don't have to face up to those expectations.

-- Dave Phillips (Sonitus@USA.net), February 14, 1998.

Response to "Titanic" and "Contact"

I think I've found some new buddies to discuss movies with; I liked this movie as much as you guys did. My favorites for 97 were Titanic, Contact, and Goodwill Hunting. Dan, I noticed similarities betw these 2 movies as well. When the craft Jodie Foster is in lands on Vega, there's a moment when everything stops and the light goes out, and you hear her panting; that's just like the scene where Kate is seeking help for Jack and the lights go out. Wonder if that technique is old or new? I doubt Cameron got it from Contact, since Titanic was originally to come out at the same time as Contact.

-- Bob Gregorio (rgregori@pacbell.net), February 14, 1998.

I agree with Bob that any similarities betweeen the two films are probably coincidental. However, has anyone seen Great Expectations? It was also executed by Fox and I saw several parallels with Titanic. In one particular scene, Hawke approaches Paltrow with the line "Don't jump" as she looks over a bridge, and Hawke is fascinated with drawing Paltrow's nude portrait. If these are purposeful parallels, they were not appreciated and detracted from the originality of the film.

-- Rose (rosemarie17@hotmail.com), February 15, 1998.