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Exactly right- internal logic

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BF,

The principle of suspension of disbelief that movies depend on is based on a consistent internal logic, as you say, the details contribute towards the same atmosphere, character, and action. When this internal logic breaks down- to cover plot gaps or push action in an unexpected way, the house of cards collapses.

Though I have problems with some aspects of his films, one of the successes of James Cameron is that the internal logic almost never breaks down: everything seen, heard, or done reinforces the fantasy premise and each of these parts is consistent to the others. It works well enough that we don't question the impossible. Time travel?- sure thing, let me get my hat!

Exception to prove the rules: In the case of "Titanic" the Winslet/DeCaprio love story makes it easy to miss the central internal logic that the entire action is actually the now elderly Winslet's fantasy/reminiscence of the events 80 years before- that diamond the size of a doorknob just seemed that way to a young woman. The problem for me was that the main characters and actions were given this fantasy/memory treatment while Cameron, out of his obsession with the subject, did not also make the events of the sinking a fantasy memory- these were depicted as viscerally/realistically as possible. While this produced astounding, memorable images, the juxtaposition of the realistically depicted boat story with the love story fantasy/memory ruined the internal logic and the movie does not seem "true" either as history or as a love story.

Cheers,

Bambi B


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