7 Films With Terrible Stories That Were Saved By Great Directing

1) Titanic

Oh, yes. The juggernaut of them all. Titanic, the movie whose heart will go on and on for generations to come. I really do hope you saw this one coming. If you didn’t, well, I guess you’re still bathing in “Leo-mania” and can’t admit that this movie was just a glorified version of the same old tale of true love. Logline: Two star-crossed lovers brave the impossible in a relationship that is doomed to sink – see what I did there?

I will commend James Cameron once again on doing one thing that many screenplays don’t do, which often results in a movie that coasts on tickling the audience’s interest instead of piquing it: he raised the stakes to a monstrosity of a level. Both Jack and Rose had everything to lose, not just from the get-go, but everything they risked to develop. And unlike most love stories, the chance they would escape the calamity that befell them was slim, and the audience knew that, resulting in a heartbreaking ending.

Much like Avatar, I’m praising the setting that this movie takes place in, which Cameron seems to have a knack for: giving us age-old tales, but writing them in unforgiving environments and situations, which is a feat that is easier said than done.

There we have it, my short list of movies with stories that beg for some creative juice – and get it. You might not agree, but that’s all in good spirit. Let me know what movies you think should go on this list in the comments section below.