Why Parasite and Titanic Deserve Their Substantial Success

        

 The world of cinema gifted us with countless monumental works of art over the centuries. Movies are quite subjective, but if a movie wins numerous awards including Oscars, then this film is loved and respected by the majority. There are two movies that are decades apart which people still buzz about their outstanding achievements. Parasite is rightfully considered as one of the best movies of the decade. Despite the fact that the movie was not made in Hollywood, it was able to change the world of cinema for the better. Going back to the 1990s to the classic that never grows old, Titanic is many people’s favorite movie from various generations. These two remarkable screenplays share similar qualities of engaging storyline, masterful storytelling, universal yet personal themes, and exceptional cinematography.

       

Parasite started this decade with making history. Not only did it win 4 Academy Awards at the Oscars of 2020, but it also became the first film in a language that is not English to win ‘Best Picture’ (Dove). This film’s achievements will go down in history, for it brought South Korea its first big Oscar. This masterpiece of a movie paved the way for many Asians who dream of being crowned for their creations; in addition, it opened the gate to many movie watchers who feel hesitant about watching a movie with subtitles; this will help them explore the vast and grand world of cinema. 

Why did this so-called masterpiece acquire so much attention and success? Parasite is not like other box-office hits that are usually superhero or car-racing movies; this movie deals with the horrid truth of class tension and the ugly reality of our world. Bong Joon-ho, the writer and director of Parasite, quoted his biggest inspiration in life, Martin Scorsese, in his acceptance speech saying, “the most personal is the most creative” (Oscars 2:16-2:26). At the first glance, this movie can be categorized as a regular family drama, but it is a lot more than that; it is a rollercoaster of genres that never stops till the ending scene. No matter how many times it seamlessly shifts tones and genres, it still sucks you in and does not let you go. “Parasite isn’t just a great story; it is a great story brilliantly told. The pieces all seem to fit together: the performances, the structure, the meticulous design, the symbols and symmetries. The visual storytelling is so fluent, it barely needs subtitles” (Kermode).

Parasite tells a scarily realistic story in an engrossing and entertaining tone. It follows two families on the complete opposite ends of the socioeconomic spectrum; as concluded by Chow, this movie is a “universal story about rich and poor”. The movie starts with the Kims; a united family of four who are, literally and metaphorically, drowning in poverty in their semi-basement apartment and rely on their wit to survive in their harsh society. Soon after, we are introduced to the exceptionally wealthy family of the Parks who live comfortably in their luxurious house. The action starts when the son of the Kims is presented with an opportunity to tutor the daughter of the Parks. This opens the gate for the Kims to con and bluff their way into the Parks’ house and take over their service jobs. You get absorbed into this story and find yourself rooting for the Kims, laughing at their wit, and sympathizing with them despite their questionable actions. 

This thrilling, chills-inducing screenplay offers masterful storytelling of the harshly realistic and ever-widening gap between the privileged and the oppressed. This is partially done through black comedy which tempts chuckles at the most intense scenes. Parasite is intelligently rich with breath-taking, detailed and suggestive visual imagery. Bong Joon-ho calls Parasite his “stairway movie” (qtd. in Jung); the Parks’ take many stairs up to their house while the Kims scamper down to reach their semi-basement that later gets flooded by sewage water. Moreover, we experience claustrophobic scenes that make the audience feel the Kims’ frustration, but we are also gifted with liberating shots of the Parks’ lavish household. 

The mystery-thriller aspect of the movie kicks off when the Kims’ newfound comfort is at risk of being demolished. Savagery and madness keep on rising till we reach the gory climax which shifts the movie to true-life horror. The ending sets Parasite aside from other movies; it is terrifyingly realistic. We are briefly tricked into believing that a happy ending could be achieved. However, the movie ends with the same shot it started with. The camera moves down to the semi-basement apartment which implies that the Kims’ condition may never improve as the barrier between classes is far from being transformed into a bridge. This hits us with the cruelty of reality; it is scary but honest and impressive.

       

Now, let’s go back in time to the timeless masterpiece that is Titanic. Titanic holds an incredible Oscars record to this day with 11 Academy Awards at the 1998 ceremony including ‘Best Picture’. In 1998, it became the first movie to reach the billion-dollar mark (Selzer). Titanic’s story is not a stranger to most people; it has become a worldwide phenomenon recognized by all. This masterpiece of a screenplay, written and directed by James Cameron, could be simply summed up as “Romeo and Juliet on the Titanic” (qtd. in Realf); however, that is an understatement as it is not just a love story or a retelling of a historical event, for it touches the deepest human feelings about freedom, death, and being endeared. 

With its release, the world was overtaken by Titanic’s magnificence. The audience was given a chance to live the short but impactful history of Titanic’s 1912 fatal voyage for 3 hour and 15 minutes and leaves them wanting more. “Titanic was something audiences hadn’t experienced before: an extravaganza of visual effects and high-octane action, crossed with a romance so broad and appealing it seemed ripped from a dime-store novel” (Sims). Mind-blowing, visually captivating shots transport us to the ‘Ship of Dreams’ and leave us in awe for the gorgeous dresses, the glittery diamonds and crystals, and the grandiose architecture of the ironically called ‘unsinkable’ Titanic which was a great event that made headlines at the time.

Cameron does not portray Titanic’s history only; he hands us a beautiful but ill-fated romance that emotionally captivates us and makes the ending heartbreakingly powerful. Jack’s charming wit and youthfulness, Rose’s admirable intelligence and bravery, and their engaging chemistry sweeps you off your feet. No matter how many times you watch the epic tale of the Titanic, it never gets old. Whether it is the overwhelmingly spectacular cinematography, the agonizing tragedy of the ship, or the intimate love story, the smile is never wiped away from your face unless it is replaced with ugly crying.

On a final note, 

Bong comments on Parasite saying: “I’m not making a documentary or propaganda here. It’s not about telling you how to change the world or how you should act because something is bad, but rather showing you the terrible, explosive weight of reality. That’s what I believe is the beauty of cinema” (qtd. in Jung). This quote showcases Parasite’s uniqueness and boldness which hit close to home for many people all over the world. 

 On the other hand, Titanic will stay on top for generations to come since it keeps on staying close to people’s hearts. 

At last, these two movies undoubtedly highlight the glory of cinema and the astonishing talent of its creators.

REFRENCES

 

“Bong Joon Ho Wins Best Director.” YouTube, uploaded by Oscars, 11 Mar. 2020. Accessed 6 June 2020.
Chow, Andrew R. “Bong Joon-Ho on Violence in Film and the Influence Behind Parasite.” Time, 11 Oct. 2019, https://time.com/5697795/bong-joon-ho-parasite-interview/. Accessed 6 June 2020.
Dove, Steve. “Parasite Wins 4 Oscars and Makes Oscar History.” Oscars, 10 Feb. 2020, https://oscar.go.com/news/winners/parasite-wins-4-oscars-and-makes-oscar-history. Accessed 6 June 2020.
Jung, Alex E. “Bong Joon Ho on Why He Wanted Parasite to End With a ‘Surefire Kill'.”  Vulture, 14 Jan. 2020, https://www.vulture.com/2020/01/parasite-ending-explained-by-bong-joon-ho.html. Accessed 6 June 2020.
Kermode, Mark. “Parasite review – a gasp-inducing masterpiece.” The Guardian, 10 Feb. 2020, https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/feb/09/parasite-review-bong-joon-ho-tragicomic-masterpiece. Accessed 8 June 2020.
Realf, Maria. “An audience with James Cameron.” Eye for Film, 17 Dec. 2009, https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/feature/2009-12-17-james-cameron-talks-about-avatar-aliens-and-his-titanic-career-feature-story-by-maria-realf. Accessed 6 June 2020.
Selzer, Jillian. “8 Major Records Titanic Set, Broke, or Matched.” Cosmopolitan, 14 Dec. 2017, https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/movies/a13819282/titanic-box-office-records-oscars/. Accessed 7 June 2020.
 Sims, David. “The Magic of Titanic's Ending, 20 Years Later.”  The Atlantic,19 Dec. 2017, https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/12/the-magic-of-titanics-ending-20-years-later/548702/. Accessed 7 June 2020.

“Titanic sinks competitors without a trace.” BBC, 25 Feb. 1998, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/59913.stm.  Accessed 7 June 2020.