THE most expensive film ever made, the most elaborate special effects in the world, one of the most eagerly-awaited movies for years - and yet we all know the ending to Titanic, writes Simon Ricketts.

For those of you who don't know the ending; firstly, what colour is the sky in your world, secondly, the boat sinks and loads of people die.

On the way to such a cataclysmic and historic ending, though, this film is truly one of the must-see movies of the decade.

Not because the acting is fantastic, although it is very good, not because of the dialogue, actors or effects, but plainly because it is...well... a titanic movie in the truest sense of the word.

Costing in excess of 200 million dollars, taking a seeming eternity to make, and covering ground that many previous films have already trod so well (Night to Remember for one) this film had an awful lot to live up to.

And yet it manages to do it with aplomb, grandeur and a remarkable grace considering it weighs in at the long end of three-and-a-half hours (take a packed lunch and some cushions with you).

The plot of the movie, other than the obvious boat-water-death thread, is nothing more than a good old-fashioned love story.

Rose DeWitt Bukater (Kate Winslet), is a very well-to-do young lady who is engaged to marry an even weller-to-do young man Cal Hockley (Billy Zane).

Travelling on the fated ship's maiden voyage from Southampton to America - via a meeting with a large ice cube in the North Atlantic - the couple are every inch the blue-blooded passengers of the elite steamer.

Also on board, among the 2,200 travellers, is bohemian artist scamp fella Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio).

He is from the "wherever I lay my hat is my home" brigade of rough diamonds and has won his ticket on the Titanic in a last-minute poker game.

Soon, he catches the eye of Winslet's character from his third class deck. She is looking for a way out of the stuffy society gatherings and he is captivated by her inner beauty (that old chat-up line).

So, a fated vessel and a doomed love affair. Of course, she cannot be seen to be mixing with the lower echelons of society, and is soon catching the wrath of her bespoke beau.

And that's about it in terms of storyline. We've all seen enough Princess and the Frog stories to know where this one is headed, even if the captain can't see that the cruiser is headed for an iceberg.

As the illicit romance develops, the fiance starts to get understandably annoyed, Di Caprio starts to get attached, Winslet gets all heaving-bosomed and the iceberg starts to get bolshy.

Then, Titanic meets frozen lump, enormous drama unfolds, and Winslet has to choose between safety with her intended, or true love with her great unwashed pal.

We all know who she's going to choose. The only big question left is if they get out of it alive.

I won't spoil that bit.

Plainly, this film is extremely expensive. That's because an enormous steamer had to be rebuilt, shot from endless helicopter angles, and then sunk in the most magnificent and visually lavish cinematic event of the decade.

Forget Poseidon and other big-ship-sinking films, this is absolutely stunning stuff. From the off, director James Cameron has thrown all his weight into impressing audiences with his big toy boat.

Lingering coverage of almost every inch of the gargantuan ship is laced throuhgout the film. If there's a chance to show just how magnificent the four-funnelled replica is, then Cameron does not waste it.

And when the iceberg finally does its dastardly deed, the movie comes truly into a class of its own.

The realism, drama and sheer panic are unrivalled in any modern disaster movie. Cascading water, collapsing scenery and stampeding passengers are at every turn - as well you would expect.

As the boat begins to reluctanctly submit to the icy seas, the audience are then drawn into the life-or-death struggles that must have really happened on that fateful night in April 1912.

Titanic is an authentically and cinematically awesome film, make no mistake.

It is, nevertheless, just a love story on a very big boat, and a rather long one at that..

But it is one journey that you will be glad you never made for real.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.