Skaboi's Loose Change thread got me thinking about the upcoming release of United 93 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0475276/).
It's the story of the passengers who tried to re-take the flight after they realized it was part of the 9-11 terrorist plot.
(http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/3116/united93bigearlyposter3mo.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
I will probably go to see this though I'm not quite sure what to expect.
You'll probably notice that the cast is made up primarily of unknowns.
I think that that's a good idea. Having major stars in this film would just seem wrong and I'm sure the filmmakers thought the same.
ABCNews.com has this article about the movie (http://www.abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=1865110)
One of the main points they bring up is if people are ready to see this yet.
Is the movie a bit too early?
There's a poll (http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/popup?id=1865654) that you can vote on asking if you think it's too early. (that link only shows the results, go to the main page to vote)
I voted "No" but the results say otherwise.
Personally, I think that now is the perfect time.
The passengers who died on Flight 93 are all heroes.
(http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/4241/passengers7eb.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
Who knows how many hundreds of lives they saved by fighting back?
Their story needs to be told.
What do you think?
Actually this whole story is interesting as the (Mousoui spelling?) trial case is revealing the tape recording of the flight. There has been a story circulating that a Wisconson Fighter group stationed in Virginia shot that plane down and even Rumsfeld made a blurb about the plane being shot down. I've heard this even from people in the military and aviation fields that they have heard and believe that it was shot down over Pennsyvania and now this tape surfaces during the trial and the movie is also about to be released. Which is true?
Sanity would lean towards the passengers taking the plane down. Regardless if it's true or not.
Tragic as it was...I would really prefer to believe those passengers brought it down but I would not put it past our government (or even blame them in this case) for shooting it down. Still, which is better? I prefer to believe they decided their own fate and saved many other lives in doing so.
As far as the movie is concerned...I can't agree with it. They are trying to make a movie about this that nobody alive really knows how it all happened inside that plane. I just don't see it as being a good idea.
I saw it at a press screening (I'm a reporter for the Suffolk Journal). Like Titanic and other such films based on historical tragedies, there's not really much to give away. If your into films with low emphasis on characters and more focus on groups as the protagonist, such as the works of Eisenstein you should enjoy this movie.
I saw it at a press screening (I'm a reporter for the Suffolk Journal). Like Titanic and other such films based on historical tragedies, there's not really much to give away. If your into films with low emphasis on characters and more focus on groups as the protagonist, such as the works of Eisenstein you should enjoy this movie.
Again, remembering my thoughts as they were unfolding on 9/11, I told my wife that (imo) that plane was shot down. I like the romantic notion of the passengers taking it down, but I lean toward it being taken down.
I don't have a problem with that. Fighting a war is ugly business, and that's what we had that day.
In either case, the people on board WERE heros, imo. Not just because they happened to die in the 9/11 events, but because there is audio evidence that (1) they AT LEAST died with dignity and bravery (not cowering simps like people in disasters are portrayed in movies/tv) and (2) may have fought back (even if a missile ultimately brought the plane down). Both are always good things.
One question I always ask on this subject is *IF* it was shot down, why cover it up? It is certainly nothing to hide. Shooting it down would have been the right decision to make under the circumstances.
About the movie, I really don't have much of an opinion. I agree with Odinn in the sense that there is probably not enough info to make a meaninfully accurate film, but on the other hand, I think this 'too early' stuff is garbage.
What are we? Two? We all know 9/11 happened. We know people died that day. Since when did ABC or anyone else in the entertainment industry become our parent to protect us from things we "shouldn't" see, or when we are 'ready' to see them?
That said, I probably won't go see it. I have no interest in seeing some fantasy depiction of a major historical event I witnessed.
They've already done a reenactment with actors on TV. I think it was on the History Channel, I don't see a lot of point in this movie.
But Trek, we must not forget 9/11! Whatever will Bush use for his excuse when we go to war with (insert country here)? ...or, for that matter, anything else he does? Aren't you an American? Don't you fly the flag of America? Don't you say the pledge every morning? Don't you read the Bible?Don't you like apple pie? Don't you buy American? Eat American? Sleep American? Breathe American?
*like all Americans, I must grossly exaggerate to make a point. Now if you'll excuse me, I must go drink heavily and make fun of other cultures while talking on my cellphone and driving my SUV over small animals.
Sometimes being a patriot requires one to be a dissident, especially when the ideals your country is built upon are ignored by those who would supposedly lead us.
As far as this movie goes, I just don't think we should over do it.
It's the lack of public knowledge that intrigues and/or bothers people. In the end its all entertainment I suppose for human consumption.
I would call it "wishful entertainment"... acting like we're a nation of heroes because the brave-albeit dead- citizens stopped one flight while three others managed to reach their targets. It's like General Turgidson acting like General Ripper's mental "slip-up" that led to nuclear armageddon was no reason to "get our hair mussed".
I suppose next we'll get to see a movie about the one black family in New Orleans who didn't lose their home/jobs/family members/respect for the administration after Katrina. Somebody let me know when we as a nation are done playing make believe and are ready to find that mysterious word called accountability. It'll be coming back to haunt us soon enough. Now, if you'll excuse me, my SUV burned an entire tank of gas while I was typing this, and it needs a refill...
It seems critics everywhere are praising this film.
Roger Ebert has written a fantastic review of United 93.
He gave it 4 stars.
READ IT HERE (http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060427/REVIEWS/60419006)
After reading it, do you think you will go see it?
I will.
Well, I'm not exactly Roger Ebert, but if anyone's interested I've written a review, which can be located here, http://www.suffolkjournal.net/media/storage/paper632/news/2006/04/26/Arts/Art-Imitates.Life.In.New.PostSept.11.Movie-1878764.shtml?norewrite200604280649&sourcedomain=www.suffolkjournal.net in it's online form. The article in part has quatations that you probably won't find in other newspapers as they were taken from the recent press meeting that I took part in with the director.
Okay, that's a pretty good review; at least the first half. The Page 2 link goes to a Suffolk Journal registration page.
(Oh, and the site reset my 'back' button so I had to from-scratch navigate back to this page to send you this message...tell your web folks that is a a BIG no-no; their job is not to inconvenience the user, or to care in anyway how I navigate through their site or to/from others. Geeesh ).
Ebert's a decent critic, I just don't share his tastes. I don't go see many movies theaterwise... and I don't see myself buying the DVD either... so, until it comes on TV- with the contents and coherence removed- I doubt it.
The critic for our local daily gave the film an "A." This on a score of "A" to "F." The critic for the major local daily east of where I live, also gave it an "A." And the critic for local weekly also gave it a favorable review. And what was the #1 film for that weekend--"R.V." I guess quality does not always triumph at the boxoffice.
Personally, I have no interest in seeing a movie about this subject. I didn't watch the TV-movie last year on A&E about it either.
Isn't it funny that A&E advertised their TV-movie all over the place when they broadcast it, yet there wasn't any backlash or anything? It was as if no one even knew that it had been made.
I think this movie looks phenominal. I don't think it's too soon. As a matter of fact, I think it's not soon enough. It's about time somebody in Hollywood put out a movie that's NOT a remake of another movie. I mean, come on, James Cameron is planning to remake HIS OWN MOVIE, TITANIC!!! I think the reason some in the media think this film is "too soon" is that it will most likely grab people, get them feeling emotional, and might just even make them a little more patriotic.
Yeah, that's one good thing about... definitly not a remake; a reinactment, but no remake. How this differs from selling chunks of the rubble is beyond me.
The idea of this film being made at this time turns my stomach. Sure there's a curiosity for everyone and most will succumb and see the film. And naturally because the events of 9-11 are still so fresh on our minds, where some of us just by mere recollection can summon tears, will probably cry and break down and be moved by the film. But that's where the film takes advantage, of COURSE showing the events of 9-11 are going to play at our heartstrings. That's what they're hoping, increases ticket sales. And then you have those that say it's our patriotic duty, we have this great tribute to them, to remember. WE MUST REMEMBER
I don't think i'll ever forget, my entire life until I'm buried the emotional scars that 9-11 left. I don't need to sit in a theater with a bucket of popcorn and nachos to recapture that feeling in time. It was only 5 years ago for christ sake.
Schindlers list had to be told. So many years had gone by and the horrors were becoming something merely taught in history class. Survivors were dying of old age and their stories being forgotten. I mean I had a survivor come to our school and tell about the horrors but somehow that didn't quite put a face to it like the movie.Because the movie allowed us to see and experience a tragedy in our history that happened before many of us were born, and because news events of that time censored much of it..nobody really knew the extent of it. And then it just become a bunch of numbers and facts. But the movie put humanity on it, and we related to the people and what they went through.
But again, 9-11 is the most documented event in recorded history. We have plenty of pictures, videos, documentaries, stories as well as our own memories to keep that fresh. No, there isn't any chance of me forgetting. I've refused to see this movie on my own personal stance about it, and don't want others to sway me because it's well done. I just don't think it's in good taste, i don't think it's necessary, it's money in somebody's pocket who's poking a sore spot. I have, however, watched various documentaries on the subject to gain REAL perspectives..including that of the families of survivors. We know those on flight 93 were heroes, just because i didn't happen to see that plane crash doesn't mean i'm not fully aware. I'm also aware that no matter where the victims were, plane or ground or building...they were all innocents who deserved to go home that day.
Awesome post Susan...awesome...you said what I was thinking but didn't have the clarity to state.
I needed a movie to watch on September 11th.
So I rented this film on DVD the other night and for the most part, it totally blew me away.
The numerous scenes of Ground Control became somewhat tedious and I found myself wanting to fast-forward to the plane scenes but I didn't.
The final scenes where the passengers decide to take action and use the food trolley to batter the cockpit door down were some of the most intense scenes I've seen in a film in a long time.
You guys NEED to see this film.
I highly recommend it to everyone.