United 93

M

MacTech

Joined
Jan 7, 2006
Messages
611
Wow, just......wow....

It's going to take me some time to collect my thoughts on this one, it *was* filmed very well, with obvious respect for the subject matter and the events of that horrible, fateful Autummn day, this was not exploitive or done to cash in on the events of 9/11/01

Seeing the film in the theater was an experience in itself, as the audience filed in, it was silent, eerily silent, no pre-movie chatter, food noises were kept to a minimum, the audience clearly understood this movie was different

Throughout the movie, not a sound from the audience, our attention was thouroughly captured by the onscreen events, it felt like you were *there* with the doomed passengers of United 93, in the ATC rooms, in the FAA breifing room, in the millitary HQ's, the audience became a part of the film

Even little scenes like the stewardess closing the door on the side of UA93 as they taxi out onto the runway, the simple *clunk* of the door latch sent a chill through the audience, as did the shots of UA93 taking off and the landing gear retracting.....

I felt (and still do now) at the end of the film the way I did on the actual day it happened, a dead, quiet feeling in the pit of my stomach, a sense of "this can't be happening, this *CAN'T be real..."

At the end of the film, the silence continued, I heard a few sniffling sounds behind me, the woman next to me was wiping tears from her eyes, the audience stood and exited the theater in silence, it was unnerving seeing a film that had commanded such respect and awe

I was *extremely* cynical when I heard there was going to be a movie about UA93, I thought it was too soon, it was in poor taste, that the events of 9/11/01 were being exploited for monetary gain....

I was wrong...

This is an important film, it *needs* to be seen, but only when you're ready, it'll dig up some unpleasant memories, but it still needs to be seen

<Spoiler Space>
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
<Spoiler>
I really only had one problem with the characterizations of the terrorists....
they tried to Humanize the one with the picture of Washington in his control yoke clipboard, it seems to me he was having second thoughts about the hijacking from the start, yes there are speculative parts in the film, and this was clearly one of them, but no matter how they tried to humanize that carbon-based lifeform, it didn't work on me
 
At the moment, I still feel it is too soon. But, if the film is done tastefully, maybe having it done while we all still have it not that far from the surface is a good thing. First, the portrayals of those involved will be accurate as many of those whom were involved play themselves and they "know" how they felt; it's not going to be an actors' interpretation. Also, maybe it helps to remind us of why the events of today are taking place, and why we're doing what we have to do.
 
MacTech said:
I was *extremely* cynical when I heard there was going to be a movie about UA93, I thought it was too soon, it was in poor taste, that the events of 9/11/01 were being exploited for monetary gain....
Click to expand...

You do realize that this isn't the first movie about that flight. There was a pretty bad made for TV movie earlier this year. I watched some of it and just couldn't take it after awhile. It was a typical made for TV melodrama that was just so over the top in some places it was funny.

The few trailors for United 93 didn't interest me much. The dialogue seemed weak. I've been wrong before, but this isn't one I'm holding my breath to see. That said, it's gotta be better than Ice Age 2.
 
Just got home from it, not sure I have the words to say much more than how deeply impressed I was with this film.
 
keep one thing in mind about this film, it's not an "entertainment" movie, it's more along the lines of a documentary

"this is what we believe happened on that day based on the information we have available"

many of the cast in the film (ATC staff, FAA officials, Millitary personnell) were the actual people, playing themselves, they were *not* actors, that alone speaks volumes about the respect for the source material and implications of this film

is it a "good" *film*, well, no, it starts off remarkably slow, and the only real "action" occurs in the final 15 minutes (and will have you breathless), a majority of the movie takes place on the ground in the respective departments and offices, but the slow pace was neccecary to deliver that "just another day at the office" feel, and to increase the feelings of helplessness and frustration as the world spiraled out of control that day

is it a "good" *documentary*?, judging from audience reaction in my theatre, i'd say *yes*
 
MacTech said:
many of the cast in the film (ATC staff, FAA officials, Millitary personnell) were the actual people, playing themselves, they were *not* actors, that alone speaks volumes about the respect for the source material and implications of this film
Click to expand...

Be that as it may, my major concern about this film is that some people may not realize that it's still a work of fiction. Yes it's based on actual events, but still a work of fiction.

No one knows exactly what went on aboard that plane, no one ever will. There are phone calls and all of that, but no matter how much evidence we ever have, we'll never know the whole truth. So any attempt to tell the story must assume a great deal of the details.

This may be the critic in me... but I still have no interest in seeing this film, and I love documentaries.
 
I'm only apprehensive to see it because I think it is going to make me real mad.
Dont know what else to say.
 
Psychopomp said:
Be that as it may, my major concern about this film is that some people may not realize that it's still a work of fiction. Yes it's based on actual events, but still a work of fiction.

No one knows exactly what went on aboard that plane, no one ever will. There are phone calls and all of that, but no matter how much evidence we ever have, we'll never know the whole truth. So any attempt to tell the story must assume a great deal of the details.

This may be the critic in me... but I still have no interest in seeing this film, and I love documentaries.
Click to expand...
all valid points, I knew going into the film that a good deal of the film was pure speculation (the events taking place on UA93, specifically) and even though it was based on real events, the movie was still fictional, given what we know, a resonably accurate fiction, but a fiction nonetheless....

and yes, the movie will make you mad, and sad all at the same time, it will essentially make you re-experience what you felt on the day....

for me, it wasn't fear, it was *rage*, seething, unbridled *rage*, how could anyone do something so cowardly and heartless, it's a good thing i wasn't Commander-In-Chief, because my gut reaction to the events that day was to "warm up the Nukes and get 'em ready to fly" (once we determined the responsible party....)

....yes, i know it wouldn't have been the proper response, but my primitive lizard/caveman brain wanted to see some mushroom clouds.....
 
Maybe seeing it in the theater warrants a better review than I can give this movie, since I watched it in my living room and wasn't terribly impressed. (yes, the same one that is playing in the theaters, no, don't ask.)

I wanted it to be grittier and more edgy than everything I've already seen on this story, and it just wasn't.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top