Flight 93 on A & E tonight compared to United 93 update

[DMRick]

I don't understand, and my paper came without a TV guide this week so I can't tell what year it was (although I assume A & E has a web site..I'll have to go look). Are there two movies with the same name? I'm watching this one on TV and I thought the other just came or is due to come to the movies. This is so sad..I feel like it's starting all over again watching this

 

[Nancy]

The one on A & Ehas been out for a while now. I saw it a few months ago. The one on A & E seems more like an educational type film than a "movie" if you know what I mean.

It does bring back some very sad and heartbreaking memories doesn't it?

 

[DMRick]

So far, it's a movie, just like any I've seen, doesn't seem "educational" ..except this is all too real. I guess I now know that I won't be going to see the one in the movies..This one is sad enough. Can't believe it happened so long ago..seems like yesterday.

The one on A & Ehas been out for a while now. I saw it a few months ago. The one on A & E seems more like an educational type film than a "movie" if you know what I mean.

It does bring back some very sad and heartbreaking memories doesn't it?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

TIVO said it is a 2006 release. And in their promo's for airing--showed quotes from various publications about how good it was.

Made for TV movies just aren't the same caliber as Theatrical releases.

I will be watching it later (I was working so couldn't watch it while it was on).

I'd be curious to here anyone's thougths on who has seen both.

 

[DMRick]

Anyone that has seen both have a comarison?

 

[DMRick]

We used our entertainment movie and meal deal today and decided to see United 93 at Universal. My comparison is, that they are both overwhlemingly sad. A & E's Flight 93 was much more focused on the families left behind and getting to know the passengers. They seemed to stick with what they knew, from phone conversations.
United 93 was more about the flight controllers on the ground, more about the stabbing and anger of those hijacking the plane (and I'm not sure how they knew about many of these things). It was very much more intense. There were sobs at the end of the movie, and a couple of people couldn't get out of their seats, because they were that upset. I won't say much about the end, but even knowing how it ended, it was so intense, you were silently routing for those trying to take back control of the plane, to be successful.
They both told the story, and I preferred (if there was such a thing) the story as told on A & E. It just seemed to put you closer to the people, and didn't seem to be sensationalizing, but just told the story. It seemed the allotment of time for each movie was spent differently. One focused on the families at home, and passengers and their communciations with their families, while the other put more emphasis on the air traffic control, and military and their confusion and miscommunication, as well as the in plane attacks by the hijackers.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I saw the A&E version and agree that it was really personal - you saw into the lives of the passengers. I have been told the one in theaters is not that way at all.

All I know is that I sobbed through the A&E version and am waiting for the theater version to hit DVD so I can watch it at home.

Thanks for the comparison =)

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

, and didn't seem to be sensationalizing, but just told the story. It seemed the allotment of time for each movie was spent differently. One focused on the families at home, and passengers and their communciations with their families, while the other put more emphasis on the air traffic control, and military and their confusion and miscommunication, as well as the in plane attacks by the hijackers.

FTR---the families all approved of the version in theaters.

Also they used real pilots, real flight attendants, real FAA people to piece it together.

I'm wondering of what was known about the competing projects for the director of United 93 to take the direction he did (the beauty of the art of movie making--to capture different POV's on one subject).

Still gotta watch Flight 93 on TIVO and I will admit to being chicken.

 

[N.Bailey]

I saw them both and I think Flight 93 was much more emotional. I saw United 93 this past week and we get what was going on behind the scenes with various agencies on 9-11, but I didn't find it touching at all. Educational, absolutely, but not touching. I know many people feel differently, but I just didn't. Flight 93 left me crying my eyes out. I didn't shed a tear for United 93 but I do plan on buying it once it's released on DVD.

 

[N.Bailey]

We used our entertainment movie and meal deal today and decided to see United 93 at Universal. My comparison is, that they are both overwhlemingly sad. A & E's Flight 93 was much more focused on the families left behind and getting to know the passengers. They seemed to stick with what they knew, from phone conversations.
United 93 was more about the flight controllers on the ground, more about the stabbing and anger of those hijacking the plane (and I'm not sure how they knew about many of these things). It was very much more intense. There were sobs at the end of the movie, and a couple of people couldn't get out of their seats, because they were that upset. I won't say much about the end, but even knowing how it ended, it was so intense, you were silently routing for those trying to take back control of the plane, to be successful.
They both told the story, and I preferred (if there was such a thing) the story as told on A & E. It just seemed to put you closer to the people, and didn't seem to be sensationalizing, but just told the story. It seemed the allotment of time for each movie was spent differently. One focused on the families at home, and passengers and their communciations with their families, while the other put more emphasis on the air traffic control, and military and their confusion and miscommunication, as well as the in plane attacks by the hijackers.

I agree with your assessment. I think much of United 93 was speculation though. There was no way they could have known all those details. IMO, much of it was "Hollywood Spin." I'd also add that I think more people would be more receptive of these real life stories if Hollywood would ever stick with facts. When you've got this type of story to tell, you really have no real need to fabricate anything.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I agree with your assessment. I think much of United 93 was speculation though. There was no way they could have known all those details. IMO, much of it was "Hollywood Spin." I'd also add that I think more people would be more receptive of these real life stories if Hollywood would ever stick with facts. When you've got this type of story to tell, you really have no real need to fabricate anything.

ACtually a DISer posted an article that entailed how they created the movie and that they used professionals and based on all evidence as well as what is possible and what is not (i.e. rushing a drink cart from the back of the plane to the front--isn't possible b/c it is hard enough to get it down the aisle and control the cart at a very very slow pace). They were able to create an accurate picture of what probably did happen (i.e.they do know they did bang the door with the drink cart as that sound was captured and they could identify what that sound was).

What is said is that I think there is more speculation about the motives and facts of how the movie was made that are not deserved especially since every single family was on board for the movie and was interviewed in the year prior to it even being written.

 

[Microcell]

I have to say I admire you all for watching it! It just hurts too much, still.

Funny, I had a teacher that was supposed to teach us in a "history of wars and conflicts in the 1900's" class about Vietnam and he just gave us more info about WWII instead because he said it hurt too much. I just thought he was loony at the time (I was a kid in the 70's so I didn't remember the war at all). Now I know what he was talking about.

 

[DMRick]

I wonder how they would know in advance just how graphic it would be. I'm sure it added to their already overwheming sadness once they saw it. I know I felt queasy leaving the theater.
I think the other (A & E) was just better done, if there is ever a better way to do something like this. But of course the movies always go one step further. I admit to being an emotional person, and seeing the families and the fear as they knew what would prob happen, made them all seem more real to me. I wish the endings of both, could have been Hollywood style...happy endings

FTR---the families all approved of the version in theaters.

Also they used real pilots, real flight attendants, real FAA people to piece it together.

I'm wondering of what was known about the competing projects for the director of United 93 to take the direction he did (the beauty of the art of movie making--to capture different POV's on one subject).

Still gotta watch Flight 93 on TIVO and I will admit to being chicken.

 

[Robinrs]

I agree with your assessment. I think much of United 93 was speculation though. There was no way they could have known all those details. IMO, much of it was "Hollywood Spin." I'd also add that I think more people would be more receptive of these real life stories if Hollywood would ever stick with facts. When you've got this type of story to tell, you really have no real need to fabricate anything.

I think the "hollywood spin" would be more like "theatrical license". Of course no one who wasn't there knows EXACTLY what happened or what was said but they know enough to make it an honorable representation that presents the people who truly were there in a respectful light.

This movie was produced and edited with style and professionalism. I was amazed by it! NO ONE moved at the end, everyone was just spellbound. We felt it more than saw it.

 

[DMRick]

Robin, have you seen the A & E movie? I think they were both very representative of what happened, based on the phone calls made home, but I was actually just talking about the differences in the two movies. I think either of the two gave a lasting impact. They were just portrayed differently. Definately, the ending in the theater was more "felt", and of course it was meant to be. I'm certainly not saying either movie was wrong..they were very close in showing the parts they knew about because of the phone calls. Just different. I will say until I saw the theater one, I had no idea there was so much confusion per the control towers and military.

 

[N.Bailey]

Robin, have you seen the A & E movie? I think they were both very representative of what happened, based on the phone calls made home, but I was actually just talking about the differences in the two movies. I think either of the two gave a lasting impact. They were just portrayed differently. Definately, the ending in the theater was more "felt", and of course it was meant to be. I'm certainly not saying either movie was wrong..they were very close in showing the parts they knew about because of the phone calls. Just different. I will say until I saw the theater one, I had no idea there was so much confusion per the control towers and military.

I had read aloud every single word on this site to my daughter prior to seeing the film. She wanted a little more background information (she was 9 on 9-11) before seeing it. I didn't care for the writer tossing in personal opinion the way he/she did, but I walked in fully aware of everything going on with the various agencies, so I guess none of it was shocking to me. It's a long read, but well worth it if you get the time and I think it actually goes much deeper than the film did.

http://www.911timeline.net/

 

[DMRick]

I wasn't shocked about the various agencies..if I used that word (I can't remember, and I'm just in for a chance to cool off, before heading out again, so I don't want to take the time to look), a better word might have been disappointed (although I'm sure they were working with disbelief as the rest of us were). I guess for a long time after it actually happened, thoughts of various agencies who would have been following this as it unfolded, just never came to mind. I'll come back to the url you posted after my vacation.

but I walked in fully aware of everything going on with the various agencies, so I guess none of it was shocking to me.
http://www.911timeline.net/

 

[pogopossum]

dw and i went to see u 93 this afternoon, i had already heard a radio talk show host mention this aspect, but i agree that it was a great device, the film put you in the mindset of one of the passengers, who prior to the flight knew nothing about the other passengers or terrorists or crew and never learned much more than that. i thought that it was very well done, sticking as much as possible to facts about the incident.

as far as the confusion at the various agencies, remember the hijacking handbook was very different prior to that day, and in their wildest imaginations no one could fathom that that many planes would be hijacked at one time, much less be part of a coordinated effort, and lastly be used as weapons themselves in an attack on our homeland.