I Saw United 93.

[DawnCt1]

I planned on seeing United 93; just not today. I was on my way to Walmart, drove by the theatre and noticed that movie was going to begin in 5 minutes. I parked the car and walked in. I have heard the critism, that the hijackers are given too much attention, we don't know the passengers, its depressing. It is depressing, but its inspiring as well. The movie starts with the hijackers' preparation. It shows ordinary, every day people boarding planes, kissing family members goodbye, dozing in the airport, etc. It shows the flight crew preparing for a routine flight, doing a walk around, checking the jet fuel, small talk. We don't get to know anyone very well, we are spectators to the event. We get to know them no more than if we were sharing a plane with them. We watch what happens. There are two areas of activity. The first of course is inside Flight 93. The second, Air Traffic Control, TRACON, NORAD attempting to work together and solve the problem. The movie took longer to watch than of course the actual day's events to unfold. There is some frustration. Why can't they figure it out quicker? Why can't they intervene? Why aren't the military aircraft deployed more quickly? Those are questions asked with 20/20 hindsight. NORAD was never prepared to expect an attack from within the United States but in spite of that, they reacted as quickly as possible. The FAA never had to clear air space so quickly for the military, it was an unfamiliar scenario. We hadn't had a hijacking in 20 years. We as the spectators were focused on four planes. ATC had to focus on 4200 planes in the sky, all at the same time. In bound from Europe, Canada, South America. It was an amazing feat that they were able to divert those planes from US airspace and ground them all in the time that they did. The MO for dealing with hijackers was always cooperation. It was at that moment, temporarily unthinkable that the USA was being attacked by our own planes. Despite the order for a "shoot down" from the VP, the military didn't convey the order. It was again unthinkable to shoot down a civilian aircraft. It was not what anyone trained for and not what they could pull the trigger to do.
United 93 taught us all that whoever we are, we can fight back. Theirs was the first strike against terrorism. We should be proud that they stood up, fought back and saved who knows how many lives. There were no recognizable actors, no stars. The blonde flight attendant IS a real United flight attendant. The pilot is a real United pilot. The passengers and crew are real people portraying real heros. I liked the movie. They did an excellent job producing it. I hated the hijackers. They didn't have to portray them to be vicious, because that is what they were. It gave a face to an enemy.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I saw it too. Here's a copy and paste from the other thread.

Ok. I went to see it today.

This was a hauntingly, disturbing movie. When the movie ended, you could hear a pin drop in the movie theater (ahem, followed by the sobbing hiccup, care of Yours Truly). Granted a lot of this story was speculation, we will never know totally everything about this flight. But, if this is appropriate to say, I thought this was a good movie.

Speaking for myself, I had not forgotten 9-11. But this hit me full force and put me right back to the day it happened. I needed this.

I felt it was tastefully done, and the passengers really did come out looking like heroes. The only complaint, if you can call it that, was most of the movie was shot with a hand-held camera. So after a while, I got a headache. But it did make it more documentary-like.

Oh, one more thing. I, IN ABSOLUTELY NO WAY, felt sorry for the hijackers. The movie didn't paint them in that light, in my opinion.

All in all, SOOOOOO glad I saw it.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Oh, one other thing. The actor who played the President in "The Sentinel" was a passenger

 

[JennyMominRI]

I won't see this at the theatre..That said I NEVER go to the movies.The only time I see one is at WDW and there is no way I would see a sad movie there.. I know this one will have me sad for days. It still feels like a gut punch doesn't it? It's still inconievable .

 

[DawnCt1]

Oh, one other thing. The actor who played the President in "The Sentinel" was a passenger

I didn't even notice that. Good eyes! I saw your review on the other thread and felt the same you do. It was good to have that jolt back to 9/11/01 for many reasons.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Dawn, I kept thinking that guy looked familiar. We saw "The Sentinel" last week so I remembered him

 

[chell]

I was wondering if I should see it. Actually more if I can handle it.

Just thinking about it from reading your posts about the movie have my stomach all sick again.

 

[DawnCt1]

I won't see this at the theatre..That said I NEVER go to the movies.The only time I see one is at WDW and there is no way I would see a sad movie there.. I know this one will have me sad for days. It still feels like a gut punch doesn't it? It's still inconievable .

It was sad but it was inspiring at the same time. They didn't sit back and just settle for being victims. They took control and although they didn't benefit from that control personally, no doubt, hundreds of people did. What a legacy to leave to your fellow Americans. The feelings of pride really do overwhelm my feelings of sadness. It also does focus on the fact that the enemy is Radical Islam and that needs to be defeated on many fronts.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Chell,

On 9-11, I was on the verge of vomiting all day. I had just been given good news not FIVE minutes before we heard the news. I was getting promoted. Then the news. I was coming off of a third shift day/night, and I didn't sleep at all that day.

During this movie, there were 2 points I had this same feeling again. One: when the NY tower people see the second plane crash into the WTC. I had seen the news footage before, and buddy, it seemed a thousand times intense this time around. Two: the last 15 minutes of the movie when the passengers are attacking the hostages. After the movie there is a minute or two of "reading." I could barely see to read it. I swear, I was a blubbering mess.

I find that I am more "in" a movie when I see it in a theater. I am so glad I did with this movie.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Oh another thing, and Dawn, maybe you can agree.

I was expecting for this movie to be FULL of the f-word and variations of it (not on the plane, but by the FAA, military, etc). I was suprised there wasn't. I never say the word but I probably would have if I had been in their shoes.

 

[DawnCt1]

Chell,


I find that I am more "in" a movie when I see it in a theater. I am so glad I did with this movie.

Lindsay, you are right. There are so many distractions at home when I am watching a movie. This movie deserved my full attention.

 

[milkabum]

Tonight on A&E, at 9 EST Flight 93 the movie is on. Thanks for the review

 

[DawnCt1]

Oh another thing, and Dawn, maybe you can agree.

I was expecting for this movie to be FULL of the f-word and variations of it (not on the plane, but by the FAA, military, etc). I was suprised there wasn't. I never say the word but I probably would have if I had been in their shoes.

I think I heard it a couple of times but not excessively so. I thought that the ground crews were very professional and focused. I am so impressed with Air Traffic Controllers anyway. Prior to 9/11 I took the FAA ground school course for flight training. (just for fun). We spent an evening in the ATC tower and the TRACON. I was so impressed with those men. (they were all men) They are so focused. As the mom of DSs who can only do one thing at a time, it was amazing to me to have them talk to us, pass a flight on to the next quadrant on those "little sticks", talk to the pilots and watch the screens! I told them that I thought only women could multi task that well. I could never multitask that well I am a pretty good multi tasker. I enjoyed that part of the film the most. I had that hope that the ending would be different some how.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Hey Dawn, at the beginning of the movie where it was showing all of the ATCs working, I leaned over to my husband and whispered, "Unbelieveable." I cannot imagine doing their job. It is extremely chaotic, stressful, and not to mention you have to be extremely intelligent to do it.

I wanted to cry for the guy who said, "I can't take anymore planes, I have to work on this one." Didn't you just want to yell at everyone to leave him alone??

 

[chell]

Chell,

On 9-11, I was on the verge of vomiting all day. I had just been given good news not FIVE minutes before we heard the news. I was getting promoted. Then the news. I was coming off of a third shift day/night, and I didn't sleep at all that day.

During this movie, there were 2 points I had this same feeling again. One: when the NY tower people see the second plane crash into the WTC. I had seen the news footage before, and buddy, it seemed a thousand times intense this time around. Two: the last 15 minutes of the movie when the passengers are attacking the hostages. After the movie there is a minute or two of "reading." I could barely see to read it. I swear, I was a blubbering mess.

I find that I am more "in" a movie when I see it in a theater. I am so glad I did with this movie.

Thanks for sharing with us.

 

[LoraJ]

Thanks for the review.

I will see it eventually, probably in the privacy of my own home. When I saw the preview for this move, we were at a theater in Battery Park City and had just taken the PATH train in through where the towers once stood. I was already reeling from hearing a tourist say how "anti-climatic" ground zero was. When the trailer came on I had tears in my eyes. I just don't think I am ready.

 

[DawnCt1]

I wanted to cry for the guy who said, "I can't take anymore planes, I have to work on this one." Didn't you just want to yell at everyone to leave him alone??

Yes, coming from someone who can't make dinner if there are dirty dishes in the sink. I hate clutter. If you ever get a chance to spend some time in a control tower, it is absolutely amazing. Not only what they do but the people who do it. I was invited back and I wish I went. I could have sat in the corner for 8 hours and just observed. Its a study in human behavior and watching someone execute their tasks perfectly. It has to be perfect. I think it is hard to get into a control tower these days since 9/11.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Wow, Dawn. What a cool experience for you

 

[DawnCt1]

Thanks for the review.

II was already reeling from hearing a tourist say how "anti-climatic" ground zero was. When the trailer came on I had tears in my eyes. I just don't think I am ready.

"Anti climatic"....UNBELIEVABLE! That reminds me of the time DH and I took the mules down to Kaulapapa on Molokai and did the tour given by Sheriff Richard Marks, a patient at Kaulapapa. Here was a man who was snatched from his family on Oahu as a child, imprisoned at Kaulapapa's lepar colony, was recaptured in Honolulu, Arizona and Chicago and brought back. His crime? He had leprosy and it was incurable at that time. In the 1980's all of the patients were "paroled". On the way back to the mule ranch one woman on the tour complained that "Sheriff Marks seems bitter"! What can one say to that?

 

[SwedishMeatball]

Dawn and/or Lindsay, did you see Flight 93 that the above poster said will be on A&E tonight?? I am going to go ahead and watch it and then am considering going to see United 93 tomorrow. How would you compare the two??