United 93--the movie :(

[DisneyJen0504]

I'm not planning on seeing it. That just isn't my idea of entertainment.

If it were set up as a tribute to the heroes of that day that would be one thing, but it isn't.

That is how I feel.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

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.

 

[DawnCt1]

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.

.

Same for me. It was a jolt but I was back on that day, feeling those same feelings. 2001 wasn't that long ago but sometimes we need that jolt to remember we are still at war with an enemy that still wants to kill us.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I told my husband when I got home that I almost felt like this was a propaganda film. It certainly didn't do much to portray the heroes of that day, but did show the viciousness of the hijackers. Was the idea to get us angry again? To show the helplessness of those on board? I don't know, but I found this film appalling, and I am sorry that I spent any money to see it.

Just my humble opinion.

God Bless America!

It was not a propoganda film.

The director spent one year interviewing families of those who had died--every single passenger on board. The families all were part of the process and they 100% supported the film.

If they don't think it is propoganda---then I would think they would know best of anyone.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Oh man, I didn't think it was propoganda AT ALL. That was the farthest thing from my mind.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I searched the threads and found this article excerpt posted on one of the threads:

The fight for their lives

By BARRY KOLTNOW
The Orange County Register


But before a single frame was shot, Greengrass and his associates spent the better part of a year meeting with the families of every passenger on the flight. During extensive interviews with the families, personal histories of the victims were collected, and anxieties were calmed.

"Paul was very sensitive to our feelings," David Beamer said, "and the movie reflects that sensitivity."

Greengrass said he received the approval of every family member, which he said was an important factor in deciding whether to proceed with the project.

"I explained to each family member that in my other films about terrorism, I always tried to maintain the dignity of the victims' families. I also tried to ask why a certain event happened. I think I was able to build a foundation of trust by making myself accountable. I feel an accountability to the families, and to the audience.
__________________

I thought one of our resident Robin's posted the complete article but I could not find it.



***history needs to be told--shooting it for main stream cinema does not necessarily qualify it as propoganda.***

 

[milkabum]

Tonight at 9 EST on A&E they are showing Flight 93 which I think is more appropriate.

 

[DawnCt1]

Tonight at 9 EST on A&E they are showing Flight 93 which I think is more appropriate.

Did you see the movie? It was very appropriate.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Tonight at 9 EST on A&E they are showing Flight 93 which I think is more appropriate.

Have you seen "United 93" though?

 

[milkabum]

I have seen Flight 93 but not United 93, but, from the reviews I have read I think Flight 93 has a bigger spotlight on the passengers- I mean heros.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I don't understand why people are against a movie in a movie theater.


I wish I could find that article--while yes what visually happened in the cabin is specualtion--the director had a pilot and flight attendant as advisors on the film.

Some head honcho--maybe the FAA director at the time..I forget--plays HIMSELF in the movie (while in the process of interviewing him in fact finding for the movie--they asked him to play the part).

Let's see---based on interviews with family members who received phone calls from the flight as well as 911 recordings (I think they had them--maybe it was just the box from the plane)---they could easily identify sounds (knowing that a cart was crashed into the flight deck door.

Based on the advisement on of the flight attendants--the idea that the drink cart was pushed down the aisle and rammed into the door is physically impossible (they said it is hard enough to get it down the aisle as it is at regular speed).

Anywho---just b/c a movie has a theatrical release doesn't invalidate the contents of the movie nor the message.

 

[DawnCt1]

I have seen Flight 93 but not United 93, but, from the reviews I have read I think Flight 93 has a bigger spotlight on the passengers- I mean heros.

You are right. We learn their names inadvertantly but not specifically. The heros on Flight 93 are discussed individually. The passengers on United 93 are seen in their totality.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I have seen Flight 93 but not United 93, but, from the reviews I have read I think Flight 93 has a bigger spotlight on the passengers- I mean heros.

Then you can't really say that Flight 93 is more appropriate. Don't judge until you've seen them both.

I am setting my VCR up to tape Flight 93 and will watch it tomorrow.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'll TIVO Flight 93.

Unfortunately United 93 will have to wait for netflix for me. I do not have the ability to see it in theaters at this time.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

They lived among us and yet no one was suspicious enough to notify the authorities or blow the whistle. No one noticed enough to do so. Not their neighbors, co workers, etc.

Believe it or not I knew one of the hijackers. I didn't know his name, just that he sold me candy at the Newark train station a few times a week. He knew I always bought Juju Fruit. He would tell me when he put out fresh boxes (apparently I was one of the few that ate them). When he re-did his candy display he kindly pointed out where he moved them. He made change quickly and never tried to keep any extra for himself. I always greeted him with a hello and a smile and he always responded with a thank you when he made change. He was on the plane that flew into the Pentagon. I sickens and frightens me that someone I knew in my everyday life through a normal course of business, probably hated me for just existing.
I'll see United 93, on DVD, because it has 100% support of the families. That is important to me. Oh, and I was never under the impression that this was supposed to be a feel good movie, everyone dies even the heroes. We already know the ending.

 

[aunt kelly]

I just returned from seeing United 93 and am so glad I did. (I read an editorial written by Todd Beamer's father in the Wall Street Journal encouraging Americans to go see the movie and I was determined to see it this weekend.) It was incredible-like no other movie I have ever seen. There were no cheap, sappy emotional scenes. The story just unfolded in front of you and it was told with dignity and respect for the victims of 9/11. In my opinion, it was also apolitical. The director left it to every viewer to form their own opinions of the events of that terrible day. My kids are 11 and 13-too young for this movie now-but someday I want them to see it so that they will know what was done to this country on 9/11.

 

[SueM in MN]

Here's a link to an article from TIME Magazine about the making of the movie.

 

[LucyStorm]

As I said in the very beginning, this was MY opinion of the movie. Each of you have the ability to form your own. Having seen both movies, I also feel that Flight 93 does a much better job of holding the passengers out as heroes.

I remember 9/11 vividly. I didn't need this movie to remind me. I hadn't seen the trailers for it, and didn't know it would be the type of movie that it was. If I had, I wouldn't have seen it. I went to pay tribute, in my small way, to the families and heroes of United 93.

Still, this doesn't change my opinion. And I believe I said it was "almost a propaganda film". I still believe that. If the purpose of the film in part was to make us "hate the hijackers" that would, IN MY OPINION, make it a propaganda film. I don't know which earlier poster said that was part of the purpose, or if that was said on one of the other threads.

Each of us is entitled to their own opinions. I think my point in posting this originally was to allow each of us to go in with our eyes open when making the decision to see this film. If you feel you need to see it, then go. If you don't want to see it from the viewpoint of someone sitting in the cabin, then don't go. I just wanted people to know that if you think you will learn more about the individual passengers on the plane or their lives prior to the crash, it's not happening. And I do still think that at least one of the hijackers was portrayed in a sympathetic light. That would be the one who ended up being the pilot, who didn't seem to want to act, who called his family to say he loved them. Who seemed indecisive about the whole thing until the end. Did I feel sorry for him? NO! But I did see him as a misguided human being. The others came off as monsters.

And I do feel that ALL of the profits should be given to the families, a scholarship, or a memorial foundation, not just 10% of the profits from the first 3 days.

I do appreciate that this thread has been kept respectful, even though we obviously don't agree. I thank each of you for that.