Posted on 04/30/2006 8:47:12 AM PDT by Daniel T. Zanoza
On Friday, April 28th, the movie "United 93" was released in theaters across the nation. The Universal Studios film is a fictional rendition of the events which occurred on the fourth airplane high-jacked by Islamic terrorists on September 11th, 2001. Paul Greengrass, who wrote and directed "United 93," depicts how heroic passengers attempted to regain control of a doomed aircraft which hijackers were planning to crash into the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. Those who acted on that day may have saved hundreds or even thousands of innocent lives. United Airlines flight 93 ended up slamming into the ground in a Pennsylvania field, killing all aboard, but leaving a legacy which will be remembered in American lore for years to come.
Though I have not seen the film, reports indicate the movie is powerful beyond description. Producers of "United 93" made the effort to interview family members of every crash victim. Ten per cent of the film's first weekend revenues will be added to a fund for a memorial created to honor the memory of what happened on that fateful day.
Unbelievably, there have been some who call the film controversial. Though filmmakers carefully consulted family members of victims, researched material from authorities pertaining to what took place on Flight 93 and consulted those who grappled with the situation on the ground, some critics have found other reasons to suggest the movie is inappropriate for viewing at this time.
Those who follow this logic claim the picture is too painful and was made too soon after one of the greatest tragedies in American history. They say those who see the film are forced to relive the troubling emotions of 9/11. Though nearly everyone reports "United 93" was done with taste and respect for those who died in the crash, detractors say Americans are not ready to relive the event.
In retrospect, I believe the movie is exactly what Americans need to see. Most will admit the public has a short memory and, at times, this is a good thing when it comes to some tragedies. There is no need to rehash over and over events like acts of God or negative experiences which could not be prevented. But there are times when it is important to understand and remember what happened during catastrophes like 9/11 and the showing of "United 93" surely serves that purpose. The film should shake the memories of the public and remind us of the fact that we are at war against a ruthless enemy that thinks nothing of killing innocent men, women and children.
We all remember our feelings of pain and outrage when the events of 9/11 unfolded. But Americans also should be reminded of the patriotism and togetherness we all felt in those days. This is a good thing.
However, there are those who do not want the nation's memory jogged. They believe, in some cases for political reasons, the events of 9/11 are best forgotten. Often, this mindset results from the hatred of George W. Bush and the policy involving America's war on terrorism. Sadly, in other situations, people do not want their lives complicated by being forced to relive something that makes them uncomfortable, even though it didn't touch their lives directly. But 9/11 did have an impact on most Americans on a personal level and it is important to remember why.
The showing of "United 93" is not controversial. Though it is reported the film depicts great violence, that's what happened on a fateful day in 2001. It is a good thing Americans not only remember those who perished on Flight 93, it is also a good thing the country remembers what they perished for.
the estimates are that the movie will be #2 for the weekend with slightly less than 1/2 of the number of screens as #1.
I have not seen the movie yet but friends who have seen it say it is a painful must see
I saw the film this afternoon and I can truthfully say it was probably the hardest film I've ever watched, but it needs to be seen. Americans who have incredibly short memories need to be reminded of the horrors of 9/11 and the moronic thinking of the Arabs who manned those planes. WE MUST NEVER FORGET.
It is.
I wonder about the screen number. Is it a limiting factor, or does it merely mirror audience projections? The audience demographics are likely very different for this movie. They were at the showing I attended.
by number of screens, I simply meant that the #1 movie was showing at twice as many theaters as "United 93".
without knowing number of seats etc etc, you really can't measure it but it is an indicator the movie industry uses
Right.
The theatres are out to make money. The # seats and frequency of showings usually reflect the projected audience for the flick. If this projection is accurate, i.e., if there aren't any sold-out shows, I have to wonder if these variables really affect the attendance/rating....
Of course, the random walk-in viewer would ordinarily increase with increased showings/seats, but I suspect this movie doesn't get too many of these....
Be careful with those tag lines Fiddlstix, I have a staff of attorneys monitoring for copyright infringement. LoL!
Also read here on FR that Bush needs to show this film every year instead of having a State of the Union address.
It definitely is NOT too soon to go see this movie.
Tell Mrs. Cinnamon that jimfree cried for 3 weeks in September 2001. I had to see this flick because I needed to be distubed in that way again. I needed to do it to honor the Flight 93 passengers. I needed to do it to emphasize what side of this fight I am on.
Thanks for the review. Definitely want to see it. Just need to find the time. I think it's the kind of movie that needs to be seen on the big screen first.
You are correct...see it on the big screen.
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