Posted on 04/16/2006 5:31:56 PM PDT by DieHard the Hunter
New Zealand September 11 hero Alan Beaven is to be immortalised in the first Hollywood movie about the terrorist attacks, but his Auckland family will not rush to see the film.
Beaven's brother, Ralph Beaven, said the idea of watching a film of his brother's ordeal was traumatic.
Universal Studios is soon to release United 93, which will focus on the United Airlines flight which crashed in a field in Pennsylvania before it could reach its intended target in Washington DC, thought to be the White House.
It is believed the hijackers failed in their mission because a group of heroic passengers, including former Auckland University student Beaven, stormed the cockpit. Beaven will be played in the movie by British actor Simon Poland.
A year after the 2001 attacks, Beaven's wife, Kimi, revealed to the Sunday Star-Times that her husband's remains were found in the cockpit of Flight 93 and his voice was on the cockpit voice recorder.
The film, to open on April 28 in America, has ignited debate there over whether the country is ready for such a vivid portrayal of the attacks.
When a trailer advertising the film was played at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, audience members began calling out, "Too soon!"
The trailer contains news film of one of the planes about to hit the World Trade Center, and a cinema in Manhattan took the rare step of pulling it from its screens after several complaints.
"One lady was crying," the manager told a local paper. "I don't think people are ready for this."
Ralph Beaven said he would not go to the cinema to watch the film. "For me personally, I'm not sure I'd go along, I think it would be a little too close to home. I don't want to go down that track again.
"It would be very emotionally charged, especially seeing someone else represent your brother."
He said he might consider watching it later in the privacy of his home, if it was issued on DVD.
His brother had been an environmental lawyer in San Francisco who had fought for the underdog against big corporations, and who did not seek the limelight.
"He was not the sort of person who deliberately set out to have a lot of publicity. He was a down-to-earth Kiwi, he wore jeans and jandals."
Beaven said he had never received official word as to what exactly his brother's role was on the flight, and he believed Kimi Beaven's belief he had fought with the hijackers was conjecture.
I don't like the idea of hollywood making money off this film. If it was so important to show why not make it for TV so all can see.
People need to be shaken out of the dreamworld in which they've been living. They need to be reminded, early and often, of the fact that we're dealing with an enemy that won't stop until one of us is dead.
I will see the movie with my eyes wide open.
After years of watching Hollywood spew forth every type of perversion imaginable while calling it "art", I feel quite comfortable saying that if anybody doesn't want to see this film, they should feel free to stay home.
Ready? No.
In desperate need of a reality check? Yes, Yes indeed.
There was already a TV version.
I think it should be shown. People should remember what happened, but if they are truly going to be traumatized and don't want to see it, I can appreciate that too, especially for relatives of those who died.
Then this is not to inform people is it.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1611889/posts
SURVIVORS' WORK ON 9/11 FILM LEAVES WIDOWS FEELING BETRAYED
Of course, the movie better be accurate...
>>>>I don't like the idea of hollywood making money off this film. If it was so important to show why not make it for TV so all can see.
Or even covered in the news, as a public service.
I'm sure these same people were tripping over one another to pat Michael Moore on the back over Fahrenheit 9/11.
Not at all. I won't see the Moore film either.
"People need to be shaken out of the dreamworld in which they've been living. They need to be reminded, early and often, of the fact that we're dealing with an enemy that won't stop until one of us is dead. "
Ditto. I don't want to see it, but I have to see it.
Saddly, the people who need to see it will not. I wish some could be made to. I would start with the staff at the State Department. Those types are too Arab friendly for my tastes.
I would rather crawl across a desert of salted glass than see this movie.
> They need to be reminded, early and often, of the fact that we're dealing with an enemy that won't stop until one of us is dead.
Said succinctly and well. George Santayana is variously quoted as having said "Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it."
This is why I will attend the movie.
There you go, it's the biggest news event in our history and should not be reduced to a friggin popcorn eating movie.
I would be sick to my stomach if my loved one on that plane was turned into a show for profit.
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