Posted on 04/27/2006 6:44:38 AM PDT by chris_in_nj
Fellow FReepers,
As the son of Joe Driscoll, passenger on Flight 93, I was invited to opening of the Tribeca Film Festival to view United 93.
Unless you are 110% sure you can't take watching this movie - you have got to see this film. Universal Studios and Paul Greengrass absolutely nailed it.
Even though the ending is no surprise this movie is gripping and powerful. There is no political statement - and by no means is this a politically correct tribute. It is rough, true and stark.
Almost no one in the film is mentioned by name and nor are there any A-list stars, just average Americans...it truly represents "THE 40" that come together as one to say "we will not let this happen".
The military air space commanders, air traffic controllers, etc...many of whom played themselves in the film add a tremendous amount of reality. It was absolutely fascinating to see the inner workings of those command centers on that day. And to try and figure out which handful of planes, out of 4,200 in the sky at the time, were hijacked...you will walk away with a whole new appreciation for the monumental task that these men and women had on the ground to control the skies.
And for the monumental task that THE 40 had in the plane - it was superb. The cinematography and score was magnificent.
The film left me emotionally exhausted. At times I wanted to cheer my father and his fellow passengers on and at the end it I sat in stunned silence. The chaotic and noisy climax comes to an abrupt end and you are left sitting in a silent and dark theater. At that time there were family members all around me who simply lost it - with cries and tears piercing the dark room as the credits began to roll across a black screen.
Beaming with pride but wrought with heartache I walked out of the theater with my brother onto the streets of Manhattan, trying seemingly in vain to digest what I just witnessed. It was a fruitless effort as I think it will simply take time, a long time.
This film is not here "too soon", that is a ridiculous notion. Now, I totally respect an individual not wanting to see this film - that is understandable. But many in this country are ready. We need to be ready. We need a fresh reminder of that day as it is painfully obvious that many - even here in NYC - have lost their raw emotion and anger from that day....and that is a tragedy in itself.
I hope you all try and see this movie. The good folks here at this site understand the nature and insatiable evil of our enemy. This film captures that in no uncertain terms.
Again, kudos to Paul Greengrass and Universal Studios.
Chris
I will never forget. God bless you and your brother.
God bless you, Chris. Thank you for your report. I'll ping a few FRiends here...
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my ‘miscellaneous’ ping list.
I will see this film one way or the other (in the movie house or at home on DVD). Hope the DVD comes out quickly after the film's run in the theaters comes to an end. Sometimes the DVD's come out real quickly nowadays. Kudu's to your heroic father, Chris. A true American.
I'm emotional just reading this thread.
But I will go to the theater and see this window into history.
What an example...this demonstration of a willingness to lay down their lives on behalf of others...folks that were strangers to them.
They, along with those who were going up the stairs of the Trade Center Towers when everyone else was coming down, are the great heroes of our age.
"No greater love has any man than to lay down his life for his friends."
Thank you Chris. God bless you and the rest of your family.
Your father and other brave Americans on Flight 93 set a standard which will be met by other Americans if the Islamofacist terrorist try to hijack another plane.
I would not be able to watch this film. Three of my most beloved people in the world were on United flight 93 a week before before 9/11. Then a sister of a very close friend perished in the American flight that went down later in 2001.
For those still wavering as to whether to go see this...
...Have you ever watched a movie....and you know how it ends, but the heroism is victorious and it warms your soul and reinvigorates your determiniation to stay the course?
That's how I view this...
..I think of Glory...and those brave men rushing towards certain death, but oh my ....I still get chill bumps because of their vision and bravery...
...or Sir Thomas More, or Jim Elliot, or William Wallace, Dietrich Bonhoffer or the bravery of countless others......
..those who left their giant footprints for us to fill.
Those who encourage us to do the right thing....
God bless Chris....and God bless his father and Todd Beamer and all those who have left giant footprints for us!!!!
We do this, certainly not for ourselves ... for it won't be pleasant ... but to honor those who sacrificed, that their courage and heroism may not be forgotten.
As you can tell, and probably already knew, the story of these brave Americans is one that will last forver- but only as long as we talk about it; record it; and honor it.
For me, the events that took place on that plane and the sacrifice those people knowingly made is something I think about almost daily. And I have no personal connection to anyone involved, other than the fact that I believe some things are worth dying for. I can only pray that if I am ever faced with such a decision, I will have the courage to act as they did.
The brave citizen soldiers of Flight 93 will NEVER be forgotten. They sacrificed their lives for the sake of their fellow Americans, and we are awed by what they did........as they laid down their lives in love, for US.
Thank you for this wonderful review, chris. God be with you, and hold you close in His arms of love.
Sorry that you lost a friend on the American flight.
I'm still a bit uneasy about seeing this film, in spite of the good reviews, but it would definitely be respectful to attend.
Thanks for the ping! Gotta see this movie.
She was a wonderful lady. Her loss was tough for family members, friends and co workers.
So very sorry.
I always get a very large lump in my throat every time I think about the herosim displayed by "THE 40". They were the first to strike back in the War on Terror.
Yep! I've located the cinema near me and the show times.
In loving memory of the heros of Flight 93, I plan to see the film tonight.
Chris, I still think the Congressional Gold Medal or Presidential Medal of Freedom should be awarded to every legitimate passenger and crewmember of 93. (I use the word 'legitimate' to exclude the scum who were on the plane only to cause destruction.)
Such a gesture from the nation through its elected representatives may or may not bring a measure of comfort to the familes, but I believe strongly that we, as a nation, should honor their bravery and sacrifice. I shudder to think what would have happened had that plane struck the Capitol building or the White House.
Congress was in session and the First Lady was among those in the Capitol building that morning. Neither she nor the congressional leadership were immediately evacuated.
At the White House, although the President and some of his domestic aides were in Florida, the Vice President and most of the senior staff were at work along with hundreds of other people who work at the WH complex. Because the VP chose to stay in the PEOC underneat the WH, the complex was never fully evacuated that morning.
Thanks to your father and the other heros of 93, a national attrocity of immense proportions was averted. What did happen to them and thousands of others that day was horrific enough, but the heros of 93 prevented something even worse, the near total decapitation of our government. I thank God for them, and will love them forever even though I never met any of them.
May they rest in the loving arms of the Lord forever.
In my opinion, every American owes it to them to see this film. Spending a couple of hours in a movie theater is nothing compared to what they suffered. They gave us an immense, immeasurable gift. We surely can give them a couple of hours in a theater.
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