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
BUMP!
I don't think Hollywood would DARE try to put a leftist slant on this story. We should feel blessed that someone like Paul Greengrass got there first and did it the RIGHT way, because HIS film will steal ANY AND ALL thunder from even the idle THOUGHT percolating in some Lefty's mind that that he could do a "9-11 film".
Thanks for your review Chris. I just got back from seeing the movie here in California. I'm deeply moved. God Bless your father and all the heroes of United 93.
Thank you for this review. It had to be very difficult to relive this.
God Bless you, your family and everyone that lost a loved one in these vicious attacks.
Thanks, Tunehead!
bump
I went last night, alone. I had a hard afternoon - just thinking about going to the theatre brought me to tears several times. Upon arrival in the parking lot, I watched a mother and young teenage daughter in the car next to me. Happy in their time together. And then, a strange thing happened.
I immediately felt as if I had not arrived at a movie theatre, but an airport. I went to the ticket counter, passed through a gate for boarding, and then took my seat on the plane.
I looked at the people next to me in the theatre, no 'kids' but there were quite a few in the 20-30 range however most were 30-70 and wondered -if someone would hijack our plane - would they rise up. I knew what decision I would make, but I did not know what decisions would the rest of them make. And more, I find that a particularly interesing question in light of the politics in our country today.
There were a few times I thought I was going to throw up, but that was actually before the hijackers took over. As they took over, the most powerful point of the movie for me was seeing the realization as it unveiled itself to the passengers.
Anger took hold of me. The anger I felt that day. Yet the anger I felt that day was not from the attacks-that came later. It was from something else.
I gathered my children that day I encountered a student (a very large young man who was a 'slow learner'). He had relatives in NYC and 'lost it' after the televisions had been turned on in the classrooms at the high school and someone made a very stupid remark. Of all he should have done that day the principal, a timid fellow not in control, thought it best to focus on keeping this one student in control. I intervened, and helped calm him down, and left. Someone was smart enough to call the kid's pastor. But the principal wasn't satisfied and had to push one more button as they were leaving the grounds to show he was'in charge' and the kid took a swing at him. One of my children was very upset that I took him from school (guess which one), and when it appeared 'all clear' I took him back to school and found seven cops (with all the other stuff they should have been focused on that day) had the kid on the ground out by the road.
This affected me 'in my face' that day. The principal would have been the Scandanavian in the movie. (As it happens I was there when he was later removed as principal.)
This will bother me to my grave and I didn't realize why until I saw the movie- how kids in school are taught to never fight back. Mine were taught opposite, regardless of what school said, and more, that while they should never take the first swing- if someone took a swing they should go for it and make it well worth the punishment. I regret to this day that I left that kid. I should have taken him home with me.
I should have taken him to the movie with me last night.
In fact, I think I'll call him today.
Several months after 9/11 I was at a luncheon with a bunch of elderly women who I had not seen since before that day.
Realizing this, I took a poll and asked if they'd found themselves on this flight, who would fight back. Every one of them raised their hands.
I've seen a couple posts inquiring about the language, as far as taking kids to see the movie. I almost laugh - don't know why anyone would worry about language of all things in the context of letting kids see terrorists trying to kill.
I only saw one couple leave the theatre, BTW.
When I stumbled my way out of the theatre I found myself behind the man who was sitting behind me in the theatre. I didn't think I would be able to drive. Apparently he felt the same. I wished there had been a chapel set up to head to, I needed solitude, but all I had was my car. He sat in his van longer than I sat in my car.
Just as I got to my car the mother and daughter who parked next to me came out and I watched them, happy and relaxed, content in really enjoying each other's company on a beautiful spring evening.
We are blessed beyond description by the passengers of United 93.
I should have sat in the parking lot longer than I did, driving was difficult.
Thank you, Chris.
Excellent point.
!!?Do you ever wonder what and why and how it is that you are 'connected' as you are connected to these people?!!
That is America!!!! We were founded on your Father's spirit.
I had forgotten this, but when they started the movie yesterday, (there were no previews), I reached over as though I was going to put on my seatbelt as I was sitting there in the movie theatre. I remember thinking of how odd that was that my brain had been thinking about this movie for a week and actually had me on that plane.
God Bless you and your family Chris, your father is a hero in my book. The movie is very good and I am glad that the story has been told in that manner. We shall never forget and I am definitely going to W. PA to pay my respects in person. Thanks for sharing your experience with all of us.
Perfect. Seven perfect words capture the entire movie.
great depth of understanding, well read, and well said!
You are kind.
You too? Another poster said they'd felt the urge to jump out of their seat and join the fight. That also happened to me - I had to stay conscious of where I was because several times I wanted to yell and I was in a theatre - so it would have been like yelling "FIRE!" in a theatre -
.
Thank you for the CLARITY in your question, freema.
GOD does seem to work His Miracles in some very loving ways..?
The NVA's (North Vietnam Army) French Bugle that was picked up after our victory depicted in "WE WERE SOLDIERS," was actually picked up by the World Trade Center's 9/11 lifesaver hero...
RICK RESCORLA: The Man Who Predicted 9/11
This April 1st, his loving 9/11 widow Mrs. SUSAN RESCORLA along with his close lifelong friends from "WE WERE SOLDIERS" were at Ft. Benning, Georgia to witness the unveiling of RICK RESCORLA's 'Follow Me' Statue to the world.
http://www.RickRescorla.com
(See 'The Statue' Pictures and Picture links at the bottom)
http://www.armchairgeneral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24361
It was just wonderful being there.
.
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