Posted on 04/28/2006 1:21:50 PM PDT by RobFromGa
Just saw United 93-- I thought it was excellent. It evolves in real-time and its cuts back and forth between the Air Traffic controllers, the Military room, and the plane.
It was somewhat shocking to watch the level of confusion in terms of what was going on, but when you see what information that they were dealing with, it makes sense.
The hijackers to me came across more as fanatical than evil, and they were not turban-wearing obvious characters, they were cleaned up and I ride on planes with people like them on every flight I take.
In the movie, they are carrying out the plans of others and are obsessive in their task. We are not fighting an enemy that is likely to be reasoned with.
There is one character that I'm glad they included- he has a European *maybe French* accent and he makes a number of comments along the lines of "If we do what they say, they'll spare our lives"-- typical appeasement mentality.
Thanks to this group of heroes, many thousands of lives may have been spared and we kept the Islamic nuts from claiming the Capitol or White House as a prize.
I give in 9.5/10!
I don't hate the muslims. I hate the religion of Islam and what it does to people. There is a difference.
I went with my brother and two friends, and we all spotted THAT one. Strange, coming from a British producer.
Geesh...
I saw it in Boston Common, in their largest screen. The place was full, and the reaction of the people afterwards was somber, and among many resolute. Though there were some who I am sure didn't share it. But there was no conspiracy talk, no bush bashing, none of the junk we normally hear around here. I was surprised by the audience reaction, too. One of my journalist friends who saw it with me said that if every American saw it, it would ensure a Republican majority for the next 20 years. I think that there might have been at least a few who might have changed their thinking tonight. I hope so. But it definitely gave me hope to see this reaction in the bluest part of an incredibly blue state.
A wonderfully written review.
...And welcome to Free Republic; that was your first post. Unlike a lot of newbies, your stay will be long and fruitful with posts like this one.
Again, welcome.
I wonder if they are Muslims, the 4 actors? Anyone know?
I think the wife of one of the family members said they waited because they were over a populated area and they waited until they were over the unpopulated fields of PA before they took action.
That information alone is stunning. They were more concerned about the people on the ground than they were about themselves.
The silence that occured in your theater and in mine speaks volumes.
The fact that some of you here find it impossible for a regular American to find the film emotionally powerful speaks loudly about the partisan division in this country. To think that some of you believe that some of your neighbors (because I guarantee you that there were Republicans and Democrats in every showing) would actually stand up and applaud the hijackers is sobering and more importantly.. heartbreaking.
I know some of you are jaded because of liberal bias in the media, but is it really too much to believe that a liberal European filmmaker made a startingly honest and gripping film about an American tragedy? I do not know how I would have acted if I was in such a situation. I know that many of you would rush to the aid of the passengers and their cause, but not all passengers on the flight joined. Some of them sat out. Are they to be critcized? Absolutely not. Why? We are all humans. I think this film has allowed us to realize our commond bonds as Americans and as human beings.
I just realized tonight that I probably flew over Shanksville or near bouts. That is a scary and somber thought.
If I was in a hijacked situation, would I have been brave as the passengers and crew of United 93? I can't tell you right now because I am not in that situation. But...when courage and determination overcomes fear, imagine what people can do...
But you can always buy it on DVD.
Yeah, I never watch movies at the theatres (or out of them, really, for that matter). There were camera crews from the local news stations outside getting audience reactions, but I didn't stick around to talk to them. And I didn't watch the evening news to see what the reaction was.
No, not all of the actors are Muslim.
Jamie Harding, a great English character actor plays the younger hijacker. (He spends the majority of the film in the rear cabin with the other hijacker who has the false bomb).
You may remember him as the young boy in Band of Brothers who awakens Damien Lewis (Winters) from his nightmare on the Paris subway. It was Part 5, if I recall correctly.
I was of the impression that they were afraid of the "bomb" going off and only attacked when they had pretty much determine it was fake.
They attacked, imo, without knowing if the bomb was fake.
They found out from cell phone info, [apparently quite early on] that planes were being deliberately crashed. At that point they had no option left but to 'roll' regardless of the bomb, hostages, or lack of weapons.
Thank God somebody didn't, for I, too, would have committed murder.
I am indifferent about the religion itself. In my opinion, nearly everything in life has a duality to it.
For example, a computer can be used to make wonderfully sweet birthday cards, and can also be used to plan a terrorist attack. A hammer can be used to build a finely crafted desk or put a roof on a house, or it can be buried in a victim's head in a crime of murder.
I know enough about Islam to understand the inherent flaws in it (having read all of Bernard Lewis's books, which I highly recommend) but I also know that there were times Christians and Muslims could live together in a tolerable situation. People will argue that "true" Muslims view the tolerant Muslims as apostates, for which in their religion, a special circle of hell is reserved.
(There are several groups of people against who jihad can be practiced: Infidels, Apostates and Thieves with the priority in that order. I probably left some group out...but you get the idea)
I know some American muslims, and they are decent people who want their kids to grow up right, get a good education and make a good living.
So, while many may think Islam is inherently bad, I would disagree with them. Like anything else, it can be constructive or destructive, it is all how the adherents interpret and practice it. Lately, the track record of the ones who are attracting the most attention is NOT good.
In one of the last moments before the end, the passenger who remains the most composed through the ordeal (he makes the first phone call) raises the "bomb parts" over his head and crows that it is indeed fake. So yes, they had an inkling that the bomb wasn't real, but moved anyway.
Good pickup...I was wondering where I had seen him before...:)
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