I'm trying to work my way up to WWI flicks, but it's too soon.
Posted on 05/07/2006 10:53:29 AM PDT by Ramius
Somebody has bought tickets to “United 93.” The movie about heroism about the doomed Sept. 11 flight grossed $11.6 million in sales and finished second place (to “RV”) when it debuted last weekend.
Directed and written by Paul Greengrass, the docudrama has gotten spectacular critical reviews. But those same reviews tell you why “United 93” poses no box office threat to “Mission: Impossible III.” Roger Ebert of The Chicago Sun-Times, for example, called it “masterful and heartbreaking” – but also “deeply disturbing.” Gary Thompson of the Philadelphia Daily News described it as “taut, clinical, almost merciless.”
Audience reaction has been somber, especially in areas directly affected by the Sept. 11 terror attacks. No one expected otherwise.
Weeping has been frequently reported during showings. One New Yorker described “United 93” to the New York Daily News as “just very disturbing.” Her husband said, “I guess it’s a form of shock.” One Long Island woman told Newsday: “During the movie, I heard a lot of sobbing, and when it ended, there was just silence. Almost everyone left with their hands crossed in front of them and their heads bowed down as if it were a wake or funeral.”
For the most part, Americans – including members of this newspaper’s editorial board – haven’t been able to bring themselves to watch a movie that vividly recreates so much of the horror and pathos of Sept. 11. It’s just hard to buy a ticket and board Flight 93 knowing beforehand how the tragedy will end and how skillfully and heartbreakingly Greengrass has no doubt rendered it.
This says something about drama’s almost mystical power over the human psyche. For some elusive reason, a well-told story can be unbearably, painfully, excruciatingly real.
It also says the wounds ripped open in this country by Sept. 11 are a long, long way from being healed. It is too easy to imagine ourselves or our loved ones caught by chance, not so long ago, on one of those doomed flights, in one of the twin towers or in the west side of the Pentagon. Part of the horrifying brilliance of “United 93,” according to reviewers, lies in the very ordinariness of its characters.
When the trauma of that day is further behind us, more Americans will probably embrace this film. But not yet. Not yet.
Precisely.
"Double standards" should be this year's theme for the Democrats.
Well yeah, if you dont mind the "F" word every three seconds. Fine by me..for adults. Not for kids.
It certainly is not a children's film. Aren't adults entitled to their own? After all even if there were no obscenity, would you take a child to see a film with this plot?
Can't confirm yet, but expect the movie to banned in almost all Muslim countries.
Can't confirm yet, but expect the movie to banned in almost all Muslim countries.
Just saw the movie today. We need to mobilize FReepers and watch United 93. It actually showed Arabs the bloodthirsty savages they are
what praytell did you consider the moments of comedy? you see, I told you that the teachers in this country turn out some real geniuses.....so glad you enlightened me with the attributes of a positive attitude, going out tomorrow and with the same attitude, pull up every tree in the block, then hang every dog and cat to it, those also , would be moments of comedy by your standards right?
A bit more then 1700. Plenty to generate $10-15M for a weekend. The plan was to flow the number up slowly, like "My Big Fat Greek Wedding", etc. I am afraid my friend you are not the sharpest knife in the drawer. But, I respect your right to be that way. Please don't take me on over the movies. I live on boxofficemojo.com, rottentomatoes.com and boxofficeguru.com. You are going to lose every time. At the of the day, the revenue stream and attendance numbers for "United 93" are nothing to brag about. The American people are in almost total denial as to what is facing our country. You won't be calling me an idiot for long!!!
The United 93 hijackers sure as heck didn't terrorize the people on the plane.
Not seeing the movie isn't a sign of idiocy.
Believing the American people are in denial about 9/11 is.
You don't suck. You, of course have choice. Aside from all the blather about this movie, it is quite educational, and let's you know how unprepared our public and military institutions were for an event such as 911. Bill Clinton and the Democrat Party destroyed the US military so badly we could barely put four operating fighter aircraft into the air to short circuit the attack. And....two of those aircraft were unarmed. It took an single air traffic controller director, and the passengers on United Flight 93 to put two and two together and react effectively. Bill Clinton was too busy being serviced by Monica Lewinsky to be concerned with American security. I'll tell you who sucks, the Democrat "traitor/treason" Party!!!
I guess we have a difference of opinion.
I saw it Friday night and left feeling the same. There was an older couple walking out ahead of me. I'm guessing the man was mid to late 70s (WWII generation). I overheard him telling his wife; "They should show that movie every day and make everyone watch it."
Perhaps starting with the Moonbats.
I saw it at a matinee yesterday. Small audience. At the end (after the crash) there are a couple of minutes where they run some text filling in some details about 9/11 and nobody got up until the final credits started running.
Excellent movie. Renewed my anger. Every American should see this movie.
There really is very little about the President in the movie. The thing that hit me was how unprepared the military was that day.
Including France, Germany, Spain, England, and the Netherlands?
Just kidding, but only partly.
The film is not difficult to watch and everybody should make the effort to see either it or A+E channel's "Flight 93".
We went to a matinee showing yesterday, only 17 people on a Sunday afternoon.
Total silence at the end. An unreal feeling, but I could see others wiping tears away and I know that for me, the film did not reignite any anger I may have felt after 9/11 because my anger never went away.
Never forget! Never forgive!
I'm trying to work my way up to WWI flicks, but it's too soon.
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