I saw it on opening night. Only about a dozen people were in the theater.
Undoubtedly, most folks are waiting for the DVD.
For those who are waiting, here's what to expect:
The movie lacks any Hollywood-ization. Some of the folks on screen are actually the real people playing themselves. The events unfold in real time, which gives a realistic sense of what it was like for those working behind the scenes, as they tried to understand chaotic events that no one had expected.
You feel awed by the passengers of United 93. It's amazing they figured out the need to fight the terrorists, even though they didn't know where the plane was headed. (The film suggests the destination was the Capitol Building.) This type of hijacking had never occurred before, and it would have been easy for them to sit and cooperate, as is the standard advice.
The filmmakers showed great restraint. They could have played to your emotions, by letting you know more about the passengers, and making you feel like you know them. In fact, the passengers remain as much unknown to you personally by the end of the film as they do at the beginning. Just like real-life encounters. I had to read their bios on the movie website to understand who they were.
Still, the lack of character development gives power to the little things you see on screen. Everyday people doing everyday things, making small talk, going about their business, not harming anyone--that's what gives you the greatest sense of loss.
The hijackers are also portrayed as human beings. To look at them, you would scarcely suspect the evil in their hearts. You almost feel like there is a chance for them to change their minds, before it's too late. When they finally hijack the plane, however, you feel like doing exactly what the passengers did, and then preventing a hijacking from ever happening again.
Never again! That's what you feel like saying when the film closes.
PLUS, the movie tells about what is going on ON THE GROUND while this flight (93) is in the AIR.....it was VERY INFORMATIVE, and should be required in High School History classes.