'United 93' - are we ready?- Page 3

[Dollypop]

Posted: 4/4/06 at 6:55pm

I missed too many friends, co-workers and former students on 9/11. I'm trying to put the events in the back of my mind and move on.

I'll never forget those horrid events because the view from my classroom window is of the NYC skyline and it will no longer look the same.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 4/21/06 at 10:57pm

Advance word on this film is incredible. Everyone says that it does not editorialize or sentimentalize and the movie itself only knows as much as what was occurring at THAT moment in time (Osama bin Laden is never mentioned, etc.). So.........that's cool.

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/21/06 at 11:13pm

I just watched the trailer and my heart started pounding when they showed the plane hitting the tower. I saw the fires from my roof, since I live not a mile from the towers. when the second tower hit the ground, my building shook. I'm not sure if I want to see this film.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 4/21/06 at 11:22pm

I've always wondered what it must have been like, what it must have felt like to be there at that moment in time. Watching the towers fall on TV and watching the thick cloud of smoke in real life. If the surreal terror I felt many many many miles away from the carnage was something, I've always imagined how horrible it must have been to actually be there when it happened.

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/21/06 at 11:34pm

It was pretty weird. Right after it happened, a friend and I walked over to St. Vincent's hospital, which is a couple blocks from me. This is where they were to take the injured. How strange it was to see all the doctors and nurses just standing outside and waiting, for there were very few survivors.

It was even more weird seeing all the other people wandering around on the street like zombies. We all seemed to be in some sort of daze with a smoky cloud in the air, not unlike some science fiction film. I'll never forget that day.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/21/06 at 11:39pm

So I was only in 7th grade and in Florida when 9/11 happened, so nothing really hit me that hard when I heard what had happened. I remember a coach running in to where i was taking a test and pretty much yelling what had happened to us, but we were all confused since we didn't really know what the WTC was. He came back in a few minutes later to tell us that the Pentagon was hit as well, and that is when a friend and I actually realized that this was BAD. I vividly remember walking through the hallway past an open classroom door and seeing a tower fall and thinking "Holy sh*t" to myself. The only class that we did anything but watch the news in that day was Science. I also remember that the thing that scared me the most was the fact that my brother was a senior that year and about to turn 18. He and his class (of 22... it's a small school) were sitting in the hallway and worrying about a draft, I got really scared after that. That being said, I'm going to agree with the "I can't imagine what it was like to be in NYC at the time" idea and just say that most of my emotions were what they were because teachers who actually had a pretty good comprehension of the situation were showing those emotions.

I honestly don't really know where I was going with this post, but I do want to say that I entirely respect everyone's feelings about seeing or not seeing this movie. I know it is harder for some people than others- but I think it will be a great movie that shows the first of the American people who stepped it up and worked together to fight for this cause. I respect every person on that plane and the other planes that day, and I can't wait to see the movie with a box of tissues with me.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 4/21/06 at 11:40pm

I'll more remember that day as one where I just felt....nothing. I could not scream. I could not cry. I hugged family members, of course, but I did so more because I felt that I wanted to rather than I actually wanted to. I was too shocked to even move. I just spent all day on the internet, trying to locate information and just trying to make sense of what had just happened with a few close friends. That was it.

I couldn't really cry about it until weeks afterward.

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 4/21/06 at 11:50pm

I could never imagine being there.

My friend relates her story so well and the way she tells it, I almost feel like I was there.
She remember vivid details.

She was driving down to work. She works near the towers but didn't have to be at will till 10:00. She heard a loud noise but didn't notice anything. Next thing she saw was clouds of smoke. She pulled to the side of the road like many other cars and waiting there. She saw numerous people jumping to their deaths. She tried to use her cell phone but it didn't work. She didn't realize what was going on until she SAW the 2nd plane hit the tower. The person in the car that pulled behind her had gotten out of the car and when the second tower fell, the person passed out. Thankfully, a nurse who was driving to the airport (to pick up her brother) had smelling salt in her car and the person who fainted thankfully got up. My friend knew she wasn't going to work so she, and the 2 other cars behind her waited until 11:30ish when they heard sorta what happened. After sitting in their cars for over and hour and a half, they drove a little further, got off the expressway and went back home to see the terror unfold over and over again on the T.V.

Oddly enough, she says that she can't wait to see the movie. Obviously, not in an 'excited' way, but she feels that maybe she can take in better what happened seeing it without "being there."

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 12:00am

This was MY personal experience. Nothing really compared to any NYers.

I was in my study skills class *11th grade* A teacher, Mr. Spinelli, walked in and called my teacher Mrs. McGowen out into the hallway. A minute later she walked into the room and continued teaching. In my school it was normal for that to happen so we thought nothing of it. When the bell rang, it was break. A Student, Hannah, walked passed me and told me a plane hit the twin towers. All I said was "huh?" She said it again and I had no clue what it meant so I said "Ok." I thought she was making a joke or something because we never got along. As break went on, I was hearing random things about terrorism. I then went to my next class where my teacher told us we were going to the gym to find something out. We walked down to the gym with the whole school. There was a TV and everyone became quiet which was a very odd thing for my school. We all realized the terror that had happened. Some of the faces on students, I never thought I would ever see in my lifetime. Through the next hour, buses came to pick up the students to take them home because it was unsure if anything else would happen, especially in a big city like Philadelphia. I got home safely and watched the horror on T.V., I absolutely couldn't even fathom the happenings. Although it was very upsetting, I couldn't go away from the T.V. I watched replay after replay after replay. To this day I don't know what stuck me to that T.V. to watch the horror over and over again. Even days and weeks after, I was glued to that T.V. And, the uncertainty of something happening at any given moment frightened me so much more and the warnings on T.V. made it worse, yet, I never left the T.V. set. The families devestated by this will always be in my heart. The firemen, policemen will always be remembered. Those who risked their lives and even died for others. The horrible memory of seeing it actually happen like people jumping from windows on the 100th floor. The aftermath of burnt buildings, dead bodies, alive bodies waiting to be found, and so much more. The babies that will never have a full family. The shadows that will always lurk behind ground zero.

[meggsison]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 12:00am

I almost cried when I saw the trailer in theaters. It's too close to 9/11 to make a movie about it, in my opinion. Let it sit for a few more decades at least. I mean, we waited for Titanic and Pearl Harbor and all of those things. Why can't we wait a few more years for this?

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 12:09am

I will not see this movie!

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 12:20am

I can't imagine what it may have been like to have been on that plane, and that's the way I like it. If I did try to put myself in that situation, I would lose it.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 1:25am

We had a pretty good conversation about this a few weeks ago on the regular board (I don't remember how we got on the topic so I couldn't find the post, but Jerby might remember). But long and short of it is, I will not be seeing it.

[gavrochegirl]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 1:43am

Here's my personal experience for ya.

I was in third grade when 9/11 happened. I remember getting ready for another day of school. Suddenly, I heard the phone ring. I let my mom answer it. She was hysterical when she was on the phone, almost panicked. When she hung up, she said, "The World Trade Center is getting attacked!" I really didn't know what she meant at the time...until she turned on my T.V. and I saw the distruction unfold.

At the beginning of class, my teacher sat us all down on the carpet where she usually told stories. Then, she told us straightfoward that an airplane crashed into the World Trade Center. Then it hit me really hard. Kids started asking questions. I didn't ask any questions. I just listened to everyone else's questions and my teacher's answers.

I don't know whether or not I'll be at this movie. I think I'm showing a moderate interest in it, but I'm not sure. We'll see what happens later.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 11:50am

I'm completely with RobbO on this. I will be seeing this film.

While it's easy to stereotype Hollywood as only trying to make a buck off of the latest movie of the week, I look at this as artists doing what artists do best. Just look at the discussions being had in this thread just in response to the trailer or the idea of the film!

I think it's important for the people who are ready to engage in this film and discuss it. I think it's important for our youth and the future generations to see these kinds of films to be able to understand that day---just as we were shown films like The Diary of Anne Frank in school so that we could begin to comprehend the Holocaust.

The roots of Drama began as Greek Tragedy--giving the audience great catharsis so that they could purge great emotions. We've become a society that for the most part only wants to be entertained by art. We don't want to face great tragedy and attempt to purge it. We'd rather make it go away as easily as possible. And that's each person's choice. But, I am ready to go to this film and face the emotions that may come. And, I celebrate art that attempts to actually say something or deal with contemporary issues.

And, I'll add the sentiment that has been expressed to me: "The greatest art comes out of conservative times". There is so much passion in our lives right now, and I am glad to see artists confronting that.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 12:00pm

I'm with you JRB... good post.

[EverythingIsRENT]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 12:05pm

I agree with jrb. This is an important film.

I was a 10th grader and just got to my Spanish class where my teacher already had the tv running and was watching the planes crash. I was confused, thinking there was a horrible accident and I hoped only a few people died. Then the second plane hit. It was time for class to start to the teacher turns off the tv and says "okay, clase, vamos a comenzar..." And we had class as usual. During our break, there were kids in the courtyard throwing paper and yelling "the planes are coming, we're all gonnadie!" and LAUGHING. It was sick. I've never felt so helpless and devestated in my life. I don't think we should EVER forget that feeling and pretend it never happened. I will be there opening day.

[meggsison]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 5:11pm

Hmm I was sitting on the floor doing a science lab in fifth grade when it happened, and I was freaking out because my uncle was flying to Baltimore from Boston that day. And the majority of my family lives down there, and my cousin's schools all had lock ins, it was scary.

[beacon1]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 6:04pm

I was at work with my new manager who had been on the job just one week. His wife called about the first plane...and then the second...and then we turned on the radio.

I remember feeling sick to my stomach. My sister was due to fly to be with our very ill father that day. I called my mother and she didn't know if her flight had gone yet. Thankfully it hadn't. My brother in law hadn't heard the news until late but well before he was to take her to the airport. When she did fly a couple of days later she had to cover up her military t-shirts and travel bag logo as a precaution.

Updated On: 4/22/06 at 06:04 PM

[starletta8]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 7:41pm

In a word, no.

That said, it is an important topic to cover and everything that I've read suggests that the film treats it with dignity and respect.

It's just too soon. It hasn't even been 5 years yet. Heck, there are still multiple holes in the ground!

How long did it take to make a Pearl Harbor movie? Just throwing that out there. 9/11 was much more intimate for the country because of live tv.

My personal experiences were quite unique, being that I was on the NJ Turnpike and watched it unfold from traffic. I guess I was just in shock, but I was more terrified for my parents because they live about an hour from Shanksville- and nobody was reporting anything but "rural western PA." There's 3 major power plants around my hometown.

[pemberlee]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 8:53pm

My first reaction to this movie was no way would I put myself through watching something that made me sob just watching to preview. But after thinking about it, I have decided to go. Especially after reading interviews with family memebers who support the movie as a tribute to the people they lost.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 4/25/06 at 9:49pm

It sounds like Greengrass created a rather engrossing re-enactment. While I respect the fact that this is not a movie for everyone, I will still be there opening weekend.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 4/25/06 at 9:52pm

I plan on going Friday or Saturday night.

[Chloe]

Posted: 4/25/06 at 9:55pm

Here's an early review from Newsday - they give it four stars.
Newsday review

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/25/06 at 10:10pm

There's something about it on the WB news right now....