World Trade Center Movie- Page 2

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/9/06 at 12:22am

Having seen both trailers and neither of the two movies....
I have to say that yeah, I might see United 93 eventually. It just seems less emotionally charged than World Trade Center (not the subject matter, of course, but the way that its handled).
I'm personally not ready to see WTC. I know people who disagree with it being made and are not seeing it so as not to "support it". And while I agree that it shouldn't have been made - my reasonings for not seeing it are purely because I cannot personally handle it. If you can handle it and enjoy the movie, then good for you.
I think Hollywood is just cashing in on something thats way too sore of a subject right now. But thats one girls opinion. No one is forcing me to see it. Certainly not.

[Mamie]

Posted: 8/9/06 at 3:07pm

I just got back from the first showing of "World Trade Center" at our local theater. It was an incredibly emotional experience and one that I won't get over for quite a long time. Nevertheless, the overall experience (for me) was very positive.

This is not a story about terrorists attacking the United States. This is a story about human beings and their capacity to withstand incredible odds in order to survive. It is a story about humans who connect with each other with emotional lifelines - especially when either they or others close to them are no longer able to survive on their own. It is an incredibly positive message and one that most people who see the film will carry with them as they leave.

My emotions ran the gamut. At the beginning was the gut-wrenching pain of experiencing that terrible morning again. Then that was almost gone as the individual pain took over. We got to know these guys and their families and we felt the disbelief/terror/despair/hope/heartbreak and nearly debilitating frustration that we all went through at that time. Remember the NEED we had to help in some way and the terrible frustration we went through when we couldn't find a way to help ENOUGH, give ENOUGH, or do ENOUGH? It all comes back when you watch this film.

The rescue of the two policemen brings you back to the elation we felt when they were found. But I was immediately brought down again with a scene played out in the hospital between one of the wives and the mother of one of the elevator operators in one of the towers. That one scene played particularly hard with me because I had never been in the towers before and finally decided to go - on August 30. I remember the face of the young man who was our elevator operator that morning and his telling us about his desire to one day perform on Broadway. He sang and danced his way to the top of the tower - and ended with a huge applause from his 'captive audience'. When I close my eyes, I can see his face as clearly as if he were standing in front of me right now.

----------------------------------------------
Footnote -
I returned to NY on 9/24. I couldn't even look at ground zero when my train approached Manhattan. It was cold and drizzly all day. That night I decided to try and look. I went to the top of the Empire State Building and went out on the observation deck. From that altitude, the cold drizzle had turned to sleet. I stood in that freezing, windy rain and used one of the viewers to look downtown. I remember thinking at the time that this must be what the entrance to hell looks like. It was a large, black hole with red lights all around it and black smoke billowing out. (And this was two weeks after the attack). I took that one look and went back inside and left. I was never able to look at that site again until about 6 months ago. Of course it's just a big slab of concrete now, but the fact remained that it took over 4 years for me to look at it. I decided that this was just not a healthy thing to do, so I resolved to see this film the day it was released. In fact, to go to the first running on the day it was released. I'm not at all sorry I did. In fact, I'll probably go back and see it again. Having said that, I can completely understand why others will not go. It's a very personal decision and one that each one needs to make for themselves.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 8/9/06 at 3:46pm

Mamie, thanks for sharing. I had no desire to see this film on the fact alone that Nicholas Cage is in it. But after reading your review, I might just change my mind.

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 8/9/06 at 4:01pm

Looks like United 93 comes out on DVD next week.

Last night I was flipping through the channels - and there was a "paid advertisement" program for this film. It consisted of a discussion panel that included Cage and Stone and a few other people involved in the making, and a bout twenty viewers from a screening. I thought - wow, do they really need to do this? It was odd...at least that Magic Bullett lady was not in it!

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 12:42am

I hear it's good...I think I may see it tomorrow...it's apparently a HUGE comeback for Oliver Stone and Michael Pena is supposed to be incredible (He was brilliant in CRASH, delivering a performance that was just as good as his costars who got recognized more than him ie: Dillon, Howard, Cheadle etc).

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 1:54am

It looks really well-done. I'll see it on DVD (I don't like to see movies in the theater if I can help it).

I've never been to New York. Maybe that's a factor. I feel emotionally removed; always have, for better or for worse.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 8/10/06 at 2:15am

The scene where you see the shadow of the plane flying always sends chills down my spine.

I think that it is much more effective at the moment than seeing the plane.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 8/11/06 at 3:56pm

Just saw it.

After the collapse and all the movie started to drag. Sort of the reverse of Titanic.

But it was a heart wrenching story - especially seeing the towers again.

The part where I got really upset, and you could tell even the badasses in the theatre were getting upset, was doing the scene in the cafeteria re: the elevator operator.

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 8/11/06 at 5:15pm

I'm going to see it. I know it'll be very hard though. I'm a New Yorker born and raised, and when you grow up in any place, you become a part of it. The pain the city felt was overwhelming and palpable that day and for months afterwards, and that pain became my pain. I cried when I saw the trailer, because that by itself brought back so much emotion. Its literally the kind of thing where I can remember the entire day, hour by hour. It won't be easy for me to watch - I will be reminded of those members of my community who were lost, and those who got out, and all of their loved ones. However, I ultimately believe it will be a healthy experience for me. I still haven't brought myself to ground zero, and maybe this movie will bring me to a point where I can go.

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 8/11/06 at 5:25pm

I'm going to see it. I know it'll be very hard though. I'm a New Yorker born and raised, and when you grow up in any place, you become a part of it. The pain the city felt was overwhelming and palpable that day and for months afterwards, and that pain became my pain. I cried when I saw the trailer, because that by itself brought back so much emotion. Its literally the kind of thing where I can remember the entire day, hour by hour. It won't be easy for me to watch - I will be reminded of those members of my community who were lost, and those who got out, and all of their loved ones. However, I ultimately believe it will be a healthy experience for me. I still haven't brought myself to ground zero, and maybe this movie will bring me to a point where I can go.

[WiiCKED x3]

Posted: 8/11/06 at 5:28pm

I'm seeing it with my friends tommorow. I think I can handle it. It might be a little hard not to cry for me... but I think I can do it.

[Mamie]

Posted: 8/11/06 at 7:30pm

May I make a suggestion? Don't try not to cry. Bring a lot of tissues with you and feel free to let go in that darkened theatre. I found the whole experience to be rather cathartic. There were (are?) still serious issues deep inside but this film lets you bring a lot of them to the surface. So do yourself a favor and let it come.

I went back to see it again today and realized that I had missed a lot on screen while I was remembering so much from 5 years ago. I cried again - but not nearly as much as the first day. I'm pretty sure that the third time will be even better.

[LionessInWinter]

Posted: 8/11/06 at 7:51pm

May I make a suggestion? Don't try not to cry.
Great suggestion. I gave myself a headache trying to control potential sobbing a couple of times. And I still cried anyway.
I was mentally exhausted when I came out of there.

[TheatreDiva612]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 12:54am

I was fine until the collapse. Then I lost it.... You know when it just keeps coming and coming.... Then its SILENT. The entire theatre was sobbing. I couldn't even keep it quiet, it was like a loud cry. At one point, I had to leave because it was just too much. I came back about 3 minutes later. (There were originally about 10 people in there, and 5 left). (It was a matinee on Thursday in a small town). It was very emotional, and I was exhausted when I left the theatre.

[opiv]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 2:02am

I agree, defidently don't try not to cry. I have a crazy headache right.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 6:42am

So, for those of you who have been... I'm curious. Are people lining up to see this, or staying away in droves? Is it playing to packed houses or empty ones?

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 7:36am

best12bars, when I went (this past Thursday afternoon) it wasn't packed, but it was definitely busier than an average mid-week matinee. There were probably about 75 people in a 200 seat theater.

[ZONEACE]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 8:30am

Apparently it made almost 5 mil on the its first day.

[meggsison]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 12:31pm

It's much too soon for this film. We waited a good 60 or so years for Schindler's List and Pearl Harbor, and it's only been five years since 9/11.

I've heard people say that it's too LATE to be telling this story...

Updated On: 8/12/06 at 12:31 PM

[LionessInWinter]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 2:14pm

But Schindler's List and Pearl Harbor were hardly the first movies about those events or time periods, in either TV or film.

I don't necessarily think it's too soon...or too late. And too soon for what? If the artist feels the need to make something about it, I have no problem with that. It's up to everyone else to decide individually if it's too early or late to confront it again in some manner.
The 2 who were the focus of the film didn't seem to think it was too soon since they were consultants on the film. And why they did it is anyone's guess. Maybe at least partly, it was cathartic.

Best12bars, I can't answer your last question. I went to a special screening, though I will say there were more people there than I expected (maybe 200 in a 450 seat theater). Part of that may have been the draw of Oliver Stone himself coming, as I mentioned before, but no one left that I could see. And only a few people got up at all and came back.

[eponine88]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 4:57pm

Having lost my dad on 9/11 I have mixed feelings about this film. In a way, I'm so happy that they made it, because so many people in my life are "moving on", forgetting how they felt that day and those that followed, being content to label it as "history". It may be history, and a very important moment in our history, but that doesn't mean that that history needs to be packed away and looked at only through a textbook point of view. It still affects us today, as it should, as as I'm sure it will for a long time for many of us.

On the other hand, I do admit I have some hesitation regarding the film. It is difficult to reconcile my positive view of the making of the film itself with the money that it could potentially bring in for its makers. Yes, I want the film to do well, and for people to see it, to remember, but that does NOT mean that I am will be at all thrilled to see the producer build a nice new swimming pool off of its profits.

All that being said, I probably won't see the film just yet. I would truly like to in the future, but I'd prefer to do it on my own, or maybe just with a few people close to me, in the comfort of my own home after it comes out on dvd. That way I can start and stop as I feel the need. And trust me, when that day comes- there'll be no point in trying to hold back the tears.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 5:01pm

cheezedoodle- are you talking about Hazel?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 5:13pm

Can't even imagine sitting through this.

I also can't imagine why that horrific hole in the ground is a tourist attraction, so apparently I'm in the minority.

[LaurenB]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 5:19pm

Can't see it. I'll be an emotional wreck. And I don't want to be sad. Part of me wants to stay angry, and get those mother-f's. I'm flying this weekend and am appalled at how our lives have been turned upside down by terrorists. I'm speechless every time I look at the NY skyline. I just can't come to grips with sentimentality and filmmaking over the subject right now. In time, yes. But I want those mother-f's to hang by their balls first.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 5:51pm

I don't get the need or desire to see this film. Why put yourselves through it? If you need a group cry in a theatre with strangers, maybe you should see a therapist.

Anyway, I'm glad to see it is not the number one movie. According to "Box Office Mojo" it's in third place after the dance plot retread and the race car "comedy". Not a big hit.