I was cynical, the movie is not

Rating: 8/10 (14 September 2009)

I waited a long time before seeing this one.
Maybe I'm too cynical, but
when this movie came out I thought it was too soon after 9/11 and smacked of exploitation. As I write this, we've just passed the 8th year anniversary of the tragedy, and I was finally ready to sit down and watch it.
I was pleased to find that the film respectfully and soberly deals with exactly the events of that single flight, and only the events of that single flight with no over-the-top theatrics. In other words, we know the final fate of both the ship Titanic, and the plane United 93, but there is a world of difference between the way those tragedies were portrayed in the respective films 'Titanic' and 'United 93'.
Again,
maybe I'm too cynical but,
it was a damn entertaining film. The plentiful use of hand held camera techniques gives a very immersive feel, making the film overall a jaw clenching experience, as if you are there aboard that fateful flight. Far greater than purely fictional Hollywood fare such as 'Airforce One' or 'Flightplan'.
Before I get tons of hate mail, let me state once again, I fully admit,
I may be too cynical.
Yes, I am talking about 'entertainment value' about the dramatization of a National tragedy. But let me explain.
I don't generally buy into most 9/11 conspiracy theories, but I've always had my doubts about the official story regarding the final moments of this particular airliner. Are the events in the film true to life? Is that what really happened? I don't know if it's even fully possible to know beyond a handful of cell phone calls what was going on up there. Clearly no matter what happened at least some of the passengers acted heroically. Clearly it ended in tragedy. But, ask yourself, if a known hijacked plane presumably en route to The White House *wasn't* shot down by military aircraft a half hour after the Pentagon was struck and way more than an hour after both Trade Towers were hit, why not?
My point being... is this *the* story? The whole story? I don't know. I kind of doubt it.
But it is A story. And one that makes for a pretty good movie. And that is the only foundation upon which this review is based. Is it worth seeing? Yes.