Brilliant, gripping, inspiring, heartbreaking. Do NOT miss this!

Rating: 10/10 (29 April 2006)

This film was presented as a real-time story of the events of 9/11/2001, and it was one of the most brilliant films I have ever seen. No big stars, but definitely some familiar faces. Stars might have distracted from this particular story. The terrorists were presented as realistic young men on a mission, driven by their beliefs, trying desperately to keep their courage up. The passengers were realistic people, normal people in an extraordinary situation. This was a very honest view of all the surprised and confused people who were in control, their struggles to communicate, their difficulty getting control over a completely surprising situation. Most notable was the score. Without realizing it, I was on the edge of my seat through the entire picture, even in the very beginning when the mundane activities of loading a plan with passengers, taking off, etc. were recounted in detail. I knew what was about to happen to these people, but it was the score that kept me whipped into a frenzy of dread. I especially admired that no one was made a madman; no one a buffoon; no one a superhero. People were praying, both the hijackers and the passengers alike. People were making phone calls. I felt like I was one of those passengers. What would my message have been to the people at home? Please muster the courage to see this film. It will change you forever.