"United 93" is a powerful and emotional film that stays loyal to the events and people involved in the September 11th terrorist attacks.

Rating: 7/10 (5 May 2006)

"United 93" is the first big screen movie version of September 11, 2001. The film focuses on the entire terrorist attack however its main focus is flight 93 which was the last plane that the terrorists took over. This film shows what happened on that unforgettable day and how one flight of incredibly brave people stood up for themselves in an attempt to save their lives. A respectful and powerful film ensues
This is probably going to be one of my shortest reviews ever because everyone in the world knows of September 11, 2001 and this film just basically tells the story of one flight and the people on board who stood up against the terrorists in an attempt to save their lives. With that being said, I will admit this movie was a lot more powerful than I believed it could be. The image of the two planes crashing into the Twin Towers is a powerful image, but at the same time it is overused and I liked that this film didn't make the Twin Towers its main focus.
What I did like is that the film focuses on all the events of 9/11 however the main focus is on this United 93 flight. What this film did was it took you inside this flight and showed all the events that went on. From the four terrorists involved to the all 40 people who were on the flight. The story is very powerful and dramatic yet very respectable for those who lost their lives in this flight.
The thing that made this film work the best is probably the no name cast because it made the film feel more authentic and believable. This is why I am having a problem with the second 9/11 film because it's being directed by Oliver Stone and starring Nicolas Cage. This film worked for a number of reasons but one of the main reasons it worked was because of the no name cast and a director who very few people know about. This really did make an impact. I bet you watch this same movie with Hollywood celebrities in place of the no name cast and you will feel like you're watching a totally different movie. That's why I predict the Oliver Stone project will fail.
Another thing I liked about this film was that the director and writer Paul Greengrass took the time to ask the family members about whether or not he should do the film. And after he got permission from the family members, he did his research on the subject. The problem with many films that are based on true events and that Hollywood creates are very far-fetched and not like the actual event however with "United 93" I felt it was very realistic and very loyal to actual events. I am not saying that some of it wasn't probably thrown in for a dramatic effect but for the most part since the director did his homework and asked family members, I feel it's a generally a fact based film.
In conclusion, I really can't say anything bad about "United 93" because it was a powerful, respectable, and emotional film based off of the tragic events. I think this is a film that everyone should see and it will probably be a film that will be shown in history classes for many years to come. I can't say that I loved this film because it's not that type of movie. I can't picture having someone say wow I loved that movie, lets watch it again soon. It's a great movie based on a dramatic piece of History that has changed the world forever. It's a must see for everyone.
MovieManMenzel's final rating for "United 93" is a 9/10.