reminder for us all...good or bad

Rating: 9/10 (9 August 2006)

I managed to see an advanced screening of this. I remember seeing the trailer for it and wondering if I was prepared for it and if I could bear it. When I read some information on UNITED 93 and how they were being very careful not to "offend" anyone, I had already decided I wouldn't see it. Oliver "history my way" Stone has surprised me before and I thought the idea of doing it from a personal perspective of two survivors might be a good thing. I'm glad I wasn't let down. The movie WILL stir some emotions. I'm sure people will complain that they didn't need to show the jumpers or the blood or the "pepsi commercial" style cut away to the people around the world watching the news, but personally speaking I'm glad it still stirs emotion to see. We can't sterilize the content of what happened that day and still try to feel for what happened. It just doesn't work. The PC crowd will just have to deal with it. It will remind, anger, incite, inspire and move people...as a good story should. I identified most with the marine who just picked up and left everything to go help. That part of the story was for those of us who wished we had done the same. My main issues were the cliché's and the rather plastic portraits of the families waiting to hear news about their loved ones. Cage's character was, well...Cage. He's rather "paper bag" in his alleged serious roles, but the casting of his wife was odd. She was emotionless, even when she was supposed to be crying over the whole thing. All in all I enjoyed this movie, but don't know if I could endure watching it again too soon. Having lived and played in NYC for so long, it was tough enough to watch the first time. Having wanted to rush home and help, I was thankful for the marine's character. Having watched it all transpire, I was thankful it was made. It will anger some and that may be a good thing. Some seem to have forgotten and projected their own issues on the whole event. Some may even be incited to do "stupid" things when reminded, but that we're reminded is what's important.