United 93, which details the story of the fourth plane hijacked on 9/11 that crashed in Pennsylvania, is a powerful, extremely intense and very heart-wrenching film. It plays just like a documentary, without pinpointing villains or heroes. It tells –- or attempts to tell — the story as it happened. It is the story of the tragic deaths of the passengers of United flight 93 who perished due to the acts of kidnappers that believed they were executing a divine mission. I might be mistaken but I have a feeling that the movie might not be shown in the Arab world, as some might be offended by scenes where the kidnappers recite religious passages. Here is what renowned film critic Roger Ebert had to say about this:
The film begins on a black screen, and we hear one of the hijackers reading aloud from the Koran. There are scenes of the hijackers at prayer, and many occasions when they evoke God and dedicate themselves to him. These details may offend some viewers, but are almost certainly accurate; the hijacking and destruction of the four planes was carried out as a divine mission. That the majority of Muslims disapprove of terrorism goes without saying; on 9/12, there was a candlelight vigil in Iran for the United States. That the terrorists found justification in religion also goes without saying.
Most nations at most times go into battle evoking the protection of their gods. But the film doesn’t depict the terrorists as villains. It has no need to. Like everyone else in the movie they are people of ordinary appearance, going about their business. "United 93" is incomparably more powerful because it depicts all of its characters as people trapped in an inexorable progress toward tragedy. The movie contains no politics. No theory. No personal chit-chat. No patriotic speeches. We never see the big picture.
I personally believe the movie should be screened worldwide, as it brings to life the evil face of terrorism that, sadly enough, is still condoned by a small minority. I also found it intriguing that the movie made a point of refuting widely spread allegations that the plane was shot down by the US military. The movie ends with facts proving the plane actually did crash. One fact highlighted in the film is that the military was unaware that United 93 was hijacked until after it crashed. Please bear in mind that director Paul Greengrass is not American. He is British. Meanwhile, Tunisian blogger Leilouta has an interesting post about the conspiracy theories that are resurfacing following the release of the film. She says:
Talk surrounding this movie has brought up many of the conspiracy theories we are so famous for in the Arab world. Specifically the conspiracy that says it was not a plane that hit the Pentagon but some US/Israel plot. Because they didn’t see the plane hit the Pentagon they assume that it must be a conspiracy. My husband even heard this in Tunisia. It also doesn’t help when some French author takes advantage of these views and writes a book to make money and get famous off this tragedy.
Many people in this area know what happened that day because someone they know was on that plane or was on the ground helping with the rescue effort or was in the building. My husband is one of them. A woman from the company he worked for was on the plane. She left behind a husband and two teenage daughters. Before anyone tries to comment with a different theory maybe you could go to a firehouse in Virginia and tell your theory to them or try asking anyone who was at the Pentagon that day.
On the flip side Jordanian blogger Bakkouz is quite angry with the movie. All in all, I would recommend this film in a heartbeat.
Thanks, I was plannig to do so last night, but alas, theatres in connecticut have failed me. I’m sure I’ll find a showing in NY this weekend. Also, babbling is great, keep it coming.
Bakkouz: “I’m not really angered by the movie per se, but by the whole issue of the 911 and its mysterious events, and the presumption that it was a terrorist act to begin with, i am angry at the lies that we are being fed and asked to beleive without any evidence or proof.”
Bakkouz, the only mystery here is how a brain like yours functions, or doesn’t, as is apparent by the nonsense you posted.
Dear Hamako,
I might be mistaken but what I understood from the movie was that it was the air controllers who first realized that United 93 was hijacked. By the time the military was informed the plane had already crashed. Anyway, I think you should watch the movie to understand what I’m babbling about;)
Edit: I thought the military had no idea that the plane was “hijaked” until it hit the ground.
“I suppose they put the Quran and prayer in the movie because it was broadcast, and recorded, over the planes communication to the air traffic controllers.” C. Turner
I thought the military had no idea that the plane crashed until in hit the ground. hmmmmm. I know, I know, that’s besides the point.
Bakkouz, I suppose they put the Quran and prayer in the movie because it was broadcast, and recorded, over the planes communication to the air traffic controllers.
On a different subject, Natasha, where are some pictures from your trip home? I saw the few posted, but lets see more of your homeland, its markets and people…please. Thanks, take care.
I think it is well worth a read to check this link for Neptunus Lex. His description of why he will see this movie has the same ring for why I will see this movie. He has written a profound piece and is quite honest in his approach.
I will see this too, Natasha. But not because you urged me to do so – although your comments are appreciated. I will see this because of what Dave Beamer, Todd Beamer’s father, had to say:
“This film further reminds us of the nature of the enemy we face. An enemy who will stop at nothing to achieve world domination and force a life devoid of freedom upon all. Their methods are inhumane and their targets are the innocent and unsuspecting. We call this conflict the “War on Terror.” This film is a wake-up call. And although we abhor terrorism as a tactic, we are at war with a real enemy and it is personal.
There are those who would hope to escape the pain of war. Can’t we just live and let live and pretend every thing is OK? Let’s discuss, negotiate, reason together. The film accurately shows an enemy who will stop at nothing in a quest for control. This enemy does not seek our resources, our land or our materials, but rather to alter our very way of life.
I encourage my fellow Americans and free people everywhere to see “United 93.”
Be reminded of our very real enemy. Be inspired by a true story of heroic actions taken by ordinary people with victorious consequences. Be thankful for each precious day of life with a loved one and make the most of it. Resolve to take the right action in the situations of life, whatever they may be. Resolve to give thanks and support to those men, women, leaders and commanders who to this day (1,687 days since Sept. 11, 2001) continue the counterattacks on our enemy and in so doing keep us safe and our freedoms intact.
May the taste of freedom for people of the Middle East hasten victory. The enemy we face does not have the word “surrender” in their dictionary. We must not have the word “retreat” in ours. We surely want our troops home as soon as possible. That said, they cannot come home in retreat. They must come home victoriously. Pray for them.”
As for Bakkouz, wake up kid. Only about ten people in the world believe your humourous conspiracy theory – or your “movie”.
I saw this movie and thought it was very well done. It wasn’t political, which I appreciated. I personally know people who were on American Airlines flight 11 and will never forget that horrid day.
I believe that only those on the planes truly know what went on. Nonetheless, the terrorists that caused this are pure evil, and I feel that this movie portrayed those victims on flight 93 as the true heroes that they are.
I’m looking forward to seeing the movie. I hope it comes to Jordan.
Hey there,
I’m not really angered by the movie per se, but by the whole issue of the 911 and its mysterious events, and the presumption that it was a terrorist act to begin with, i am angry at the lies that we are being fed and asked to beleive without any evidence or proof, I shall try to elaborate further;
First the movie, i shall not get into a deep critique and try to analyze the movie scene by scene but lets just look at the first paragraph of the quoted text by Mr. Ebert:
“…and we hear one of the hijackers reading aloud from the Koran” – How exactly did the script writers know that happened? And why was it necessary for the alleged Hijackers to read the Quran aloud and at the very beginning of the movie? it is infact in order to establish a connection between Quran and terrorism and to imprint this fact in the viewers mind througt the whole movie.
“…There are scenes of the hijackers at prayer, and many occasions when they evoke God and dedicate themselves to him” – I fail to see the necessity of these scenes other than to again establish a link between terrorism and islam.
…These details may offend some viewers, but are almost certainly accurate” – hold on, “almost certainly accurate”? what does that mean, as far as i know an event if supported by FACTS can be accurate or inaccuate, but how can it be “almost” accurate? that only means that it is not supported by fact but by speculation, sorry but details built on speculation do not count as accurate. and what does he base his judgment upon? who told him? did he or the script writers manage to communiate with any of the passengers in some mysterious way to confirm these details so as to pass as “almost certainly accurate”?
Sorry but I don’t beleive in specualtion and drama that serves the sole and only pupose of provoking hate against a certain ethnic group, i beleive in fact and proven evidence.
and speaking of fact and evidence, did flight 93 really crash in Pennsylvania? Where are the remains of the plane? have you seen the actual news and media live coverage of the event and the crash site? There are none, no remains, no body parts, no engine parts, no human bodies, not a single drop of blood, just a hole in the ground, we are to beleive that a jet just crashed and evaporated into thin air without leaving any trace at all? this is sceienitify impossible, and this is also the case for the alleged plane that hit the pentagon.
Now i ask you, have you seen the movie i talk about and posted the link for in my blog? i strongly suggest you do, open your eyes to the truth of proven sceintific fact and don’t let the drama of guided media cloud your reason and judgment.
That is all, Thank you and god bless 🙂