allen-roulston
I give this movie three stars presuming it is a complete work of fiction. We certainly have no idea what happened on the aircraft, if in fact United 93 did crash on September 11, 2001.Why 3 stars? One for a clean sound track. A second for in focus camera work. A third for, dare I say, making me laugh from time to time, by way of peculiar actor performances which were amusing.This movie seems to rely completely upon patriotic support and a desire to honour the people who perished on September 11, 2001. If one takes that out of the viewing experience, and views it as a work of fiction, it remains a bad movie as it doesn't provide the audience with a compelling story. All of the characters are under developed. There is no story line upon which to focus our attention. Worse yet, what is happening over the course of the movie feels arbitrary and without motivation.Example: the four hijackers do not appear to be working together in a well co-ordinated manner. They are presented more as bumbling fools who seem unlikely to have been successful, especially with their very peculiar behaviour prior to launching the hijack attack.The way the passengers were portrayed was, in my opinion, insulting. Four men begin an attack and not one of the passengers close to them responds instictively with a counter attack and the reasoning presented (to not counter attack) is very thin.Over all this is a movie to watch to learn how NOT to make a movie.
jimbo-53-186511
United 93 tells the true story of a plane that was hijacked on September 11th 2001 and the passengers on-board the plane fighting back against the terrorists in order to foil their plans...Given that the majority of the media focus at the time was on the planes that actually crashed into the Twin Towers, this harrowing true story is one that people may have forgotten about or overlooked. Having watched the film, it's not an experience that I'm likely to forget and I'm more than willing to commend the bravery of the passengers for their actions on that fateful morning. However, as a piece of cinema I didn't find United 93 to be entirely satisfying...The film is apparently shot in real-time and presumably Greengrass has done this to make the film feel more realistic and to perhaps draw the audience into the events as they happen. I think part of the problem with this film is that Greengrass has gone a little overboard with finer details - there is about a 30 minute build-up showing people waiting at the airport, waiting to board the plane etc and it's probably past the half hour mark before the plane even takes off. I'm sure in his mind that Greengrass did this perhaps as a way of building suspense, but I just found it a little tedious and unnecessary. Also as the film is called United 93 I did expect the film to focus pretty much all of its attention on that flight. However, on various occasions the film cuts back to various air-traffic control centres with varying threats or actual hijackings taking place. There's nothing wrong with any of this per se, but it does make the film feel a little cluttered and unfocused at times - it's like Greengrass couldn't decide whether to make a documentary about the events of 9/11 or a film about the bravery of the passengers on-board flight UA 93. By trying to do both, the film. feels padded and far longer than it needs to be.
However, once you get past the hour mark, Greengrass does crank up the tension and in the last 20 minutes or so I literally could not take my eyes off the screen. I would still recommend watching this film, but do feel that with a shorter running time and slightly better focus that I may have enjoyed it more than I did.
Leofwine_draca
This real-life thriller chronicles the events inside United 93 on September 11th, 2001 – a day that has gone down in history as one of the biggest tragedies to hit America. Basically, it's a palm-sweating tale of terrorism and hijacking, as innocent passengers get caught up in events that will have devastating consequences. And devastating is the word to describe this movie. For nearly two hours we're subjected to a slow, horrifying build-up telling a story we all know and are aware of, before director Paul Greengrass lets rip with a pulse-pounding, utterly terrifying and at the same time awe-inspiring climax that is the most powerful bit of film I've ever watched – I couldn't breathe, I was openly crying, and I was utterly entranced by this superb bit of filmmaking.Nothing more can be said really, other than that this film acts as a memorial to those on the flight, and that everyone should see it. Acting, technical qualities, and cinematography are all absolutely great, and nothing falls flat anywhere in the movie. Spellbinding, awesome, utterly disturbing, downbeat, and yet uplifting – the cocktail of emotions you'll experience as this film closes is unlike anything you'll have ever felt before. A real trip.
ironhorse_iv
On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, United Airlines Flight 93 was hijack by racial militant Sunni Islamist terrorists, whom intent to use the aircraft as a weapon against the United States. Forty-four people were aboard the plane: 37 passengers, two pilots and five flight attendants. As terrified passengers phoned loved ones, they learned the horrifying outcome of the other hijacks planes and realized they would have to take control of the airplane from their assaulters if they hoped to avoid a similar fate. This is the story of their courage. Directed by Paul Greengrass, and released into theaters five years after the attacks on the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon. The movie tries really hard to dramatically reenacts what happened on the doomed flight that Tuesday morning—as well as depicting the confused air-traffic controllers, military personnel and government officials desperately trying to save the passengers and stop the terrorists. Not only that, but Greengrass and crew, casted a number of largely then-unknown actors and real professionals, then filmed the movie in a Faux Documentary style using separate isolated stages. The final product plays out in Real Time across its nearly two-hour running time. Using the facts that are known, quick cuts and hand-held cameras to create a sense of real-time verisimilitude. United 93 delivers, what might be, said, one of the most historical accuracy film, ever made. Yet, don't be foolish to accept this movie as historical document. Movies are fiction - even documentaries give a particular view of events, and editing can be used to distort the relative truthfulness portrayed. This film is only, almost a historical accuracy masterpiece. However, maybe the film might be, too real, allowing the inaccuracies of 9/11 to accurately portray as well. Rather than stripping down the confusion to make things easier for an audience to follow, all of the misinformed fragments are out there, just as it was in real life due to how rapidly things were unfolding. Different groups referred to the wrong planes by the wrong numbers. There were differing reports on how many planes were out there. After American Airlines Flight 77's impact with the Pentagon, the news reported a fire on the National Mall when there was none. It made the movie hard to follow. Another thing, since the movie is in real time, there is tons of slow & mundane parts that could be cut out, but wasn't, like the boring chitchat between passengers and crew in the beginning. It's also sucks that none of the dialogue given to the passengers were that memorable, outside from the phone calls. Since, there is a large supporting cast with little to no back-story explain in dialogue, it's really hard to relate to some of them. None of them, really stood out. Added the fact, that few of the passengers on the plane's names are mentioned in movie and you get, why I had problem, figuring out who some of these people are. There is also some controversy between some of the family members of the passengers and the investigative officials as to whether the passengers managed to breach the cockpit before the plane crashed. In my opinion, I think the movie depict the right ending. However, I don't believe the way, the movie portray the pilots, Jason Dahl (J.J Johnson) and LeRoy Homer Jr (Gary Commock). I doubt they were killed immediately, seeing how the terrorist need help to gain control of the plane and how to lock the door. While, the movie might seem exploitation, the film was made with the cooperation of all of the passengers' families with their blessing. Yet, there is a few things in value, besides the movie being somewhat a curiosity memorial. About the critics calling this movie, biased American propaganda, I have to say, the film is really, not. The film doesn't really explore the political conflict between the United States Government and Al-Qaeda that much. Nor does the movie depict the attackers as over the top clichés Arab terrorists. Instead, the movie depict the attackers, as deeply misguided religious zealots, who happens to be real human beings as well. Also, to all 9/11 Conspiracy Theorists that believe Sept. 11 was an inside job. It's clear to state out by the research, I done for this report, that United 93 was not shot down by an American aircraft nor safety landed in Ohio. The American Government isn't that strong, to cover all of those inaccuracies. In the end, I can't say, the movie is entertaining. First off, it's really upsetting to watch, no matter, how many times, you watch it. At the time, I first saw this movie in 2006. There is a great deal of discussion about whether America is ready to revisit Sept. 11, 2001. I still, kinda feel that it was too early for a movie to be made, about the subject. Recently rewatching it, I felt the same sense of dread that gripped me then. It's such a downer. Even, the predictable ending is bittersweet, at best. It's still too fresh on the mind of most Americans. Overall: While, United 93 is a story of stomach-wrenching horror and tremendous courage. Knowing the tragic outcome of that horrible day will make you feel depressed. While, I can't recommended others on rewatching it. I can say, at least, keep in mind, that a few people onboard United 93 sacrifice their lives, for the chance that others may live. It is still a powerful, poignant reminder that freedom is not free and every-day life is a gifted, not to be wasted. United We Stand Always & Never Forget.
