Blog Number Thirteen: "United 93"

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*Quote of the Day

"May all who visit this place remember the collective acts of courage and sacrifice of the passengers and crew, revere this hallowed ground as the final resting place of those heroes, as reflect on the power of individuals who choose to make a difference."

- The Flight 93 National Memorial mission statement

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The crew and I went for a bit of a field trip this afternoon to escape the Batcave. We saw "United 93," written, directed, and co-produced by Paul Greengrass. Most of the crew were, needless to say, apprehensive about seeing the movie. I was the only one really gung-ho about seeing the flick.

Before the movie, just walking into the theater was an experience. There was a somber, almost reverent mood about the patrons. One man, with a think New York draw, says to the woman sitting next to him, "I dunno if I really want to see this now that I'm here. Going through it (the tragedy 9/11) and seeing it happen was devastating enough."

The theater goes dark and the movie starts...with no previews. Three times during the movie, the man quoted above left the theater. After the movie was over, the audience said nothing. It seemed, as though, everyone was walking out in slow-motion. Not a sound, not a cell phone, not an empty soda tub slurped on the way out. The man quoted above was now joined by this woman and three other people; they were visibly emotional and discussing the movie. I asked the man if he had any relatives die in the tragedy and he gingerly said, "Yeah, my brother was in the first Tower."

I repectfully thanked him and left.

It was quiet in the car on the way back from the movie, no one said a thing. After popping open a beverage and quietly reflecting on the movie, we all started to cry. Even me.

This movie, as a general consensus, is about individuals who, for one day...sacrificed their own lives and came together as a group, as Americans, and helped the common good. This movie does not, I repeat does not, look into conspiracy theories or place blame for inactivity. Subsequently, this movie depicts the men who took flight 93 over as men who were simply following orders, not as crazed, stereotypical lunatics.

**As Roger Ebert said in his review of "United 93," 'To watch "United 93" is to be confronted with the grim chaotic reality of that autumn day in 2001. The movie is deeply disturbing, and some people may have to leave the theater. But it would have been much more disturbing if Greengrass had made it in a conventional way. He does not exploit, he draws no conclusions, he points no fingers, he avoids "human interest" and "personal dramas" and just simply watches.'

We should never forget what happen on that fateful day in 2001.

We should always remember that on that day, 44 people sacrificed their way of life to save a a much larger way of life...the Amercian way of life.

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*This quote was from the Flight 93 National Memorial website. If you would like to donate, please visit the website for the National Park Foundation for more information.

**This quote was taken from Roger Ebert's movie review site; it is linked above.