SYNOPSIS:
On September 11 four planes were hijacked. Three hit their target.
One did not.
Based on the shocking true events of 9/11, UNITED 93 is a powerful
and provocative drama honouring the memory of the 40 passengers
and crew on United Airlines Flight 93, the fourth hijacked plane
on the 11th September 2001. As the hijackers pilot the doomed
flight to their target, the passengers stand as one and find
the courage to fight back.
Unfolding in real time and charting the explosive clash of modern
day and old world, UNITED 93 weaves a gripping story from the
standpoint of the passengers, crew, flight controllers and military
that will live in your memory forever.
MOVIE REVIEW :
We
are going to cut all the unnecessary fluff for this review
and tell this straightforwardly: We hope everyone in this
world would go and watch this film.
Making
a movie about the unforgettable September 11th attacks may
not be the most politically-correct move to some, but English
director Paul Greengrass (The Theory of Flight, The Bourne
Supremacy) tackles the sensitive issue with such realism and
skills, it makes this picture a must-watch.
The
film tells the story of the fourth plane which was hijacked
on the fateful day when the world saw evil’s ugliest
face. While the other three planes crashed into World Trade
Center and The Pentagon, United 93 never reached its target,
thanks to the courage of the 40 passengers on board.
The
story is approached with intense grittiness, and it is definitely
not easy to watch. Right from the start of this 110-minute
movie, everything seems to be chaotic and frenzied. It is
only apt of Greengrass to maintain this mood throughout because
it is only then, that we understand how the system was made
vulnerable in a real-life situation like this.
The
movie wastes no time in explaining all the technical jargons
and terms used in the air control centers. It may frustrate
some viewers, but we thought this would be a more realistic
depiction of the chaos that happened that day.
You
will also see no big stars or familiar faces here. And it
works because it further draws you into the realism of the
movie, how these people are actually people around us, with
everyday details weaved into every one of them.
Unlike
Oliver Stone’s World Trade Center which was released
later, this movie does away with all the sentiments and mushiness
which the topic of terrorism can really do without. The movie
achieves this with its unsettling camera work by Barry Ackroyd
(Just A Kiss, The Wind That Shakes The Barley) and a disturbingly
effective score by John
Powell (X Men:
The Last Stand, Happy Feet).
The
result is an engaging movie which keeps your eyes glued to
the screen despite the discomforting images you are seeing.
What
ultimately makes this movie work is the message behind it.
Of course, some may feel that it celebrates The Great American
Spirit, but at the same time, if you think about it carefully,
it is actually the courageous human spirit that this movie
is reflecting upon. There is attempt to bring out the confusion
and tension felt by the terrorists, but it is a subtle one.
This
is certainly not an entertaining movie, given its disturbing
content and images (hence its M18 rating), but it is absolutely
an important one. Someone has to tell the story of United
93 sooner or later, and we are glad it is told this way.
The
last 30 minutes of the movie are extremely difficult to watch,
as it focuses on the final moments of United 93. But as the
last heart-thumping moments are presented in vividness before
you, you might just feel a lump in your throat.
SPECIAL
FEATURES :
To understand the movie better, the producer of this
DVD gives us some really insightful extra features to make
the affecting viewing experience more complete.
United 93: The Families and the Film –
In this 60-minute documentary, we see how actors who play
the victims on United 93 meeting their real-life counterparts’
families. At first, we thought we couldn’t sit through
15 minutes of this painful viewing experience, but it turned
out that there is still much hope and optimism in these Americans
yet. Also, the segment brings us to a private screening for
these people, where heartfelt emotions and support for the
movie are felt in full force.
Commentary by director Paul Greengrass –
Never have we heard such an intuitive commentary on any disc.
Greengrass tells us how real air traffic controllers, stewardesses
and army officials were cast to make his movie more realistic.
He also shares his views on how systemic control can fail
us, as seen during the September 11th incidents. In the last
few scenes of the movie, we thought we heard Greengrass choking
on his tears because of the powerful images on screen. .
Memorial Pages – Page after page of
pictures, bio-data and write-ups about the victims of United
93 are also included in this Code 3 disc. Written by their
families and loved ones, you can feel the sincerity and commemorative
spirit of this small gesture.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
The
visual transfer will bring you an unforgettable viewing experience
where shaky and trembling camerawork elevates the intensity
of the film. The audio quality on the disc accentuates Powell’s
heavy timpani usage in his music score, and you can also choose
between English, Japanese or Thai Digital Dolby 5.1.
MOVIE
RATING:
 
DVD
RATING:
Review
by John Li
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