United 93 (2006)

Such a frustrating disappointment

Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

Blistering performances.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

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.

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.

Cause it spent more time on the ground with the air traffic control than it did with the passengers on United 93 in the first 50 minutes!I was mind-numbingly bored of hearing the traffic control mutter amongst each other air-codes etc and watching blips on radars after just 30 to the point where I wasn't sure if I even wanted to watch more, I however did continue.And luckily enough 50 minutes in director Paul Greengrass finally puts the main focus on what we as viewers came to see and expect from a movie named after a plane; which is a plane and it's passengers.And I have to admit that the second half is actually good, the ending is great even but the fact still remains that the first half was focusing on the complete wrong things for most of the time when it should have put full focus throughout the running time on what truly mattered, the flight and passengers of United 93.So yeah, I still can't recommend the movie for that reason, because a great ending does not take away from the fact that the beginning was really dull you have to look at it as a whole, which I don't think many have considering the enormously current high rating of 7.6/10.Oh and also, Olivia Thirlby has top-billing here on IMDb but she's more or less an extra in this movie and honestly I didn't even notice she was on the plane until 70 minutes in (despite knowing pre-hand she was gonna be) she's basically the designated crier on the plane, which is a shame because I like her.A bigger shame is of course the misguided focus of the screenplay and direction when this story deserved so much better.

As an American girl, everything related to the horrible events of 9/11 is making me crying. Documentaries, movies, photos of people who died that day is tearing me apart.This movie about the heroes of Flight 93, the last plane hijacked by the Al Qaeda terrorists and crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania is particularly moving.Those 36 heroes who sacrificed their life while trying to regain control of the aircraft, saved thousands of people that horrific day. This movie is a powerful memorial and is making us very proud of those anonymous people for what they did for the country.United 93 is also focusing on the people who were on the ground and were witnessing the terrible events which were unfolding that day. While the entire world was watching the tragedy live and trying to make a sense of it, the ATCs, NORAD and FAA officials were struggling to get the situation back into control and despite the incredible confusion going on, did what they could.Some directors could have decided to turn this into a Hollywood movie and exaggerate the facts but Paul Bluegrass decided to stick to the reality and real history as much as he can and we can feel he and his staff made a lot of research to really honor those heroic passengers. This is very respectful and honorable and I'm sure that the families appreciate it a lot.May all those heroes rest in peace and never ever be forgotten.