It has been four and a half years since the tragedy of 9/11. There were so many horrifying images that many of us were haunted by as we sat for hours watching the television reports as the days went on.
At the end of this month, the movie “United 93” will be opening in movie theaters and is going to show what happened on the fourth plane that did not reach its target set for Washington D.C. but crashed in Shanksville, Pa.
This movie will portray the real life actions made by those that were brave enough to not just sit back and let the hijackers take over the plane. “United 93” is based off of the phone calls that were made to friends and family of the passengers before the plane went down.
It is very hard for me to decide if I am really going to pay $10 to go see this movie. I think that it is going to be a somewhat educational movie and it will show the audience what happened on Flight 93 but I can’t help but have a sad little ping in my stomach when I think about this.
Sept. 11 was one of the worst things to happen on American soil since the attack on Pearl Harbor. The whole country was affected by it. Now, the entertainment world feels that enough time has passed that they can cash in on this tragedy and make the “big bucks” by selling the story of Flight 93.
The actors that have been cast are not well-known actors. This is supposed to give the audience a feeling of reality so we aren’t seeing Brad Pitt playing the pilot or Julia Roberts playing a passenger. I actually like the fact that they used not-so-famous actors but the point is still the same; it is too soon to be making a film related to the 9/11 tragedy.
Many people think that “United 93” will bring back the idea of patriotism that has become lost in the mist of the war in Iraq and will remind them or the reasons that the United Stated is at war with Iraq. Others feel that this is just a movie that reminds us of that horrible day and that’s it.
I personally do not think I would like to see what happened to the victims of 9/11 up close and personal. These were innocent people that were killed and just because it is a well-known tragedy, it does not mean that the movie industry should be able to profit off of it.
What is the real purpose of showing this movie? What is the point to show what these people went through before their untimely death? So that American’s can remember what happened on Sept. 11? For me, I don’t think those images will ever leave my mind. So why Hollywood should put new images into the mix, I don’t know.
There are those out there that say that there are tons of movies made that show many wars that have been fought over time like the movie Pearl Harbor. Yet there is one huge difference with the 9/11 attacks: Americans were not in a war and not ready for an attack on their people. And for the most part, any move that portrays actual events was longer then four and a half years ago. The victims’ families are still alive and well and are going to have to see their family members being portrayed in their last moments of life.
So I do not think I will shovel out the $10 to see how the entertainment business portrays “United 93.” I will keep the memories I have from Sept. 11, 2001 and not make more by seeing this movie.
Posted to the web by Tim Hague
