Crap, I just realized that I forgot to post yesterday and this being the last week of lent to. Poop. Anyways, I thought I'd talk about a recent movie preview that has been taking some heat. That preview being of United 93, the story of the people on 9/11 who fought back against the terrorists on their plane and brought it down in the middle of a Pennsylvania field rather than it's intended target, which was likely somewhere in D.C.
The recent uproar has been over the fact that some people feel like this movie is coming out "too soon" and that the movie execs are "taking advantage of a national tragedy." While it very well may be true that one of the primary reasons this film was green lit was in order to make money, but quite frankly I don't really care what the execs' motivations are. Did people really point fingers at music execs for producing all of those uber pro-american songs that came out just after 9/11? Or hell, even the people who made the flags that millions upon millions of people were suddently purchasing for their homes, cars, and pets? No, because people felt it was good for the country and quite frankly I think this movie is too.
Who hasn't wanted to know the story of these brave souls? These people who realized what they needed to do to stop a terrible tragedy from becoming even more devastating. We should regal this movie with the same awe that we look at movies about firefighters, policemen, superheroes, or any other type of heroes. This is a story about real life heroes on an event that shook our nation as a whole. These people sacrificed their lives, and I don't view this movie as exploiting that heroism nearly as much as it is putting these brave souls up on the pedastal they deserve. And I still really don't buy that they're really exploiting it. At least no more than movies typically exploit the concept of heroism, which all stories have done since time immemorial. It would be one thing if this movie was going to be a graffic bloodbath film about the horrible deaths of those involved in a catstrophe, but I highly doubt that's the angle this movie is going to take. For one thing I think the producers are too smart to do something that disrespectful, and secondly that's not the better story here. The good story isn't about how they died in the plane crash, it's about how they overcame their advesaries and were able to stop something even more terrible from happening. The American public deserves to see this told and from what I hear this movie was done well and I look forward to it.
As far as the movie being too soon and taking advantage of those who lost their lives, I'd like to point that every single one of the family's of the passengers on that plain said that it was ok to make it. That's pretty damn impressive to me, that it was a unanimous decision on the part of their families. These people see this movie for what it should be seen, not a terrible exploitation of a national tragedy, but the honoring of those who went through great lengths and heroic deeds in order to stop evil.
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
Now with extra California seasonings.
1 comment:
i've been waiting for this movie. this movie truly fits the mold of heroism in an event filled with heroes. the people who died in the WTC towers (the civilians) didnt do anything and i dont see what a huge memorial to them would do. they went to work and died. people die everyday on their way to work, at work, or on their way back. sure it was a huge terrorist event, but that only is circumstance.
now i am in no way mitigating the police officers, firefighters and paramedics who died at the site of the two towers. they did show heroism and deserve to be honored. can you imagine pulling up to huge skyscraper buring up above, probably praying and going in?
but to me, thats the job of a police officer, firefighter and a paramedic. to be there and do that. i'm not saying this to mitigate the sacrifice of the police, firefighters and paramedics but to heighten the sacrifice of the passengers of United 93.
to me, to find out that your airplane is probably now a weapon in a terrorist incident that has resulted in attacks and the do something about it is amazing. they knew their plane was probably going to be crashed and they choose to die standing up fighting back rather than cowering and scared.
this is something movies try and make a big deal about. they would play really dramatic music, have an inspiring speech, and then have a happy ending (usually).
this is real life. i cannot wait for the movie.
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