World Trade Center
 

Saw a commercial for this movie last night. It comes out in August. Don't know how I feel about that. September 11 didn't happen all that long ago and some people are still dealing with it. Here is a link to the movie page on IMDB. Any thoughts on this? Is any one planning on seeing it?

There was a preview for it when I went to see Pirates 2 this weekend. I feel like it's too soon. I don't think I'll be seeing it.

Reminds me of discussions revolving around the movie United 93. Anyone here know how that one did? Perhaps it was successful enough (and was relatively well-received instead of chastized) that the producers of WTC thought the timing was ok.

I think another problem may be that if the movie comes out in mid August, it will still be in theaters for the 5 year anniversary of September 11. To a lot of people that would just be like putting salt in their wounds.

I think a lot will depend on how tastefully it's done.

It's based on a true story right? (I think that's what I heard from the previews) If so, I think it is a fitting tribute to the men and women in uniform who fought for their lives and others'. I think seeing it will make people appreciate the heroes even more.

I was here when it happened, and while I didn't work downtown (I was in midtown) nor did I have anyone close to me die, it was still a pretty horrible day for me.

That said, I think given the actors and director, it will be very well done. I also think the fact that it's about 2 cops who went in, helped save lives, and themselves were able to fight to stay alive and be rescued, will make it much different than United 93.

Certainly for some people who lost their loved ones it may be hard, but for many of us it will be interesting to see. I don't think it's too soon. We have to move on but always remember - this film may help a lot of people do that.

Yes Pm Mama. This movie is based on a TRUE story.

A plane really did fly into a building in New York. That was true.


Everything else is, " Ooooh, America...FUCK YEAH. Lets make some money and make up a story that could possibly true, but doesn't HAVE to be true"

Movies like this are so stupid. I hope it gets shitted on. I can't believe Ben Afflack or however you spell his name isn't in this movie. Looks like a movie he'd be all over.

Bobby - it's about 2 cops who did survive. It's the true story or them chillin' in the ruble till someone came to get them.

Is it? Then I stand corrected! My bad Pm Mama!

I think it looks terrible. I don't really think its "too soon," people can choose not to see it if they wish. People have been making art about the tragedy since October of 2001, so I don't think thats the problem. Now I didn't see United 93 or whatever that movie was, but all accounts said it was very moving extremely tasteful. Not to mention being based on what we believe to be reality. Unfortunately,World Trade Center will star big name actors, and I highly doubt the movie will be without additional dramatization. I'm of the idea that the tragedy should be spoken of, should be shown, and should be reflected in all sorts of art. What I don't like is turning it into some romanticized hollywood theme, where actors are given the noble position of playing real life heroes. The last thing this country needs are actors and actresses replacing the face of everyday heroes, especially with the hollywood community doing do little for this country.

I agree with that.

For some, never will be too soon. I suspect enough time has passed for most.

It's a little like the theatre department in our kids former high school choosing not to do the musical Blood Brothers in which one brother kills another. They said it was due to Columbine, although it was several years later -- and the story really didn't relate to the event at all.

There really is no "right" amount of time to wait. No matter who is first, there will be criticism.

I do hope it is tastefully done.

I saw a commercial for it this week while in Vegas. I thought it actually looked really good.

I'm actually looking forward to seeing it. I think it will have a different reaction than United 93, mainly because we knew that there would be no "happy ending" for those people where this one, we know that these two cops are going to make it out.

Question: My mom and I were talking about the movie and she said that she thought one of the cops recently passed away, does anyone know if this is true or not?

I am actually really looking forward to this movie -- can't promise I will see it in the theater, but it does look tasteful by the previews.

Well said, DeltAlum.

I just saw the A&E bit on the two firemen (they were/are with the Port Authority), and they seem very pleased with it, as does their coworkers. If they can live with it, I'm really hoping it IS tasteful. I plan to see it.

This looks very promising. I was home that day, a half-mile north of the World Trade Center. The trailer reminded me of a lot that I saw, felt and smelled that day. It seems tastefully done, but we won't know until it comes out. My only problem is that Maggie Gyllenhaal is in it. She made some reprehensible remarks at the TriBeCa Film Festival that implied that 9-11 was America's fault.

I have a good friend (former NBC Tech Manager) who was officed probably fairly close to where you live.

He is, to be kind, overweight.

He told me once that he "ran" over to FDR and then all the way North to (probably) 42nd and to Grand Central to get out of Manhattan.

I'm amazed he lived through it.

Tasteful or not, what bothers me is that there will be actors and directors, etc. who will be profiting from this. Unless all the actors did everything for free, and all the proceeds go to something, it's difficult for me to be ok with it...

Maybe it's just the "too soon to be profiting from it" thing... cause there are plenty of historical or "based on a true story" movies that I have seen and enjoyed... I dunno. It's just different.

I understand your feeling, but the same thing could be said about almost any movie that is based on fact -- or even semi based on fact.

<--- That's why I said that at the end. I realize it can be said, but like I said, for me... it's just different

I understand your point. I sorta disagree, but I do respect it.

When I was a Freshman, everyone in Arts and Sciences had to read a book called Paula by Isabelle Allende. I HATED the book and truly felt like the author was profiting from her own daughter's death.

So, I dunno.

I believe it was a couple of weeks ago either NBC or ABC did a special on the release of this movie and it showed both officers alive and well. They were on the set of the movie almost everyday helping make sure it was as accurate as possible.

Thanks for the information!

My brother was in Manhattan that morning and let me tell you how scared I was! Luckily he's okay, but he can't talk about it, much less watch a movie about it, and I don't think I could either. It's just too personal for us.

We were all affected by the tragic events of 9/11 in some form or fashion. Either way, if they can make movies such as Amistad, Rosewood, Schlinder's List, Glory...or any other movie that reflects and causes one to remember events recorded in history are fine with me...and of course, because Hollywood Directors, writers, actors and actresses are working on it, they should get paid...it is their job! We can't take that away from them nor should we act like they shouldn't touch it (by reenactments).

We have "free will"...and whether or not one views this movie, is entirely their choice!

I saw the trailer for this and it brought tears to my eyes...From the preview, it looks like it was done decently as not to upset or offend anyone.

When I was working at the UN, which was a secondary 9/11 target I'm told, it was most interesting talking to the engineers I was supervising since they are among the folks who were/are sometimes asked by world media "clients" to stay on duty during drills.

There was an evacuation drill while I was there, and when our people asked me what they should do, I told them to get the hell out of the building.

NOW!

I felt kind of sorry for anyone trying to drive up 1st Avenue while those buildings emptied out and everyone crossed the street.

I haven't seen any of the other movies on your list, but Schindler's List to me was an art piece- more documentary style then Hollywood Blockbuster. I know the movie did well, but it seemed to be sort of an icing on the cake as opposed to this WTC movie that's definitely made to be a scentsational Blockbuster type.

Right, but as I mentioned, I was in Manhattan that morning, too. I can talk about it fine and am looking forward to the seeing the film.

I saw Nicholas Cage on Today this morning and he said something along the lines of "Some people will decide not to see it and that's okay." Wasn't pushing it down your throat like "You should see it and then decide" which I thought was cool.

The movies listed were based on real life events...as is the WTC movie! I don't believe that they are trying to desensitize (hopefully that's spelled right) this movie or truly make it into a "typical" Hollywood movie.

I hate the notion of this as a Hollywood blockbuster. I'm making no judgement about whether they should do it or not, but it simply bothers me to see big name actors working for mega directors in a romanticized film about American tragedy. I'd much rather see a documentary film with compiled footage of the actual event. I feel at times that the sheer brutality of this event is slipping away from the American memory, and I think blockbuster type films like this don't help. I also really don't want people to remember the 9/11 heroes, and picture Nick Cage. As I mentioned before, God knows our hollywood celebrities don't deserve any honor such as that.

Same here. What a lot of people don't think about is that some people, like myself, my mother, and my sister, all lived so close to the World Trade Center, that we were living in the Frozen Zone for several weeks. We had no hot water for almost a week and no phone service for a few weeks, but no one dared to complain because that was just an inconvenience. We were alive. It was sort of like living under martial law because no one was allowed in without ID proving that you lived there. Also, that huge cloud of debris that you see at the end of this trailer contained a lot of nasty stuff that might have health repurcusions for us, and tens of thousands of others, in the future. I remember as I evacuated the area on Sixth Avenue at the Holland Tunnel, I heard a rumble. I turned around and saw the second tower come down. I saw a huge amount of stuff get projected into the air. I would turn back to look as I was walking back uptown. Within a minute or so, there was so much debris in the sky that it was visually possible for the Twin Towers to be standing, but completely obstructed from view by this enourmous cloud. Of course, they were gone. The cloud shown in the trailer doesn't seem as massive, but that's only because the perspective is very different.

I appreciate that this movie is coming out because its imperative that we never, ever forget what happened on that day. I really don't care that several billion dollars worth of property was destroyed. Its the lives that were lost that's important.

It might be painful for some people to watch this movie, but they need to get past that. Immediate family members, of the innocent people who were killed, went through hundreds of hours of hearings and committee meetings to try to bring some kind of closure for everyone. It should not be that big of a deal to spend two hours watching a movie in an air conditioned theater to help keep the memory alive.

I'm sure Nicolas Cage embraced this role with respect and dignity...and from previous post readings, those who were actually there during 9/11 helped with the making of this film. Films like this (as mentioned before) do not desensitize or degrade actual events, they bring remembrance to important events in history.

Besides who has the right to say who has an honor and who doesn't. You don't know what these actors and actresses went through in preparation and during the filming of this movie. You don't know their personal connections and/or interest in the events of 9/11 and what impact it had on their lives or even their families lives. You can't make a judgment to say that they don't deserve an honor to serve in this capacity when it is their job...just like whatever it is that you do, it's your job!

Also, this film is not going to cause people to forget about what happened, people make that decision by themselves...they choose to forget, yet those impacted will always remember.

I definitely appreciate your post! It brings perspective for someone who has actually lived in and worked past...up close and personal!

As long as the movie is accurate, then I don't have a problem with. However, in the past, movies that have been made about historical events have oftentimes been dramatized or exaggerated. Many Holocaust survivors who were rescued by Schindler said that the movie was not accurate in its depiction.

My concern is not over those closely associated to 9/11. There is no way those people could ever forget the horror of that day. I'm talking about everyone else, those who dont remember it every day or see the reminders all around them. I don't want them to flash back to Nick Cage or Maggie Gyllenhall (sp) when they think about that day. Another thing I question is why this movie is being embraced so much more than United 93. I thought that was a great movie, it was truthful (to what we think happened), it was realistic, and it wasn't romanticized. It even starred unknown people, and had the approval of every passenger's family. I guess I'm just of the camp who thinks we should watch the disaster every day on tv. Americans have a tradition of softening things up, and this is one thing I think should be portrayed in all of its horrific reality. Note, I'm not necc against this movie, I just wish the big blockbuster film about the event would be a broader portrayal of what happened. Basically, its how I feel about Pearl Harbor. The movie ignored the feelings and fear surrounding WWII, and instead focused on a drama between a small group of people, with the event in the background. Hopefully I'll be wrong about the movie, I think there is a middle ground you can use. For example, Saving Private Ryan did a good job focusing on a small story of the war, but still at times attended to the entire war as well.

I wouln't be at all surprised if Schindler's List was inaccurate. However, if that movie never came out, how many people would know anything of the story?

As far as 9-11 goes, people need to remember that TriBeCa, the neighborhood immediately north of the WTC (and where I lived) has an enormous amount of entertainment industry executives and actors who love there. Also, there is a lot of cinema industry there. Unlike with other tragedies, this one will be dramatized by people who were there, and who lived through it.

There will be documenteries. I remember, for weeks, people walking around TriBeCa with hand held movie cameras. I hope that Ken or Rick Burns make such a film.

Hopefully the guy who made Grizzly Man won't do one. He's terrible.

It didn't seem to shorten the line to put a rock on Schindler's grave any.

Exactly...these people have every bit a right to film their experiences as they deem fit.

If people don't remember about 9/11 prior to this movie, more than likely, they are going to be the ones that will see something else!

More lives were impacted through the World Trade Center than United 93...so thus, WTC would be embraced on a different level!

I think that's a little overboard to see it everyday, even that would be too much.

Without seeing it, you don't know what they are going to show and what they aren't...basically they can't account for every single aspect of what happened that day!