World Trade Center

[shinerbock]

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.

[PhiPsiRuss]

Originally Posted by xo_kathy

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.

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.

[f8nacn]

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.

[f8nacn]

Originally Posted by PhiPsiRuss

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

[tunatartare]

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.

[shinerbock]

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.

[PhiPsiRuss]

Originally Posted by KLPDaisy

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.

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.

[shinerbock]

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

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by KLPDaisy

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.

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

[f8nacn]

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.

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

Originally Posted by shinerbock

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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!

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

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

Lol, isn't that the dead guy?

[PhiPsiRuss]

Originally Posted by f8nacn

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

No problem. Also, for the record, I wasn't walking up Sixth. I was walking up Hudson St. Brain fart.

[RU OX Alum]

hijack:

Steven Speilberg withdrew from his Alma Mater b/c his film prof. said he would never make it. After Schindler's List came out, he went back, and submitted that film for his course work requirment for his degree.

/hijack.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by RU OX Alum

hijack:

Steven Speilberg withdrew from his Alma Mater b/c his film prof. said he would never make it. After Schindler's List came out, he went back, and submitted that film for his course work requirment for his degree.

/hijack.

That sounds like the Micheal Jordan didn't make his HS basketball team story.

[shinerbock]

Well I'm not talking about box office receipts, I'm talking about the way United 93 was treated by critics. It was like a kid gloves thing, and I just don't get it. I just hope that in WTC they talk about more than just the small story which is the focus of the movie. Like I said about Saving Private Ryan, they were able to do both. I actually like the idea of focusing on a small part of the disaster, but I also know how big movies tend to dominate the memory of an event. I would just prefer the big long-remembered 9/11 movie to be one that is a little more encompassing than this one appears to be. We'll see.