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October 21st 2006
(0) Sidenote: United 93
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I’m not going to make a habit of making these notes, but I just needed to get this one out. I’ve just finished watching ‘United 93‘ which is a film documenting that fateful day of September 11th 2001 but focusing on the United Airlines flight 93 that crashed outside Shanksville, Pennsylvania on that day. The film documents how the passangers of the forth plane to be hijacked fought back against their hijackers and refused to go quietly.
Although you know the dreadful fate of the passengers and the other planes that are referenced in the film, I was on the edge all the time with my hands tightly bound together. I was immersed into the gravity of the situation the film was portraying and for some reason I was expecting, hoping that the outcomes of the different events would be different - I wanted them to be different. The film is simply heart-wrenching. It shows emotions of all that were involved on that day from air traffic controllers to military personal and their reactions. Right until the end I was gripped by the scenes. Again, although I knew what was going to happen next, I waited impatiently to hear the answer. The scenes onboard the plane were surreal. The reactions, emotions, movements and feelings of the passengers and hijackers could be seen, heard and felt. The film portrays it as it was. The hijackers were nervous, sweating but composed. The film didn’t make me hate them, but when the time came for the passengers to revolt, I will admit, I wanted the passengers to succeed by any means. Near the end, a scene where the hijackers are praying cuts to the passengers also praying - I think this is a very moving scene. Both groups are talking to their God for the same reasons but because of different circumstances.
This film is one of the very best I’ve seen in a long while. It’s moving, emotional, detailed, graphic and honourable at the same time. It reminds us that 5 years on from a turning point in history that although a small group of people wish to take our freedom, our values and our liberties away, we must always fight them, always resist even if it means the worst. We must must never use their own tactics against them, never stoop to their level. Right up until the end of the film, the passengers resisted, fought back. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; every one of those who lost their life on September 11th 2001 shall be remembered throughout history and those who fought back as brave and honourable individuals. Anyone who has been killed or injured in any terrorist attack shall be remembered - maybe not by name - in some way.
Watch ‘United 93′ regardless of anything you believe. Put aside any beliefs you have about that day, throw away any prejudices you have for just one hour and fifty one minutes. You won’t regret it.