Is it too soon for “United 93” movie?
The movie about United Airlines Flight 93, scheduled to be released on April 28th, has stirred up the debate on whether or not it’s “too soon” for a big screen release of a movie about 9-11.
A theater in New York City even pulled the trailer for the movie (titled “United 93”) after some moviegoers found it ‘too upsetting’:
“I don’t think people are ready for this” theater manager Kevin Adjodha said.
“One lady was crying” Adjodha told Newsweek. “She was saying that we shouldn’t have played the trailer. That this was wrong.”
While I can understand the trailer touching a raw nerve, and would understand why some family members of the 9-11 terrorist attacks would be sensitive about it, the question I have for the rest of the country is “will there ever be a right time?”
My opinion on that is that now is that every day is the right time to remember and focus on the story of Flight 93, and the overall scope of what happened on 9-11. Unfortunately, I think too many people have forgotten or have shoved in the back of their minds what happened that day – some because it’s too painful to think about and others because life has just ‘gone on.’ We need to be reminded often of the painful lessons of that day so we don’t forget for one second what’s at stake in the war on terror.
The movie sounds like one that Hollywood finally got right, because some of the family members of the victims of the United Flight 93 terrorist hijack attack have come out in support of the film:
But Peggy Beamer, whose son Todd Beamer died on United flight 93, said that while she found the movie difficult to watch, it was an important story to tell.
“I think the timing is very good,” she said on Tuesday at a New York press event for the Universal Pictures film. “If it had been one or two years after September 11, it would have been much too difficult.”
Gordon Felt, who lost his brother Edward, said the movie studio had promised to donate 10 percent of box office takings from the opening weekend to a fund to create a memorial for those who died on that flight.
“I don’t think they’re profiteering on our story,” he said, adding that the business of movie companies was to make money.
The producers spent hours talking to the families to produce research the actors used to improvise scenes on the plane during the hijack.
Ms. Underestimated has a write up and video of David Beamer, father of Todd Beamer, Felt, and “United 93” producer Lloyd Levin – all of them were on Hannity and Colmes earlier this evening:
David Beamer and Gordon Felt both talk about how grateful the families were that Mr. Levin and the entire production crew of “United 93” included the families of those on the flight, and said (unlike some Americans) this film NEEDS to be seen! They gave it their wholehearted blessing. Even Alan said he had seen it the night before, saying it was very “compelling.” You could tell, too, that Alan also was moved by what he saw. He said “there were some moments that you couldn’t even look at the screen.”
You can view the video by scrolling down that page.
Also, via WIStv:
It is, perhaps, too real for some, but not for all. Alice Hoagland, for instance, says, “It’s about time.”
Hoagland’s son Mark Bingham was a passenger on Flight 93, “Our family lives September 11th every day of our lives. It’s never going to be too soon for us to see September 11th portrayed on the big screen.”
Amen.
Watch the trailer of the movie by clicking here.
I’ll be seeing it.
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