UNITED 93

For the entire 90+ minutes, no one in the theater moved, no one made a sound; it was total silence. I’d be hard pressed to recall any movie that gripped an audience like that. It’s remarkable when you consider that each one of us already knew the outcome. Yeah, I knew the outcome yet I was nervous and tense throughout.

I must admit that you have to be in that certain kind of mood to see United 93. Recent events got me plenty in the mood. I was ready to relive the events of 9/11. Five years ago, I was just leaving for my court appearance when American Airlines flight 11 slammed into the North Tower. By the time I got back, I had no idea what had transpired. This movie, in real time, put me right into the thick of it.

I’d read somewhere that the families of United 93’s passengers and crew condoned the movie. After watching it, I can see why. There were no fancy special effects and no Hollywood superstars. Under Paul Greengrass’ direction, the movie put you directly into United’s cabin, cockpit, into the control towers in Boston, New York, Cleveland, and Herndon, Virginia. What took place that day was total chaos, really. How easily the terrorists passed through security, how lost and confused the military seemed to be, how slow information was relayed, and how truly helpless everyone felt.

As I watched, my emotions weren’t any less than five years ago and every year since. I’ve seen the footage seemingly a million times. Yet again, the movie was truly like a nightmare relived up close and personal. I really recommend you go see it or rent it. It reminds us of why we have to go through the pains of travel. It reminds us of the vigilance we felt and should still feel. And it makes us wonder, how we might prevent something like this from happening again in some way or another. It seems inevitable to me. I hope, as a nation, we’re better prepared.