United 93 DVD > Reviews > The Most Scary Film You Will Ever See

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Indifferent to it
Story	Satisfactory
Characters / Performances	Outstanding
Special Effects	Good
How does it compare to similar films?	Not applicable

Advantages:	A gripping account of the horrible events
Disadvantages:	Very hard to watch, and I feel it's too soon

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

It’s hard for me to write a review on United 93. That may sound selfish, or ignorant, but I can imagine that the seven other Ciao users before me have felt the same. I have looked around the site at other United 93 reviews for ideas on where to even start writing about this film, but I’ve decided that it just has to be written in my own way. Before I begin on the positive side of the film, I think the biggest negative is that it’s just too soon. For those who don’t know, United 93 is a film based on the events of the 11th September 2001 terrorism attacks in America. Six years on, people are still affected by this tragedy. Also, the film was shot in 2005, just four years after the shocking events. The family members of each victim on board flight 93 were asked if they wanted this film to be made, and so this is a good thing, but for everyone who was effected by the horrible events, the grief must still be too near.

The film begins with the terrorists in their hotel room before hi-jacking the planes. They say “It’s time”, hug, then leave the room. The film then follows the various airports as they discover what has happened to two of their planes - They have been crashed into the World Trade Centre. Things get worse as they learn of two more planes that have been hi-jacked, one has been crashed near the Whitehouse, and the other, United flight 93, is unaccounted for. We as viewers can see what is going on inside the plane, as four terrorists murder the pilots, a passenger, and an air hostess, and hi-jack the plane.

Watching the film isn’t very exciting, it’s more terrifying. The film is in real-time, and along with the shaky camera work, this makes you feel as though you are on the plane. When you are watching the film, you feel almost guilty, because as you watch the people on the plane getting their breakfast, you know what’s about to happen, and they don’t. Another horrible thing about watching the film is that you almost believe that things are going to turn out okay for the passengers.

Everyone remembers the tragic events of 11th September. I remember I was in school at the time, and the teachers retreated to televisions, as did us pupils. I remember watching as the first tower collapsed live on TV. And I remember it was one of the most horrific things I had ever seen. This impact is recreated in United 93, so it’s very hard to watch. I bought the film today after much indecision. I remember when I first heard that they were making two films about the events, and I don’t think I ever wanted to see them. Seeing it in the shops today for a pretty low price I somehow decided that I wanted to see the film. But it was a very hard decision.

The actors are very good. Each actor has a real life person to portray, and they realise that this is a huge task. All of them pull it off very well though, and this also makes the film hard to watch, because the actors are very convincing. It's a very scary film, and if it wasn't a true story, it would probably fall into the horror genre.

On the front of the DVD case there is a white silhouette of a plane with the film’s tagline which reads “On September 11 four planes were Hijacked. Three hit their targets. One did not.” Also on the white plane is some quotes from different sources:

“A Monumental Achievement” - Peter Travers, Rolling Stone.
“Astoundingly Intense” - Dan Jolin, Empire.
“Powerful & Emotional” - Richard Galpin, Arena.
“Unmissable” - Richard Corliss, Time.

In the background of the DVD case, there are various screenshots from the film in different brown squares. On the back, the DVD description reads:

“Based on the shocking true events of 9/11, United 93 is a powerful and provocative drama honouring the memory of the 40 passengers and crew on United Airlines Flight 93, the fourth hijacked plane on the 11th September 2001. As the hijackers pilot the doomed flight to their target, the passengers stand as one and find the courage to fight back. Unfolding in real time and charting the explosive clash of modern day and old world, United 93 weaves a gripping story from the standpoint of the passengers, crew, flight controllers and military that will live in your memory forever.”*

The DVD also includes three extras. The first of these is an emotional account of how the various families of the victims felt on the 11th September. Also in this documentary, the actors visit the family of their character, and most of them get very emotional. The families were also shown United 93 before it’s release. This was mostly because the film was more for them, than for us, the general public.

There is also a feature length commentary from director Paul Greengrass, which proves to be very informative and reliable. The final extra is the memorial pages. These are the biographies and memories of all 40 victims, and some of them can be very beautiful and sad to read.

Overall, United 93 is a powerful, yet horrible film. My rating of the film wasn’t based on how much I enjoyed is, but rather how much I appreciated it. I would recommend it, as it shows you just how much grief and sorrow was experienced at the hands of evil terrorists, still at large today. The film is also a painful warning to us today. History has a habit of repeating itself, and hopefully we will all be a little more prepared next time.

Cert: 15

*United 93 DVD. 

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