Memorial of brave souls, 'United 93' flies onto DVD

By Jordan Blum

Every so often a film comes along that reminds us how quickly our lives can change and how brave we can be in the face of our demise. United 93 is such a film, but so are the countless other films that it fits in with.

Sept. 11, 2001 was a horrific and monumental day in the history of our country. This film is a Hollywood retelling of that day, and it feels that way. There is really no reason to watch it.

United 93 tells the story of how, on Sept. 11, 2001, the United Airlines Flight 93 airplane was hijacked by terrorists. It was one of four planes hijacked that day but the only one to not reach its destination. Instead, the passengers decided to fight back against their captors and become heroes for their country. Anyone who remembers that day will remember how the flight ended with a crash in Pennsylvania, resulting in the deaths of everyone on board and the mourning of those lost by families.

Instead of holding its audience in suspense with what happens (since all viewers know that part from experience), United 93 focuses on how it happened and why these courageous men and women should be remembered.

Although it had the best intentions, the film comes off as another addition to the huge library of passengers-in-turmoil movies. It really feels like any number of other movies of its type. The fact that it’s based on a true story really has no impact on the viewer during the movie. None of the actors are well known and it is directed by Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Supremacy), who makes it feel like an episode of FOX’s hit television show 24.

The acting itself is about average for this type of movie. The terrorists are first shown as nervous but determined, and they pray a lot. The passengers and airline employees go from being relaxed and joyful to screaming and panicking. We’ve seen it a million times, and all at about the same level of skill. As a real event, it was too awful for words. As a movie, it is generic.

United 93 does have some strong points, though. It is compelling to watch the events unfold all over again. It does spark emotion from the viewer and the closing shot is well done.
As for the problems, they’ve already been stated. This still feels like another Hollywood blockbuster, (only with a little less action). It goes without saying that the events that this film is based on were anything but expected, but the film representation is quite ordinary.

There are three extra features on the single disc widescreen version. The first is entitled “United 93: The Families and the Film.” It is an interesting yet sad retrospective piece, and it is well done. There is also a feature-length commentary with Greengrass, which is very insightful and worthwhile if you’re a fan of the film. Finally, there is “Memorial Pages” which contains biographies of the passengers and crew of United 93. Overall the special features, although few in numbers, are good additions to the disc.

The horrors, shocks and sacrifices of Sept. 11 are captured well in United 93, but at the same time, it does not make for a unique and worthwhile film. Anyone who would watch this knows what happened, and the movie doesn’t give any answers to ease the pain. It merely shows us the events in the form of a cookie-cutter thriller (as any filmed version of that day would be). That being said, the special features that accompany this film are interesting and heartfelt, and those who are already fans of the film will not be disappointed with the DVD release.

For someone who has never seen this movie, feel free to remain that way. For someone who did enjoy the movie and is wondering whether the special features are worth the purchase, indeed they are.