The Journal

Issue date: 4/6/06 Section: Opinion/Editorial

Brian Stuckmeyer

Four and a half years after the deadliest terrorist attack in U.S. history, the repercussions of Sept. 11, 2001 are still being felt today.

Whether it's the Patriot Act, President George W. Bush's domestic surveillance program or the U.S. government's efforts to strengthen airplane and airport security, Americans have become accustomed to hearing about and/or dealing with these and other security measures implemented in the wake of Sept. 11.

However, the same cannot be said about revisiting the tragic images and videos recorded during that day.

Case in point: The recent decision by the AMC Loews Lincoln
Square 12 Theater in Manhattan to pull the trailer for the upcoming release of "United 93" after it received complaints from moviegoers who said they found it too disturbing.

On April 28, "United 93," the first Hollywood movie to portray the events of Sept. 11 as experienced by those aboard the fourth hijacked aircraft, is set to premiere in theaters nationwide.

Thanks to the heroic attempt of the flight's 40 passengers to subdue their hijackers, United Airlines Flight 93 was the only plane not to reach its intended target Sept. 11. The aircraft was believed to be headed toward the U.S. Capitol or White House before it crashed in a field outside Shanksville, Penn., shortly after 10 a.m.

Paul Greengrass, who directed "United 93" with the support of the victims' families, said he intends for the film to serve as a tribute to the tremendous courage displayed and ultimate sacrifices made by the flight's passengers.

Although "United 93" certainly won't be the first theatrical movie to depict a national tragedy, the timing of the film's release, combined with its violent and emotional subject matter, may not spell success for it at the box office.

Consider that "Tora, Tora, Tora," the first feature-length film to portray the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, wasn't released until 1970, nearly 30 years after the attack.

On the other hand, "United 93" is set to debut less than five years after the hijacking it focuses on. The shocking and surreal images of Sept. 11 are still likely too fresh in the minds of the American public to want to relive them so soon.

Furthermore, unlike the attack on Pearl Harbor, civilians, not military personnel constituted the majority of casualties Sept. 11. The 40 passengers aboard Flight 93 were ordinary people confronted by an extraordinary and unthinkable situation.

While the sacrifices they made to save others should never be forgotten, the records of their final conversations and actions are perhaps best left in the history books. To reenact their harrowing final minutes on this Earth on the big screen is to reopen emotional wounds that have yet to completely heal.



Brian Stuckmeyer, a senior journalism major, is a staff writer for The Journal.

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