Neptunus Lex

30 responses so far ↓

• 1 ManlyDad // Apr 3, 2006 at 9:16 am

  December 7, 1941 lives in infamy after 65 years, as it should. Some feel that September 11, 2001 should be forgotten after just a few years, or at least minimized. Those are people who choose to put their head in the sand, and imagine the world to be a safer place. It is not a safe place, and if we refuse to face up to the danger we will lose this war through appeasement.

  I have compassion for those for whom the pain is still too great, but we should not ignore 9/11 or else countless others will experience greater pain and loss.

  The Flight 93 story has been on cable television without controversy (to my knowledge). It looks like this might be a higher-quality production, though, and might stimulate stronger emotions. As well as a nationwide discussion on the war on terror that some would prefer not to have?

• 2 BizzyBlog.com » The Negative Reaction to the United 93 Trailer Is Contrived // Apr 3, 2006 at 9:31 am

  [...] Also: Insurgent Sarcasm, Neptunus Lex. [...]

• 3 Counter Revolutionary // Apr 3, 2006 at 9:35 am

  Not too soon! Our guard is being lowered because of the constant drumbeat of antiwar propaganda. A reminder may save some lives.

  How? Anything that convinces our enemies to back down is good. A movie that stirs/changes the rhetoric, even for a short while, from the constant antiwar crap may be good for us, and change the message to our enemies.

  Why do I say this? I am convinced we will go absolutely nuts if we are attacked again, and the ME will pay terribly. Innocents here and there may be saved.

• 4 FbL // Apr 3, 2006 at 9:52 am

  I’m not sure what I thinkj about the movie because it provokes very strong feelings in me. My first reaction when I heard a movie would be made obout 9-11 was, “No!!!” It somehow seems wrong, but not because it’s “too soon.”

  I think maybe I don’t trust Hollywood to do it right. I mean, if this story is framed in terms of “The Heroes of Flight 93″ maybe I’ll be okay with it. But somehow this whole idea just doesn’t sit well with me… I can’t articulate it though.

  I’m reminded of the graphic footage I saw in high school of conditions when the concentration camps of WWII were liberated. It has stuck with me for nearly two decades now, and I have no desire to see anything like it again. I think I feel similarly about things surrounding 9-11: I think they should be widely shown/available, but I’m not going to seek them out myself. It’s still too horrifying to me.

  I can’t begin to imagine myself wanting to see this movie. Somehow the idea of seeing a movie–something that has always been ascapism for me–about 9-11 just doesn’t feel “right.”

• 5 Jason // Apr 3, 2006 at 10:24 am

  Odd how we “have” to see crap like Farhenheit 9-11 or Syriana but God forbid not something that will help us remember.

• 6 Ivandenisovich // Apr 3, 2006 at 10:36 am

  My first reaction was “overdone.” We have already seen/heard everything about 9/11. For me 9/11 has a very personal connection; my sister was in the world trade center during the attack. She made it out, but for several agonizing hours, we did not know that. Many of her co-workers did not. It was a horrible, horrible day.

  I watched the trailer, I don’t think I will watch the movie. I don’t know if it is too soon for everybody else, but it is too soon for me.

• 7 Eric // Apr 3, 2006 at 11:49 am

  Don’t get me wrong - I’m all about remembering. However, I have a tough time looking at even the still photos of the World Trade Center with smoke billowing out and I don’t think there’s any way I could, nor would want to, watch an entire movie about it.

  On a side note, could Mr. Driscoll have written a more condescending column? Yeesh.

• 8 Padraig // Apr 3, 2006 at 12:29 pm

  Too soon?! I say too late. But reactions can differ. Like Ivandenisovich, I had family members in the WTC on 9/11 and I have worked with several people who lost family members. The opinion amoung these people is split; however, most believe too many people have forgotten what happened that horrible day and we need to be reminded.

  Every lesson I had in school about Pearl Harbor and the Holocaust ended with the phrase “never again”. If we put 9/11 in the back of our minds we will not be able to say “never again”

  Of course, I say this not having seen the movie and assuming Hollywood actual presented the facts and circumtances correctly and fairly. Trailers are not always true reflections of the movies.

• 9 Counter Revolutionary // Apr 3, 2006 at 12:32 pm

  Not too soon, and as I said earlier well needed. I will see the movie. My own 9/11 experience was to have the plane pass over my building, hear the secondary explosions, and watch the smoke from the Penatagon. All of this while watching the Towers in the news.

  My memories are vivid, but the one that sticks with me was the next day. Although the bulk of my agency did not work in the Pentagon, we had many assigned and more over for meetings. Our first act after getting back was to count noses to see if we had lost anybody. Not the usual start to our bureaucratic morning.

• 10 badbob // Apr 3, 2006 at 12:44 pm

  Jason says- “that will help us remember”.

  Fbl says- “I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢m reminded of the graphic footage I saw in high school of conditions when the concentration camps of WWII were liberated.”

  Ivan says- “but it is too soon for me.”

  To some degree, I agree with all the sentiments above but when I am reminded of how far we as a country have gone since 9-11 in forgetting makes me say the time is right..if it’s done honestly with no agenda..as a statement. Never forget.

  Especially when the threat to America still exists. I say go for it.

  B2

• 11 SoCal Pir8 // Apr 3, 2006 at 3:10 pm

  To never forget, we have to constantly remember. Should be require viewing.

• 12 Chapomatic » Ready Or Not // Apr 3, 2006 at 4:45 pm

  [...] Lex asks for our thoughts on whether we’re ready for a movie about Flight 93. [...]

• 13 Jeff // Apr 3, 2006 at 5:05 pm

  My memory of that day is waking up in the early afternoon (I worked nights) and standing out on the porch. My roommate came out and said something to me about planes being flown into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. I said something along the lines of “No kidding?” and didn’t think much of it… for some reason it just didn’t.. register. Then, a few minutes later, I went back indoors and sat down at the computer. I went to cnn and my heart stopped. My roommates words came back and hit me like a ton of bricks.

  I agree with those who say it is not too soon for this movie. I think that every time someone asks why our are over there, someone should cue that 9/11 video to start playing.
  “That. Is. Why.” I also understand those who are skeptical about how such a movie will turn out. Sometimes Hollywood gives us tripe. But then, sometimes Hollywood gives us “Saving Private Ryan”, “Blackhawk Down”, or “Band of Brothers.”

• 14 dick // Apr 3, 2006 at 5:19 pm

  To those who think it is too soon, you evidently were not there that day. I was running late to work that day or I would have been right under the WTC at the time the plane hit the building. My best friend’s son had just started work for my company in another location. His previous job had been as shift manager of a bank on the 65th floor of the WTC and his entire staff was killed that day. Other friends had many friends killed. I live in Queens close to the fire department and the police department. There are still memorials outside some of the fire stations even now and there were photos on the telephone poles for over a year after the crash looking for information about a loved one. The ones who think it is too soon are just trying to sublimate the whole idea of our being attacked on our own territory.

  We were villanously attacked on our home territory and we should never forget it and never let it go. Refusing to look at it or not letting the photos taken that day be shown in the papers while showing over and over and over the photos of Abu Ghraib just show how deluded our media really is.

• 15 Will // Apr 3, 2006 at 6:04 pm

  Not too soon — and as one who was in the Pentagon, felt the hit and building shake as what remained of Flight 77 passed underneath me and wiped out 1/3 of my shipmates who were in the Navy Command Center, I will never forget — ever. Nor shall I stand by and let what happened that day be relegated to the land of “well, let’s just put that awful day behind us and hope it never happens again.”

  “Never again”

  - Will

• 16 Counter Revolutionary // Apr 3, 2006 at 6:12 pm

  Well said Will. Lex, is this what you expected?

• 17 dwas // Apr 3, 2006 at 7:24 pm

  I will go see the movie..for the same reason I visit the USS Arizona, and the Punchbowl each time I am in Hawaii..to honor the lost, and remind myself what happens when we let our guard down..

  Old tincan sailor..

• 18 Uncle Mikey // Apr 3, 2006 at 7:52 pm

  Not too soon. I’m worried we’ll be seeing the real thing again before long, frankly, and anything that will slap us into reality about this conflict is a good thing.

• 19 lex // Apr 3, 2006 at 8:32 pm

  Actually, this is about what I expected. Not sure that we represent a random sample of the blogosphere.

  Only solution is to let the market do its customary magic! Let them as want to see it, see it. And them as don’t? They can watch summat else.

• 20 Oldtom // Apr 3, 2006 at 10:51 pm

  I’m late again.

  Guess I missed the pogroms.

  Anything that reminds us of what was done to us, who we’re up against and the need for cold resolve is overdue.

  God knows what Hollywood will do to this. Hope it’s not a post-modern, multicultural excuse for the attacks. I think we should have annual specials on TV, that show the jumpers, the fires and play the tapes. Never happen with our media. The White House has been terrible, IMHO, in explaining why we fight. {to coin a phrase :)}

• 21 Kris, in New England // Apr 4, 2006 at 4:32 am

  Eric said “…assuming Hollywood actual presented the facts and circumtances correctly and fairly.”

  Dick said: “…The ones who think it is too soon are just trying to sublimate the whole idea of our being attacked on our own territory.”

  As someone who lost a beloved extended family member, I think it is too soon. Too soon to put up on the big screen for all to see the losses that these families endure to this day. I’m not trying to sublimate the whole idea - when I see our friends and their grief, and feel my own, how can I, even if I wanted to (which I don’t). And the only thing I trust about Hollywood is that they will present the “facts” as they know them, not necessarily as they should be remembered.

  We do need to commemorate the lives and promise lost, but it hasn’t even been 5 years yet. To some that might be more than enough; to those of us who experienced personal losses, it may not be.

  I don’t need a movie to see what happened - everytime they run footage of Flight 11 being slammed in the WTC, I see the death of Heather Lee Smith all over again.

  There are other ways to make sure the country doesn’t forget - a tawdry Hollywood version of the events of 9/11/01 just doesn’t seem right to me.

• 22 seawitch // Apr 4, 2006 at 6:02 am

  While at work, I watched the horror foof the 9-11 attacks. To this day, I remember vividly what I was doing. I cannot bear to see the photographs of that day.

  Even though I didn’t know any of those murdered, I still feel anguish and grief of so many precious lives lost.

  I have not forgotten, nor will ever forget that day.

  I don’t think it’s too soon for this movie. I don’t know if I’ll be able to watch it though.

• 23 kat-missouri // Apr 4, 2006 at 6:53 am

  I just think about Pearl Harbor. After that, almost immediately, we had Pearl Harbor movies. I’m certain that there were many people who lost family there that did not want to see the movie because it was too raw for them.

  But for other people, they don’t remember. The things about that day are distant. Some will be interested because they were in too much shock to know all the things that went on and that they will be interested to try to find out what went on.

  I don’t expect that the film will be over correct. A movie will never contain everything because it’s limited to a few hours. It’s not the whole day or the day after. So, people will watch it and believe that the film is the accurate representation.

  Ever see the old Pearl Harbor movies? Are they accurate in terms of every moment of history at Pearl Harbor. It was dramatized. That’s what I expect will happen with this movie.

  I will be interested to see how they treat it.

• 24 Kris, in New England // Apr 4, 2006 at 7:07 am

  Kat - I agree with you, but the major difference between Pearl Harbor and 9/11 is that P.H. was a military target. 9/11 victims were just average citizens going about their daily lives. I don’t mean to diminish the pain and loss of the victims of Pearl Harbor, but at that time we also joined WWII and virtually ALL the movies at that time had Pearl Harbor or at the very least military themes.

  9/11 is different - the grieving process, the entire process of handling the remains, everything about it is different. Yes we are a nation at war once again, but I still think images and stories of 9/11 are too raw to see a Hollywood version.

• 25 Jim Shawley // Apr 4, 2006 at 11:22 am

  Who needs a movie (especially Hollywood style)? Just release the CVR tapes. On second thought: don’t “release” them; make them mandatory broadcast items, to be heard by each and every American citizen, whether he wants to nor not.

  We’re not talking Norwegian Druidofascists here.

  Jim

• 26 HomefrontSix // Apr 4, 2006 at 3:21 pm

  I am with Seawitch on this one. I do not think it is too soon for a movie such as this. I worry that Hollywood will not do the viticms, their families, or this country justice (their track record being what it is). However, I do think that for a large part of our population, 9/11 is just another piece of history to be recorded in a text book and making this movie mandatory viewing might do some good.

  For myself, the memories and the horror of 9/11 are far too fresh in my mind to be able to watch this movie. I can barely stand to see the WTC (prior to 9/11) on TV even now. It is still too much…for me.

  - hfs

• 27 Barb // Apr 4, 2006 at 3:31 pm

  I plan to watch, although I worry about the Hollywood take on the story, althought the previews seemed okay.

  I don’t think that it’s too soon - there are a lot of folks going about their daily lives thinking that the last 5 years of no attacks on our soil indicates we no longer need to be vigilant. That is the wrong way to think, and if this helps to keep people thinking - that it is a great idea.

• 28 Subsunk // Apr 8, 2006 at 2:08 pm

  “9/11 is different - the grieving process, the entire process of handling the remains, everything about it is different. Yes we are a nation at war once again, but I still think images and stories of 9/11 are too raw to see a Hollywood version.” — Kris

  In 1941, America found out about Pearl Harbor by radio. The movies afterwards portrayed the deaths of young American boys at the hands of the Japanese, but made sure the country was steeled to fight against the Jap and Nazi aggression.

  If Hollywood would do it correctly, then grieving process complete or not, it should be done. If you want closure, then seeing a movie which shows the tyranny behind that day, the Evil which masterminded the deaths of almost 300 people, civilian or not, that day, must be shown, must be confronted, and must be portrayed as the Evil thugs they are. I do not trust Hollywood to do this accurately. But it should be done by someone.

  We are losing our Will to Fight for our very lives. We would rather pursue our comfortable pasttimes and hobbies than be confronted by the horrors which our Loss of Will shall bring upon us. It should be done, it must be done, and there is no one worthy of the effort to do so. If there were, we would have movies about Fallujah, movies about Afghanistan, movies about special ops conducted on our behalf against the Evil Men who continue to plan, plot, and operate against civilized society and for our Deaths. There are none. Because Hollywood is full of cowards.

  Kris is half right, half wrong. The images are not too raw for Americans, including those who lost loved ones to see. If that were the case, the parents who lost sons at Pearl Harbor would not have wanted to see their movies or seen the death WWII brought. And they were the first to demand revenge.

  I fear the movie which Hollywood would produce. But I fear not that it should be made. Only that America will be made the butt of the joke, the hand behind the plot, and the cause of the Evil those men perpetrate in the name of their god.

  But we need to see it.

  Subsunk

• 29 Neptunus Lex » Asked and answered // Apr 27, 2006 at 4:39 pm

  [...] At the top of the month I asked?Ǭ† you whether the upcoming movie release by United Artists entitled, “United 93,” and dramatizing the events of September 11, 2001, was too much, too soon. [...]

• 30 BizzyBlog » The Negative Reaction to the United 93 Trailer Is Contrived // Feb 19, 2007 at 8:34 pm

  [...] Commenter David at Neptunus Lex — “Odd how we ?¢‚Ǩ?ìhave?¢‚Ǩ¬ù to see crap like Farhenheit 9-11 or Syriana but God forbid not something that will help us remember.” [...]

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