U.S.

9/11 film

Moviegoers Recoil over Preview of United 93

By Mark Martin
CBN News Reporter

CBN.com –(CBN News) - An upcoming film about 9/11 is causing controversy even before opening.

The film's trailer is now being shown in theaters. That preview has some welcoming the film, and others protesting that it is too much, too soon.

The trailer is powerful, and for some, painful: ”United 93, runway 411, cleared for take off. Roger that.” Shortly thereafter, it says, “…We’ve got a possible hijack. We've reached a cruising altitude of 35,000 feet." Then we hear the shocking announcement: “We have a plane headed toward the Capitol."

The film is called United 93. It is about the September 11 flight that crashed in a Pennsylvania field after being hijacked by terrorists, and the passengers fought back.

The trailer is catching many moviegoers off guard.

One viewer stated, "It is pretty offensive. I was pretty offended and shocked, actually, when they came on."

"I thought it was horrible to see all over again," said another.

At the famed Grauman's Chinese Theatre in L.A., moviegoers shouted "too soon!" and a theatre in New York City has pulled it from previews.

"Even if you have put 9/11 well behind you and you have been able to move on with your life,” commented Dr. Randall Marshall of New York State Psychiatric Institute, “you may not want a graphic reminder to pop up suddenly in the movie theatre."

Some families of 9/11 victims have expressed outrage, but the film does have the support of many relatives. Some are even helping to promote the film.

Kenny Nacke, who lost a brother on 9-11, said, "Our loved ones continue to live inside us, so we continue to be their voices. I would hope someone would walk away from hearing the feats of the passengers and crew of Flight 93 empowered."

"This story is about standing up for what you believe in, never letting fear take over and doing everything you possibly can, until you can't," said Allison Vadhan, the daughter of a United 93 passenger.

The filmmakers had asked all the family members of the 40 passengers and crew aboard United 93 if it was the right time.

"They were quite clear and unanimous that it was,” expressed Paul Greengrass, the writer-director of the film. “They wanted this film to be made."

But a message board on the movie's Web site shows that no matter how positive the message, many are not ready. One writer screams, "Boycott this movie!" Another writes, "How dare you?!!"

One trauma specialist says he is not surprised by the intense reaction to the trailer. He comments that, even five years later, tens of thousands of area residents are still suffering from post- traumatic stress disorder.

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