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Netscape @ The Movies: World Trade Center »
Posted by: Karina 3 years, 4 months agoIn the first installment of our new weekly movie review feature, I take a look at "World Trade Center," the first New York-based 9/11 movie, directed by Oliver Stone.
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Karina
Karina Longworth blogs about film at Spout.com. She co-founded the film blog Cinematical in March 2005, whilst simultaneously completing an MA in Cinema Studies ...
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Comments: 92
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jla1897
Aug. 11, 2006, 10:55 a.m.I haven't seen the movie yet. From what I've heard, I'll probably just wait until it comes out on DVD.
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ilgbf
Aug. 11, 2006, 11:02 a.m.Nicolas Cage is in it? Blech! At least arrogant snot George Clooney's not!
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Fabienne
Aug. 11, 2006, 11:25 a.m.Thanks for the great commentary Karina, and I think I will pass on this movie, if for no other reason that I did experience those events firsthand.
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LeBlog
Aug. 11, 2006, 11:47 a.m.now that was a review. not sure if I want to see the movie or just hear her further elaborate on Stone's last chance to gain mainstream Hollywood respek.
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PINTO
Aug. 11, 2006, 11:49 a.m.Part of me wants to see this movie for its relevency and for my (and every Americans) personal tie to the subject. Its not very often that we can see a movie that is about a subject that literally personally effected us and we lived through. The thought of seeing a movie about the heros of 9/11 and the sacrifices they made compels me to watch it
The only thing that hold me back from watching it is the fear i wont beable to keep it together in the theater. Im no embarrased to admit that just watching the commercials for this movie brought tears to my eyes
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IMHO
Aug. 11, 2006, 12:05 p.m.I just saw this movie with my spouse.
It was a good movie, I just didn't think that it was as good as what the Ebert Roeper site stated.
I do agree that it is a big change than what Stone usually does.
I would wait until it comes on DVD. To me, it is not a "buyer" just a renter. Definitely see it though, it was well made.
I was also able to stomach Cage in the movie which doesn't usually happen with me watching any films with him in it.
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Endo
Aug. 11, 2006, 12:19 p.m.are they donating any money to any kind of organizations dealing the tragedy of 911? if not.. i think its wrong that a movie like this was even made. although.. it would make for an interesting inflight movie.
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mr-dallas
Aug. 11, 2006, 12:20 p.m.9/11 The day our country cried. I'm not sure if I'm ready to relive that day. The trailer does make the movie worth going to see. Maybe you? If so, tell me what you tought of if.
Thanks,
Mr. Dallas
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PINTO
Aug. 11, 2006, 12:33 p.m.Endo: I agree, the thought of explaoiting the tragidy for pure profit doesnt sit well with me, ill still go see it though
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coreyspring
Aug. 11, 2006, 12:43 p.m.I was glad to see this movie didn't really take any 'cheap shots' when I saw it.
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TwinTriode
Aug. 11, 2006, 12:49 p.m.The only people who will go see this movie are hillbillies and buttt-plugs
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IMHO
Aug. 11, 2006, 12:50 p.m.I forgot to mention that there really isn't that much about events of 9/11's day.
The movie is focused on these 2 cops, and while they were down below, they had no idea what had happened. They actually thought it was the shopping mall that had collapsed.
The beginning of the movie is quite difficult to watch due to when they were inside the mall, they kept hearing these loud "explosions" which we now know were the sounds of people jumping to their deaths. They don't say anything about the loud bangs going on other than a cop telling the rookie not to look outside.
Mainly the movie is focused on the guys below and them looking back over things in their lives, and encouraging each other to not give up.
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quicksilver0602
Aug. 11, 2006, 1:05 p.m.Fabienne - So many of us will be forever haunted by the events of 9-ll. I have only loose connections to a few people at ground zero - they survived. That said, I sometimes wish I could feel what those of you experienced firsthand. I feel utterly inadequate in expressing my support when encountering anyone that was there and/or had relationships with those who parished or were gravely injured...ANYTHING I can think to say sounds trite.
9-11 will forever deeply effect the generations that actually lived it. Perhaps this film will serve future generations as an accurate (hopefully) account. ThaT lessons I learned in school, e.g WWII, etc., were merely that - just lessons in another history class. I didn't feel directly effected by those events. Truthfully, I think war was only a concept until I lost a friend in the Gulf.
Anyway, I'm conflicted as whether to see this film. I guess if I do, I hope my intentions are pure and not just for the
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quicksilver0602
Aug. 11, 2006, 1:11 p.m....continued...for the shock value.
PINTO - don't fret. I think it's an asset to respond the way you do...means you have a soul. :-)
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JJohnM20
Aug. 11, 2006, 1:14 p.m.WTC is an OUTSTANDING movie. The re-creation of The Pile is worth the price of admission. There were not many feel-good stories from that day, but this is one of the best! This is a story that needs to be told about the PAPD officers, their families and their rescuers. Stone does an incredibly accurate description of that morning and the day that changed us. This is a rescue story, no political statements or excessive shock value. The acting is first rate! This is a must see movie, especially on the Big Screen!!
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tweetypie
Aug. 11, 2006, 1:40 p.m.I haven't seen the movie, but I definitely want to. I live in Philadelphia and the events of 9-11 did not affect me directly, however, the entire time I watched them unfold on TV I knew that what I was feeling could not even begin to equate to the feelings and heartbreak of the families of the victims involved. So, seeing movies such as this and United 93 helps me to better understand what these people went through on that day and the days that followed even though I am fully aware that no movie or documentary could ever possibly portray what actually happened that day. I'm sure these movies come close, but the only way anyone can understand what really happened was by actually being there. On one hand, I am grateful that I or anyone I love wasn't there, but on the other hand, I am sad and heartbroken that so many lives and families were destroyed that day.
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JasonCalacanis
Aug. 11, 2006, 1:51 p.m.too soon for me... although I did listen to the review (which was great). i couldn't sit through the trailer recently.. got me very anxious
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BMiller
Aug. 11, 2006, 3:24 p.m.I hope the movie respected the words of the NYFD Firefighters who gave their lives that day.
By that I mean, I hope they show the building was brought down in a controlled demolition.
In the firefighters own words - watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKdvl--1Dt0
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samosley
Aug. 11, 2006, 3:33 p.m.I liked it--thought it was an "ok" movie.
It most certainly did not have the Oliver Stone "edge" to it that we've seen in "JFK", "Natural Born Killers", or "The Doors". But, all in all, a watchable film.
The story is without politics and basically follows the two officers and their struggle to survive among the rubble. We don't see the planes crashing into the buildings (thank goodness) nor do we see any blood or gore that Stone could have focused on as a result of the collapse of the towers.
The end is a tear-jerker and very emotional.
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Alexia
Aug. 11, 2006, 4:33 p.m.I still can't see certain images or hear certain songs without crying. Putting the video together was a doozy. I was there as well, and for one year afterward kept finding 9/11 ash in my Brooklyn apt. from when it blew across the river and into my open windows. Still, I love your review, Karina. I also think you're right on the money regarding Stone.
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DonkeyWang
Aug. 11, 2006, 6:39 p.m.Bmill I hope you are right. I won't see this movie (or flight 93) because it's A. mocking the people that really died those days. And B. The movie is just (deliberately) "attempting" to solidify to the US public that 9/11 was this horrible terrorist act (which it was). But they don't show how the US deliberately let it slip through our hands.
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DonkeyWang
Aug. 11, 2006, 6:50 p.m.That was a good video. But what's the saddest part for me, are brain-washed idiots (i.e. edrobertsll) who not only are calling some of those dead firefighters liars (by all means) but is calling there firefighter friends that survived liars. NYCF one of the most respected groups of people in this country and these people have the balls to call them liars! Also they called UL liars. When a firefighter says "theres a few pocket fires but nothing we cant knock out" and to top it off there is no visible fire in the building at the time. I'll take the firefighters word anyday over the government, espcially when they tell the firefighters days after not to talk about it. Fukc you non-american, fire fighter hating d-bags.
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DonkeyWang
Aug. 11, 2006, 6:53 p.m.But then again edroberts expertise in both controlled demolition and fire fighting is obviously far beyond the hundreds of firefighters in NYCFD....or it could be that he reads too much government information.
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DonkeyWang
Aug. 11, 2006, 7:01 p.m.I dono the people that were in on it obviously arent gonna tell anyone. And there were some people who figured it out(i.e. the fbi agent who is writing a book about how he warned the FBI 70+ times about 9/11 and ended up resigning because they obstructed every effort he made to do something about it)
Let me answer the rest of that question with a question. All the fire fighters heard the dozens of explosions, felt them, saw them, reported them live over there radios. How persay did the government keep the entire NYCFD under raps. I guess some people have familys to take care of and don't want themselves, there familys, or there careers (such as in the case of the military colonel whos career was lost over his experiences on 9/11) to be in danger.
But while thats a good question, it's not the defining question at hand.
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