A Review of United 93

It is difficult for Us to express Our thoughts on the movie. We honestly need to watch it a few more times before We can formulate a proper response. Throughout the movie, We were thinking too many things. What are the Arabs saying? What are they doing? What are the passengers thinking? What is going on at the various flight control centers? What is going on at NORAD? So much thinking detracted some of Our attention from the movie.

In short: Although We cannot say We liked the movie--after all, the entire movie and its subject matter is not something to be "liked" as much as appreciated--We must say that We approve of it and exhort anyone prepared to watch it to do so.

Here are some points:
1. We really liked the realism of the filming. The movie lacked the shine and polish of a Hollywood blockbuster. There was something real and gritty about it. This emphasizes the reality of what the movie depicts. It also makes its actors more human. There were so many little details that contributed to making it realistic. It wasn't about the big things; everything contributed to it being realitic.

2. We liked the chaos, confusion, and frustration that was depicted in the movie. Every location was thrown into chaos, confusion, and frustration: the plane, air traffic control centers, NORAD, et cetera. The difficulty of officials to ascertain what exactly happened was quite well depicted and, may We add, quite educational. It had slipped Our mind how the authorities would have dealt with the crisis as it was happening. No one was prepared for such a scenario: indeed, the movie subtly makes a big deal about there being a possible hijacking at all. It seemed to be such a novelty, something unexpected.

It is crucial and important for anyone watching the movie to realize the difference between what is known now and the lack of information as the events transpired. It is now known which plane hit which target, which planes were hijacked, and so on. As the events were happening, no one knew this information. The desperation of civilian and military authorities to deal with such rapidly changing scenarios is indeed also heart-rending. These people were so violently, so to speak, thrust into the 9/11 world. Spectators only had to watch and worry; authorities had to do something. What to do was difficult because they hardly had an idea what was happening.

We are glad the movie producers did not gloss over these aspects. There is a certain heroism in the authorities' scramble to comprehend and act accordingly. All things considered, they did very well.

3a. Prior to leaving for their demonic mission, it is shown that the terrorists shaved. Unlike Flight 93 of A&E, the movie makes clear exactly where/what they are shaving. According to Sunni Muslim law, in order to be pure/clean, men are required to remove the hair from under their arms and from the pubic area. Indeed, when Muslims go for pilgrimage, one of the requirements of "assuming iHraam" (iHraam refers to be being in a state of ritual purity usually specific to pilgrimages or other such sacred acts) is removing this hair. In any case, the removal of this hair is necessary for ritual purity.

3b. One scene shows a terrorist using a water bottle to splash water on his hands. He splashes water on both hands. He is performing wuDoo' (ritual washing). Why he would be performing wuDoo' then and there We cannot tell. Was he washing blood off of his hands? If so, why? He would not need to, as according to Islamic law he would be by default ritually pure by being a "martyr." Perhaps seeing the movie a few times more might help Us.

4. The movie producers paid a large amount of attention to details. They should be commended for this. In particular, there were many details about the behavior and speech of the Arabs that impressed Us. Quite a bit of the Arabic was not translated. Some of it was supplication. Other was conversation which We could not make out.

5. At one point, the lead terrorist remarks with joy that his brothers (other terrorists) attacked two targets. His use of "brothers" disgusted Us. His pride in their acts disgusted Us. May he and his "brothers" all suffer eternal punishment. Yes, this movie will make one disgusted.

6. Like The Passion of the Christ, this movie is somber and will not be pleasant. Nevertheless, the movie had to be made, and We believe its producers did a magnificent job. We do not recommend this for children. Let them be innocent for a while yet.

May God in Heaven abundantly bless, sanctify, and honor the brave and innocent men and women who so suddenly lost their lives - many martyred in heroism - on That Day. May He crush the enemies of The Republic and her people.