Because I'm so woefully behind the times in terms of the latest movies out there, I decided to see what's new on my favourite movie trailer site. Miami Vice looks good for some action, Talladega Nights looks funny, but then I spotted one that didn't quite compute: "World Trade Center". Sure enough, as the name implies, its about the twin towers during 9/11. What the ..... !
Does this not seem a little over the top? Since September 11th, interviews have been broadcast, books have been written, articles circulated, and ceremonies have been televised. What tale is this movie trying to tell that has not been already been told? Its like America doesn't get it, so here comes Oliver Stone to the rescue, and with the assistance of Nicholas Cage, he's going to drive the point home. Sure you've seen survivors, and victims' relatives tearfully tell of the life-altering impact this day has had, but you won't truly understand until you've seen Nick Cage in some ash-coloured make-up recite some scripted dialog on a special effects backdrop.
Who needs this movie more? Is it America, or is it Oliver Stone? What will America gain from this film? A deeper understanding of just how tragic that day was?
Also, should this movie gross $300 Million in the first month, where will the proceeds go? Will it be all profit? I haven't heard if any victims' charities are targeted with getting a cut, but it'll be interesting to see where the money goes.
America, are you really going to shell out to see this?
18 comments:
Yeah, it is a little too soon to be making this. It is kinda like "YESTERDAY, THE MOVIE" Let's relive the events of yesterday as told by Oliver Stone...
I don't think anybody has forgotten 9/11 and I don't think anyone alive will.
Well, with the current war situation in the Middle East declining the morale of Americans, there needs to be a way to re-fuel their own self-worth and significance to this world.
With the success of "United 93", a second movie involving another area of 9/11 was not unforseen by me. I wouldn't be surprised to see a made-for-tv movie on the plane that struck the Pentagon, too.
But to what end do these movies, and future copycats (read: Hurricane Katrina) attempt to achieve?
My belief is Americans are more aware now that they are not being seen in favourable light, as was before - probably due to the War. Now they need to find a way to shout out to the World, "Hey, remember US? Remember 9/11?!"
During the tragedy that was Hurricane Katrina, a 1000 Americans lost their lives in New Orleans. While that is a significant number, more people lose their lives in North America on any given long weekend from car accidents. More people lose their lives in daily accidents in other parts of the World (China, India, Russia, etc).
What about the Tsunami disaster of 2004? That killed 120,000+ people! But after Katrina, Americans blow that up like it was the most tragic thing ever occured to mankind.
Is ONE American life equivalent to 120 Indonesian lives? That's a little arrogant, to say the least.
So when they're making movies like "United 93" and "World Trade Center" to shout out to the World of their importance, is anyone listening? I know I'm not.
"World Trade Center" Movie
I know its been almost 5 years. I didn't know anyone who died in the attack on the WTC. I still can't go to see a movie about it.
When I see the skyline of New York in any movie I think of those magnificent, missing towers. When I see an old movie with the towers it's still brings out a feeling of great sadness.
I'm not quarreling with the making of the movie. I just personally can't watch it. How do you feel about it?
How do I feel about it? Queezy. It sort of seems like money being made on the misery of others, not on punctuating history. For example:
- Platoon: we really underestimated the chaotic side of the Vietnam conflict and the human cost on both sides.
- Jarhead: we forget about the soldiers being sent over there are actual humans, with frailties, emotions, and are fallible.
- Schindler's List: With all the Nazi propaganda, some people did dig down and showed compassion for human life.
These films, to name a few, had a point to make. I don't yet see the point that has not already been made. I'm curious about the public reaction....
In defence of Americans, the reason we hear more about Hurricane Katrina and the WTC attack is quite simply because Hollywood is located in America. When was the last time you went to see a good Indonesian blockbuster action flick?
Canadians strike me as just as arrogant, if not more so, than Americans. We seem to think very highly of ourselves and yet we have some serious problems. As Canadians, we should still be proud but a little more introspective and aware of our own issues before condeming the US. Slagging Americans has always been a popular activity, even amongst Americans, but we shouldn't tear them down to build ourselves up.
That being said, I still wish we could join the EU...
Agree and disagree.
We should be more introspective. However, disagree on the point that we are all similar enough to all collectively get the label as "arrogant". In the past year, work has caused me to regularly commute to Montreal, family has caused me to jaunt to Victoria every other weekend. I gotta say, I've learned that we're pretty diverse: soooo many points of view, soooo many attitudes. We're a pretty mixed bag of nuts. Pretty tough to lump Americans and Canadians in their respective bags and slap a sticker on 'em.
You would make an awesome French citizen Darwin. They work, what, like 7 hours a day and get the most holidays in the known world? Maybe you can change your name to 'Darween'. If you don't like Canada you're welcome to go the EU and become an 'artiste'.
7 hours a day! What a bunch of whip-crackin' slave drivers over there.
Canada is fine, it is just Canadians that bug me. I like the 32 hour work week, by the way (which equates to 6.4 hours a day), I think the French really know how to live. The EU impressed me due to the sheer number of countries signed on and the amount of interoperability between them, such as worker visas, that makes NAFTA look like it was done on a cocktail napkin (which it may well have been)
Canada is fine, it is just Canadians that bug me. I like the 32 hour work week, by the way (which equates to 6.4 hours a day), I think the French really know how to live. The EU impressed me due to the sheer number of countries signed on and the amount of interoperability between them, such as worker visas, that makes NAFTA look like it was done on a cocktail napkin (which it may well have been)
That's it? That's all you got? I called you French, meaning you have small genitalia and bad BO.
How is it that "proud to be canadian" knows about the sizes of French male genitalia?
It's common knowledge oh ignorant layman...
Layman? As in Lay Man? Um, no thanks. But I'm not judging.
I guess this applies to you to:
1 : a person who is not a member of the clergy
2 : a person who does not belong to a particular profession or who is not expert in some field
probably replace 'some' with 'any'... except for wasting tax payers money of course. All city workers are experts in that area.
"Voice of Truth"?? Hey!! How the heck are you! I haven't heard from you since the ol' Bullboards days when you used to slag SSX. How've you been?
Um, I was out and I didn't notice you calling me French because I was out doing my very Canadian non 6.4 hour per day job. I think perhaps Mr. Boutet would like to have some words with you in the bathroom to discuss your remarks.
Mr. Boutet, psssshaw!
Gerry, yes it's been a while. Don't you wish we had these blogs back then?
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