May 26, 2006

UNITED 93 -- by Steve Nadis

I saw "United 93" last night. The movie is extremely well done, though I can see why it's not a huge box office hit. Most people want to be entertained and don't want to watch a planeful of people headed to their ineluctable doom. (Sorry if I spoiled the ending.) The best part of the movie, by far, is the confusion in the FAA and NORAD control centers as people try to figure what's going on and what should be done about it. The military is trying to get fighter jets ready but needs authorization from the president to engage a hijacked jet. Of course, no one can reach Bush.

While watching these scenes, I kept thinking of him sitting there in the Florida classroom, like a deer caught in the headlights, after having been informed of the first attack on the World Trade Center. The movie, for me, really brought home how badly Bush let down the nation in a time of need. People's lives, including those of the people on United 93, were literally hanging in the balance, yet he was unable to excuse himself from an elementary school and take some executive action. And then he gets reelected as the "war president" and fearless leader of the anti-terrorist cause. What a joke--and a painful one at that.

Posted by Snake at 08:37:16 | Permanent Link | Comments (9) |
Comments
1 - Gotta say, Snake, this was one of your best commentaries ever. Lucid, succinct, insightful. And I couldn't agree more about the "war president."

But I think you really screwed yourself over with this one. Now that we know what you're capable of, the handball diaries just ain't going to cut it anymore. (Comment this)

Written by: gatemouth at 2006/05/26 - 12:47:56
2 - Thanks Gatemouth for the compliment. Coming from you (one of the world's greatest bumper sticker writers, among many other talents I'm sure), it means a lot. Yet I fear, as you suggest, that I've raised the bar too high. I suspect I'll have to ditch the scone journal entries as well. (Comment this)

Written by: Snake at 2006/05/26 - 13:01:12
3 - The movie sounds too close for comfort for american viewers, in particular. I don't know if I have the heart to see it. (Comment this)

Written by: Flubberwinkle at 2006/05/26 - 15:35:18
4 - Most people were with you, FW. Which is why United 93 did not do "big box office." I'd guess the Da Vinci Code earned more in 1 night than this one ever will, which is a shame. (Comment this)

Written by: Snake at 2006/05/26 - 19:16:08
5 - Another movie which won't do all that well is a new one coming out in the next few weeks starring none other than Al Gore. "An Inconvenient Truth". Recieved standing ovation at the Sundance. An in-depth look at what global warming has already done across the globe. BUT, it'll leave you alarmed & depressed, though more accuratly informed on the subject than most. We'll see if it makes it up to this backwater of a southern NH town. I bet G.E. owns the Co. that owns the cine chain nearby. Can you spell "surpress"? (Comment this)

Written by: MarcoPolo at 2006/05/26 - 19:41:43
6 - Hey Marco -- Good to hear from you. The Al Gore movie [opened today] has been getting a lot of press & my hunch is that it will attract a pretty big crowd. But it may not play in small-town America; you may have to come to the city for that one. Cheers... (Comment this)

Written by: Snake at 2006/05/26 - 23:29:37
7 - Hey Snake, don't forget, Bush more than made up for his poor performance on September 11th with his amazing response to Hurricane Katrina. (Comment this)

Written by: DrMax at 2006/05/27 - 00:26:24
8 - OK.......I am laughing (sadly) at DrMax's comment. How MUCH longer is THIS Presidency? Hey, that would be a great bumpersticker? (Comment this)

Written by: Windfall Woman at 2006/05/27 - 19:46:58
9 - Good point, Doc. How soon we forget. And you're right WFW, that would be a good bumper sticker. And it would be an even better bumper sticker when it becomes out of date. (Comment this)

Written by: Snake at 2006/05/28 - 15:16:05
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