Two nights ago we picked up ‘Flight 93′, a hollywood version of some of the events documented in the 9/11 commission report.  I ended up watching it by myself and I have to say I was incredibly surprised with the quality of movie that they did do.

A warning: at least for me, this is one of those films that document something far to recent and far to horrific that should not be viewed by people under 18.  It’s just that disturbing.  It’s the first film I think I’ve seen that got an R rating and deserved. 

With that said, the film reminds me of ‘Tora, Tora, Tora’; hollywood’s attempt to document another attack on our soil – Pearl Harbor.  It’s a very matter of fact reindition of the day that doesn’t rely on gimmicks or music to highten the terror; I think there was music in it, nothing was really overt though. 

The film begins with one of the most beautifully filmed scenes I think I’ve ever seen in a movie (with the exception of Michael Mann’s work).  It starts with a flyover Manhatten interwoven with scenes of the hi-jacker’s preparations the day of the attack. 

The other nice thing that this movie does is effectively offer explanations for information that was left out or the government’s lack of organization on the day of the attack.  One particular scene has Norad’s chief shouting an obsenity about planes that were supposed to be patroling NYC airspace heading out to sea. 

My only complaint about the film is the downplay of Todd Beamer’s moment where he prays on the phone with the woman from Verizon and says those unforgettable words: “Let’s roll”.  The scene was played out well, however, with various cuts of people aboard the plane praying.  It was heroic, well played out cinema and you would be bereft if you didn’t get a chance to experience it.