I was hesitant in seeing the film United 93, but today, seeing as I had nothing else noteworthy to accomplish, I saw it.

I believe that that is just about all that you can say about United 93. "I saw it." What follows are my immediate reactions to having seen this profound film.

Arriving at the theater in my small town USA, I strolled on up to the ticket booth and used another of my free movie passes that I was given for Christmas. After telling the ticket agent what film I was seeing this afternoon, he told me that there were not any previews for United 93. I thought that this was odd, but now, I see why it works. Tacking a bunch of previews in front of this film would have just Hollywood-ized it, ruining the huge emotional impact it delivers. But, more on that later. I'm one of those people who actually enjoys movie trailers and I can safely say that this film would not have been the same had it had Tom Cruise running from another missile.

Okay, as of right now, I'm thoroughly impressed. This isn't the typical popcorn movie, as it shouldn't be. Still, though, there was one couple behind me who persisted in buying the golden kernels for this film and in a way it bugged me. Sure, I'm being critical here, but going into this film you know that it's going to be an emotional ride. And, I don't know about most people, but myself, I don't like seeing actual people who existed dieing while I'm munching on popcorn. It's like seeing the Passion of the Christ and eating through Jesus' crucifixion.

The movie opens with a Muslim prayer and immediately I realize that this film is not going to portray the atrocities and prejudices against Arab citizens. This film I have come to the conclusion is all about courage. Whether looking at it from the hijacker's point of view or those who showed true courage and sacrificed their lives to save so many others. It's funny seeing the opening shots of the film with the pre 9/11 airports and America. It just seems as if so much has changed since then. It seemed as if America was so much more comfortable and unafraid before 9/11. Now, I realize just how much that day has literally transformed American life.

In the middle of the film it switches from air port control room to airport control room and it gets a bit claustrophobic, but tensions just continue to mount one on top of the other and soon that feeling is forgotten. United 93 begins with a whisper and ends with an explosion, quite literally. The film manages to hold your focus for the two hours despite being in cramped airplanes and control rooms and shot with a shaky and blurry documentary style. This particular type of shooting style lent itself so well to the film, transporting the audience right in between the seats and staring at the blips on an air traffic control monitor. Today, felt like 9/11 all over again.

At one point, thoughts of my father, who lived in NYC for 25 years, crying in a chair at home on the day of 9/11 came flooding into my thoughts and my eyes began to water. I didn't know why, they just did. This movie holds something different for everybody on that day that no one can forget. As the final 5 or 7 minutes of the film played out and the courage of the passengers showed in true form and attacked the hijackers, I couldn't stop the tears. They just continued to flow until the screen turned to black. Those last few minutes when the courage of everyone came out from those sharing phones to say good-bye one last time and the one man utters, "Lets roll", I just couldn't stop myself. My heart was thumping and my vision was blurred, yet I still feel as if I saw every moment on that plane.

I sat there after the movie sniffling and rubbing my eyes in the theater. Today, I saw real courage in its truest form and I just can not let it escape my mind. The courage that existed in that airplane is overwhelming.

In retrospect, it's been a half hour since I was in that theater, transported back to a day that I wasn't quite sure I wanted to revisit, and I'm glad I went. United 93 had all the feel of a funeral, but gave everyone on that plane the greatest eulogy they could have ever been given. Every American should see this film. I congratulate Paul Greengrass for his dedication and audacity.

But more importantly, I thank those of United flight 93.

~QGJ