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Reliving terror on big screen

By TIMES STAFF WRITERS
Published April 28, 2006

The debut of the movie United 93 brought grim and painful reminders of the hijacking and eventual crash of United Airlines Flight 93 into the Pennsylvania countryside. For some, the movie was a chance to revisit the horror of that day. For others, it was simply too hard to watch.

"It's unbelievable to watch it play out in front of you like that. It's hard to watch. Frightening, really." - PATRICIA GREENWALD, 77, retired Treasure Island.

"It reminds you that we are in a war on terror and all the ugliness that entails. We should shy away from what happened that day." - DEBBIE HARRELL, retired teacher, St. Petersburg.

"It was awful what they had to go through. The movie is so intense, but I think it's the right time for it to come out." - BRENDA RIVERS, 36, customer service representative, St. Petersburg.

"It was a good retelling of the story, down to earth. The times we live in make it important for all of us to remember the potential for trouble that is out there." - FRANK DISHAROON, 59, retired school district employee, St. Petersburg.

"It was very good. Documentary style, I think, so it was straight to the fact. It didn't overdramatize the situation." - JOHN CROOKSTON, 62, works in sales, St. Petersburg.

"We thought that it was truthfully depicted, and it was a rude awakening for what really could happen. It moved me to tears. It really moved me to tears. I get goose pimples just ..." - RENATA HERTZBERG, 64, retired teacher, St. Petersburg.

"I don't think that that film came out too early because no matter what political feelings you have, it just makes you realize that the fight is going to be going on and on and on. That's just the way it is. They didn't elaborate on it or glorify it. Just a good, raw film." - TOM HERTZBERG, 66, retired, St. Petersburg.

"I think that they did an excellent job of showing the reality of how life unfolds in a tragic situation. We've gotten so used to how glossy that we make everything look on television and in movies. And that's not real life." - BEATRICE VAICIUS, 52, semiretired from Bayfront trauma center, St. Petersburg.

"I visited the crash site in Shanksville where they made a temporary memorial. ... Seeing the fear and what those people went through made me very emotional. Some people say it's too soon (for the movie) and we shouldn't keep going over it, but this is part of our history, and it needs to be shared. It was the day the world stood still." - KIM MORRISON, 36, homemaker, Homosassa.

"I don't think I ever want to get on another plane again. You don't have any protection, no safety or anything. The (passengers) were correct in what they did. I knew how bad it was, but seeing it on screen was frightening." - JO LEONARD, 64, Inverness.

"Everyone should have the courage to see this film. People need to know what is going on. It was so realistic. It showed people ready to get on a plane, and then on the plane finding out something was happening. The lesson I learned was: Don't wait." - FRED HARMAN, 75, Inverness.

"The movie showed the terrorists praying to God. What kind of God is that?" ("Satan," Kim Morrison interjected. "This is a spiritual battle.") "It was so realistic. I felt like I was losing them myself." - SHIRLEY HARMAN, 75, Inverness.

"I'm so glad I did see it. So very glad. I guess we need to be reminded every once in a while about these things." - RICHARD REDMAN, 74, Tampa.

"It showed the religious zealots, how they believed in what they were doing, praying, while on the same plane the passengers were praying to their God." - JOADEY ESTAR, 50, Tampa.

"I didn't want to see it because I knew I would be angry. I didn't want to go through all this again."- NELSON STEINER, 42, artist, Tampa.

Compiled by Times staff writers Graham Brink, Dalia Wheatt, Elena Lesley and Elisabeth Dyer.

[Last modified April 28, 2006, 22:22:02]