After having just watched the movie 'United 93' (
see my write-up here), I'd say that this movie ('WTC') is going to be a hard one to watch. United 93 is commendable for not being overly emotive or voyeuristic, but it remains to be seen how Stone handles these aspects.
This movie may well be unprecedented in the fact that such a massively significant and emotionally charged event such as the atrocities of September 11, 2001, is so recent and fresh in the minds of just about everyone in the developed world. As such, obviously it's going to provoke strong reactions from audiences worldwide. On leaving the film 'United 93' the other day, there was a tangible sense that the act of watching that film was more like an act of rememberance than anything else... but it was a slightly double-edged sword. On one side, it may serve as a tribute to the courage of the innocents who tried (in vain) to save themselves as well as potentially many others. While on the other hand, it also serves as a chilling reminder of just how (relatively) easy it is for fundamentalists bent on suicide attacks to kill innocent people.
I think it is safe to say that most people (over a certain age) can remember exactly where they were and what they were doing on 9/11/01... I certainly can, and had the misfortune of being at home that day, and therefore was able to watch as events unfolded across the various news networks. Although not American or in any way personally involved, the events of that day left a deep and lasting impression on me... people may question the value of this film, or criticise it as merely '911 - The Movie', but in this day and age, with cinema (and DVD) in the position that it is in, there may well be no more fitting a tribute to the innocent than to document the events of that day in a way that will be accessible for generations to come. Spielberg managed a similar feat with his tribute to the victims of the Holocaust in 'Schindler's List', despite not having a previous track record for making factually-based movies. Oliver Stone is well versed in making this sort of film (albeit somewhat controversially), but iu remains to be seen how he handles the heavy responsibility of treating this topic with the gravitas it requires, and the dignity the victims deserve.
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