Follow @screenit

"UNITED 93" (2006) (Ben Sliney, David Alan Basche) (R) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Minor Heavy Extreme Extreme Heavy Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Mild None Extreme None Heavy Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Mild None Moderate Heavy Extreme QUICK TAKE: Drama/Suspense: As air traffic controllers and others try to deal with the building emergency, the passengers and crew of a hijacked plane decide to fight back in this retelling of the fateful events of September 11, 2001. PLOT: It's the morning of September 11, 2001 and the flight crew of United 93 -- Captain Jason M. Dahl (JJ JOHNSON), First Officer LeRoy Homer (GARY COMMOCK) and flight attendants Deborah Welsh (POLLY ADAMS), CeeCee Lyles (OPAL ALLADIN), Wanda Anita Green (STARLA BENFORD), Sandra Bradshaw (TRISH GATES) and Lorraine G. Bay (NANCY McDONIEL) -- are preparing for their cross-country flight from Newark to San Francisco. But little do they or ordinary passengers such as Todd Beamer (DAVID ALAN BASCHE) realize that a number of terrorists are also on the flight. But Ziad Jarrah (KHALID ABDALLA), Saeed Al Ghamdi (LEWIS ALSAMARI), Ahmed Al Haznawi (OMAR BERDOUNI) and Ahmed Al Nami (JAMIE HARDING) don't act right away. Instead and after an unexpected delay, they wait for the right moment, all as their comrades in three other airliners have already commandeered their planes. All of which initially has FAA national operations manager Ben Sliney (BEN SLINEY) and a host of air traffic controllers around the country perplexed. Since there hasn't been a domestic hijacking in decades, they can't fathom that's what's occurring. But when they can't contact several planes -- that subsequently crash into both towers of the World Trade Center in Manhattan as well as the Pentagon just outside Washington, DC. -- they react to the increasingly frantic situation by trying to get the military and administration to do something. After taking control of the plane, the terrorists change course and head toward Washington. Initially terrified into submission by the hijackers' violence and threat to blow up the plane, the passengers and flight attendants contact those back on the ground. But when they get word of what's occurring and realize what's likely to happen to them, they decide they must confront the hijackers and try to regain control of their plane. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? Possibly, although that would probably be limited to older teens. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R For language, and some intense sequences of terror and violence. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: JJ JOHNSON plays the captain of the doomed flight who doesn't have much of a chance to deal with the hijackers who take him, LeRoy and others by surprise. GARY COMMOCK plays the co-pilot who shares a similar fate. BEN SLINEY plays himself, the head of flight operations for the FAA who must figure out what's going on and then how to react to the series of hijackings. He uses some profanity. DAVID ALAN BASCHE plays a passenger who's one of several that decides they must confront the hijackers and try to regain control of their plane. POLLY ADAMS, OPAL ALLADIN, STARLA BENFORD, TRISH GATES and NANCY McDONIEL play the flight attendants who must deal with the terrorists hijacking their plane. KHALID ABDALLA, LEWIS ALSAMARI, OMAR BERDOUNI and JAMIE HARDING play the terrorists who hijack the plane, initially killing some passengers and crewmembers in the process, all with the intent of crashing the plane into the U.S. Capitol. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: Here's a brief summary of the content found in this dramatic thriller that's been rated R. Profanity consists of at least 7 "f" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are used. Some posters briefly show scantly clad or cleavage-revealing women, while a man appears to be shaving his pubic hair but we don't see anything explicit. Violence consists of terrorists killing and wounding a number of people and vice-versa (with bloody results), while everyone onboard the main plane dies in the final crash (and real TV footage shows the impact of the second hijacked plane crashing into the World Trade Center tower). That and most of the film (including before the hijacking since we know what's going to occur) is incredibly intense and potentially quite disturbing, especially for those still affected by the real life events. The terrorists obviously have bad attitudes, family members make phone calls to their loved ones (we only hear their side of the conversation) and a man briefly jokes about putting some booze into what he's drinking. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there's a great deal of shaky/bouncy handheld camerawork throughout the film. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE One passenger jokingly asks a flight attendant if there's any scotch she can put in his coffee. BLOOD/GORE A terrorist grabs a flight attendant, while another stabs a passenger in the throat, drawing a lot of blood. We see blood on a wounded passenger's shirt. We see blood on some papers in the cockpit. A wounded passenger's shirt is very bloody. We see other people's blood on a hijacker's arm and hand. One woman has another person's blood on her face. The passengers rush, grab, subdue and attack one terrorist (with bloody results -- all viewed in very shaky handheld camera movement). Moments later, they then grab, subdue and attack another one (also with bloody results and similar shaky camera movement). DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE The terrorists obviously have extreme cases of bad attitudes for their actions. FRIGHTENING SCENES For those still sensitive to the subject matter of 9/11, the entire film may be unsettling, disturbing and/or suspenseful. That's also true since we know what's ultimately going to happen and how other events will play out. Scenes listed under "Blood/Gore" might be unsettling for some viewers. There's talk of people being stabbed on another hijacked flight. A tape playback of a cockpit recording indicates that multiple planes may be targeted. We hear that a hijacked flight disappeared from radar. Moments later, we see a distant shot of Lower Manhattan that shows smoke rising from one of the World Trade Center towers. We then see real footage from CNN showing various views of the building, the gaping hole in its side and the fires and smoke. There's tension in an air traffic control center as workers there try to guide a plane around a hijacked one (as both are headed toward each other). When the radar blips cross, there's silence for a moment until the one plane radios that they're okay. We see real TV footage of the second plane crashing into the second World Trade Center tower (with the resultant explosion on both sides). We see one of the younger terrorists getting antsy to move forward with their planned hijacking. We see a terrorist prepping a fake bomb (a battery, wires, some clay, etc.) in the airplane lavatory (he later displays it to the terrified passengers who think it's real). A terrorist grabs a flight attendant, while another stabs a passenger in the throat, drawing a lot of blood. Everyone then panics as the first drags the flight attendant toward the cockpit with a knife to her throat. When they get there, the hijackers attack and stab the co-pilot (we don't see the impact) and then fight with the pilot, all causing the plane to go into a dive until one of the hijackers takes control and steadies it. A terrorist kills a flight attendant (we don't see the impact). We see that the main hijacker has taped a photo of the U.S. Capitol onto the plane's flight controls. A hijacker briefly struggles with one passenger on the floor. Various passengers call their loved ones from phones on the plane to say goodbye. We see TV footage showing smoke coming from the Pentagon after the crash there. The passengers get and then spread word of the attacks on the World Trade Center. We see an inside view of the plane as it dives toward the ground (before leveling off). We see a group of passengers and flight attendants plotting in the back of the plane. One hijacker rushes up and strikes at several passengers. The passengers rush, grab, subdue and attack one terrorist (with bloody results -- all viewed in very shaky handheld camera movement). As a result, the hijacker flying the plane violently rocks it back and forth, spilling the flight attendants, passengers and other hijackers. Nonetheless, the passengers try to make their way to the cockpit, with one hijacker pushing a service cart into them, spraying something into their faces and trying to strike them. They eventually push the cart back into him. They then grab, subdue and attack him (also with bloody results and similar shaky camera movement). They then ram the cart repeatedly into the cockpit door and eventually get in. There's a mighty struggle in the cockpit and the plane then dives and eventually rolls over as it races toward the ground (seen in a point of view shot through the front windows until impact and then the screen goes black). Those latter moments are purposefully shot in a fashion to replicate the chaos and confusion and thus it's hard to see exactly what's occurring. GUNS/WEAPONS Knives or shivs are used to kill, wound and threaten passengers and crew members. We see a terrorist prepping a fake bomb (a battery, wires, some clay, etc.) in the airplane lavatory (he later displays it to the terrified passengers who think it's real). The terrorists use planes as deadly weapons by ramming them into buildings (only one instance is seen in TV footage of the real thing). IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "What the f*ck?" "How the f*ck did they get out there?" "I don't give a f*ck," "No sh*t," "Holy sh*t," "I don't give a sh*t," "What the hell's going on?" "Screw the FAA" and "Where the hell is the..." We see a terrorist prepping a fake bomb (a battery, wires, some clay, etc.) in the airplane lavatory (he later displays it to the terrified passengers who think it's real). JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) An extreme amount of dramatic, ominous and suspenseful music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 7 "f" words, 8 "s" words, 4 hells, 1 crap, 8 uses of "Oh my God," 5 uses of "Jesus Christ," 3 each of "G-damn" and "Jesus," 2 of "Oh God" and 1 use each of "God" and "Oh Jesus." SEX/NUDITY We see one of the hijackers shaving his chest and then apparently shaving his pubic hair (we see the motion, but no nudity as he's turned away from the camera that doesn't show anything explicit. In passing, we see a poster ad showing a woman in a small bikini and then another image of a woman who shows cleavage. SMOKING None. TENSE FAMILY SCENES Various passengers call their loved ones from phones on the plane to say goodbye (we don't hear the other side of the conversations). TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT The historical accuracy and/or any artistic license taken with the story. Whether it's too soon to tell this story. How the events of 9/11 changed the world. The hijackers and their motives. The fact that the passengers and crew decided to fight back and thus probably saved another terrorist attack on a major building in Washington, D.C. Air traffic controllers and their work. Hijackings and how they used to be more common in the past. VIOLENCE We see the results of the first attack -- a distant shot of Lower Manhattan that shows smoke rising from one of the World Trade Center towers. We then see real footage from CNN showing various views of the building, the gaping hole in its side and the fires and smoke. We see real TV footage of the second plane crashing into the second World Trade Center tower (with the resultant explosion on both sides). A terrorist grabs a flight attendant, while another stabs a passenger in the throat, drawing a lot of blood. Everyone then panics as the first drags the flight attendant toward the cockpit with a knife to her throat. When they get there, the hijackers attack and stab the co-pilot (we don't see the impact) and then fight with the pilot, all causing the plane to go into a dive until one of the hijackers takes control and steadies it. A terrorist kills a flight attendant (we don't see the impact). A hijacker briefly struggles with one passenger on the floor. We see TV footage showing smoke coming from the Pentagon after the crash there. One hijacker rushes up and strikes at several passengers. The passengers rush, grab, subdue and attack one terrorist (with bloody results -- all viewed in very shaky handheld camera movement). As a result, the hijacker flying the plane violently rocks it back and forth, spilling the flight attendants, passengers and other hijackers. Nonetheless, the passengers try to make their way to the cockpit, with one hijacker pushing a service cart into them, spraying something into their faces and trying to strike them. They eventually push the cart back into him. They then grab, subdue and attack him (also with bloody results and similar shaky camera movement). They then ram the cart repeatedly into the cockpit door and eventually get in. There's a mighty struggle in the cockpit and the plane then dives and eventually rolls over as it races toward the ground (seen in a point of view shot through the front windows until impact and then the screen goes black). Those latter moments are purposefully shot in a fashion to replicate the chaos and confusion and thus it's hard to see exactly what's occurring. Reviewed April 18, 2006 / Posted April 28, 2006

Other new and recent reviews include:

Privacy Statement and Terms of Use and Disclaimer
By entering this site you acknowledge to having read and agreed to the above conditions.

All Rights Reserved,
©1996-2016 Screen It, Inc.