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Another positive look at Oliver Stone's WORLD TRADE CENTER!!

Ahoy, squirts! Quint here. I'm having a bit of a difficult time placing this review. It comes off as a little greeny, if you know what I'm saying, but at the same time it makes some valid points on the pieces that don't work. In the end, if I disregarded all the reviews that were positive then we'd all turn into crazy, negative hate-mongers, cynical about every movie that comes out. Plus, I'm really pulling for this one to work. The bit below about the script being perhaps the weakest aspect of the film strikes me as true. The early, non-shooting draft I read was pretty weak-sauce, but in the hour I was onset almost none of the scripted dialogue remained. So, I hope they retooled the script enough to make this movie as touching and as heartfelt a tribute to the true heroes of that day as this movie needs to be. Enjoy the review.

Hey guys, about a week and a half ago, I took my girlfriend to see the latest Pixar flick, Cars. While waiting in line to buy tickets a guy come up to me and asked me if I would be interested in participating in a screening of World Trade Center. We would be asked to fill out surveys when we were finished watching the movie.

So, I attended the work in progress screening of “World Trade Center” in Bloomington, MN last Thursday night. I was not going to write in until I read the review you guys posted from the same screening. I couldn’t believe he was using words like “strictly TV-movie-of-the-week-level.” I think he missed the point of the movie. It seemed to me that Oliver Stone made this movie strictly as a tribute to those police and fire officials that gave their lives to help protect people on 9-11. It is supposed to be patriotic! It does seem like a different Stone though, very restrained. Which I thought was a good approach especially considering the subject matter. There are no MTV style quick cuts. There are no giant conspiracy theories. I would be surprised if it isn’t rated PG-13 when it is released. It’s just a small glimpse into what it must have been like for some of those people involved. It really is the story of John McLoughlin and William Jimeno. The movie also takes its time at certain points. Nothing that can’t be fixed with a tiny amount of editing. The cut we saw has to be close to a finished print. They said the score wasn’t completed yet. I actually thought the temp score they used was very good. It’s pretty close to the music that is used in the trailer for the movie. They also said that we saw it on HD tape because it hadn’t been put to film stock yet.

I thought the acting was top notch. Some of the stuff with Maria Bello seemed a little too much at times, but, she still does a great job. Especially in the scenes with her characters children. Cage’s role is a different role for him. There is no way over-the-top acting like a lot of us have grown accustomed to seeing. His performance is much more subdued. The real star of the movie IS Michael Pena. This guy is awesome. I’ve only seen him in a few things. He was one of the few things I actually liked in Crash, and he was very good a couple of years ago (the Glenn Close season) on FX’s the Shield. I can’t wait to see what he does next. Seeing the guy who plays Ethan on Lost show up as a hero was a little strange. But, anybody who doesn’t watch Lost won’t even notice.

I think the script probably is the weakest part of the movie. But, it gets the job done. I mean it is based on a true story, they are not trying to reinvent the wheel here. There are a few cornball lines thrown in there. But, I think they work, because about halfway through the movie it really needs a few tension releases. The tension and suspense really cranks up, and a few of the cornball lines loosen it up just enough, but, not too much.

Overall I would highly recommend this movie. You walk out of the movie with a feeling of hope. If you’re cynical and think that any movie about a disaster has to end downbeat you will probably hate this movie. Likewise, if you want to see explanations/politics behind the actual disaster. It’s really a fitting tribute to the heroes of 9-11. It is sad and very intense, at the end of the screening it did receive a nice round of applause. Not to mention a lot of tears flowing in the audience. It’s not the perfect 9-11 movie, but it's close. If you use this you can call me MinnesotaFarmBoy.



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First!!
by n705689
Jun 22nd, 2006
08:13:52 AM
First
by bubbee
Jun 22nd, 2006
08:15:15 AM
Planty McPlanterson
by JohnGalt06
Jun 22nd, 2006
08:18:29 AM
JINX!
by JohnGalt06
Jun 22nd, 2006
08:19:02 AM
Spoiler Alert
by VanLingoMungo
Jun 22nd, 2006
08:40:20 AM
This movie is why they hate us.
by GordonRamsey=Gay
Jun 22nd, 2006
08:41:01 AM
Why are bad reviews never plants?
by Mr_Sleep001
Jun 22nd, 2006
08:44:22 AM
...Fetta....
by UncleEthan
Jun 22nd, 2006
08:51:11 AM
Shilly McShill Nuts
by PORKY
Jun 22nd, 2006
08:56:16 AM
Fettamundo
by Mr_Sleep001
Jun 22nd, 2006
08:57:01 AM
Get the goddamn machete - it's OVERGROWN JUNGLE!
by Doctor_Sin
Jun 22nd, 2006
09:01:55 AM
Bad reviews can be plants...
by JohnGalt06
Jun 22nd, 2006
09:02:01 AM
JohnGalt06
by Mr_Sleep001
Jun 22nd, 2006
09:07:53 AM
Even more sad then that he chooses now to bend over
by GordonRamsey=Gay
Jun 22nd, 2006
09:09:19 AM
Too Soon!!!
by JuggFuckler
Jun 22nd, 2006
09:21:40 AM
Fettamundo
by Mr_Sleep001
Jun 22nd, 2006
09:31:40 AM
TB melt down commences in 5... 4... 3...
by brycemonkey
Jun 22nd, 2006
09:38:16 AM
"The Great New Wonderful"...
by JohnGalt06
Jun 22nd, 2006
09:50:22 AM
Fettamundo and everyone. Why they hate you.
by Cory849
Jun 22nd, 2006
10:20:17 AM
...In my humble opinion....
by UncleEthan
Jun 22nd, 2006
10:20:52 AM
Too Spoon!
by The*tick*
Jun 22nd, 2006
10:24:57 AM
Hey Fettamundo...
by Kung Fu Hustler
Jun 22nd, 2006
10:32:58 AM
^^^^^^^
by Kung Fu Hustler
Jun 22nd, 2006
10:34:53 AM
It comes off as a little greeny...
by beefywhore
Jun 22nd, 2006
10:36:47 AM
People are still dying in Iraq?
by brycemonkey
Jun 22nd, 2006
10:37:50 AM
Damned if you do....
by The_Closet_Nerd
Jun 22nd, 2006
10:55:15 AM
We need a reboot/restart of the 9/11 franchise
by Doctor_Sin
Jun 22nd, 2006
10:57:35 AM
closet nerd
by Cory849
Jun 22nd, 2006
11:04:22 AM
Closet Nerd... wow.
by brycemonkey
Jun 22nd, 2006
11:07:16 AM
Hey Fettamundo....
by supermonkey
Jun 22nd, 2006
11:08:13 AM
Improved...
by The_Closet_Nerd
Jun 22nd, 2006
11:11:21 AM
AL QAEDA BEGINS?
by JohnGalt06
Jun 22nd, 2006
11:12:21 AM
Brycemonkey
by The_Closet_Nerd
Jun 22nd, 2006
11:18:08 AM
Yeah you tell 'em Closet Nerd!
by brycemonkey
Jun 22nd, 2006
11:18:43 AM
Our Government and Media have you all fooled!
by Teemu13
Jun 22nd, 2006
11:20:16 AM
Oh and to answer your question...
by brycemonkey
Jun 22nd, 2006
11:22:11 AM
Interesting way to recruit for a test screening
by Smurfette
Jun 22nd, 2006
11:22:12 AM
Some of us Yanks are embarrassed by
by Doctor_Sin
Jun 22nd, 2006
11:23:28 AM
re info wars, Teemu13
by Cory849
Jun 22nd, 2006
11:28:35 AM
Metric
by Cory849
Jun 22nd, 2006
11:30:05 AM
Supermonkey...
by UncleEthan
Jun 22nd, 2006
11:32:31 AM
Thats pretty funny Smurfette...
by beefywhore
Jun 22nd, 2006
11:34:46 AM
I never said we Americans know better ;)
by Doctor_Sin
Jun 22nd, 2006
11:35:16 AM
Well, at least we can achieve world peace *here*
by Doctor_Sin
Jun 22nd, 2006
11:42:12 AM
Amen about the metric system
by JohnGalt06
Jun 22nd, 2006
11:43:36 AM
UncleEthan..
by supermonkey
Jun 22nd, 2006
11:44:20 AM
Iraq & American's behavour in other countries
by batjack
Jun 22nd, 2006
11:47:38 AM
Blame the gov't not the soldiers, people
by Doctor_Sin
Jun 22nd, 2006
11:49:46 AM
I dunno. I didnt go into burger King.
by Cory849
Jun 22nd, 2006
11:50:39 AM
This TB has gotten too mushy
by Doctor_Sin
Jun 22nd, 2006
12:00:35 PM
Hey Jarv...
by batjack
Jun 22nd, 2006
12:05:50 PM
To go back to my original point...
by brycemonkey
Jun 22nd, 2006
12:30:05 PM
Teemu13
by Kung Fu Hustler
Jun 22nd, 2006
12:30:35 PM
Actually, this TB has more plants than...
by JohnGalt06
Jun 22nd, 2006
12:35:37 PM
Who is John Galt?
by Cory849
Jun 22nd, 2006
12:41:12 PM
Americans pretty much use the metric system now.
by FluffyUnbound
Jun 22nd, 2006
12:41:29 PM
Explosive protagonists...
by JohnGalt06
Jun 22nd, 2006
12:47:25 PM
I couldn't repair my car w/o using Metrics
by Doctor_Sin
Jun 22nd, 2006
12:57:52 PM
Most americans traveling alone or in small...
by commonsense101
Jun 22nd, 2006
01:02:24 PM
He had no legal right
by Cory849
Jun 22nd, 2006
01:02:55 PM
Jarv
by JackTarmac
Jun 22nd, 2006
01:03:46 PM
Too late!
by performingmonkey
Jun 22nd, 2006
01:18:27 PM
Hey performingmonkey...
by brycemonkey
Jun 22nd, 2006
01:25:52 PM
Fools Again! become a Slave then!
by Teemu13
Jun 22nd, 2006
01:28:25 PM
UncleEthan
by Blanket-Man
Jun 22nd, 2006
01:39:19 PM
Teemu13
by Cory849
Jun 22nd, 2006
01:43:21 PM
How to spot a conspiracy theorist maniac
by Kung Fu Hustler
Jun 22nd, 2006
01:48:09 PM
Fuck you, Stone.
by TopHat
Jun 22nd, 2006
02:04:03 PM
Teemu13...
by Mr Nice Gaius
Jun 22nd, 2006
02:22:05 PM
Fuck you, TopHat
by Kung Fu Hustler
Jun 22nd, 2006
02:22:48 PM
Hey Gaius...
by Kung Fu Hustler
Jun 22nd, 2006
02:23:40 PM
Kung Fu Hustler
by Mr Nice Gaius
Jun 22nd, 2006
02:31:41 PM
You Ignorant Masses . . .
by kevinwillis.net
Jun 22nd, 2006
02:35:17 PM
Cory849
by Teemu13
Jun 22nd, 2006
02:40:13 PM
Anyway, back to the film....
by Giant Ape Balls
Jun 22nd, 2006
02:46:22 PM
Teemu13!
by Cory849
Jun 22nd, 2006
02:47:27 PM
Actually kevinwillis.net...
by Mr Nice Gaius
Jun 22nd, 2006
02:55:22 PM
Good points, Ape Balls...
by Kung Fu Hustler
Jun 22nd, 2006
02:56:33 PM
I forgot, juries are never wrong...
by JohnGalt06
Jun 22nd, 2006
03:01:52 PM
re: brycemonkey
by cantankerous
Jun 22nd, 2006
03:05:22 PM
So how many have died in Iraq since...
by brycemonkey
Jun 22nd, 2006
03:22:43 PM
"Mission Accomplished"
by brycemonkey
Jun 22nd, 2006
03:25:59 PM
re: why they hate you
by cantankerous
Jun 22nd, 2006
04:06:56 PM
What's someone like Teemu13
by beefywhore
Jun 22nd, 2006
04:08:41 PM
JohnGalt
by Cory849
Jun 22nd, 2006
04:08:58 PM
lol cantankerous...
by brycemonkey
Jun 22nd, 2006
04:12:32 PM
What was the mission?
by cantankerous
Jun 22nd, 2006
04:15:50 PM
You are right cantancerous...
by brycemonkey
Jun 22nd, 2006
04:19:14 PM
cantankerous
by Cory849
Jun 22nd, 2006
04:21:05 PM
Um
by VanLingoMungo
Jun 22nd, 2006
04:26:14 PM
Mr. Nice Gaius, Don't Drink the Kool-Aid
by kevinwillis.net
Jun 22nd, 2006
05:13:46 PM
brycemonkey = ADD
by cantankerous
Jun 22nd, 2006
05:37:06 PM
"Sometimes you have to stand by your friends"
by zfisk
Jun 22nd, 2006
05:41:28 PM
enemy combatants and trade treaties
by cantankerous
Jun 22nd, 2006
05:42:42 PM
Right War, Wrong Reasons
by Jam Banjo
Jun 22nd, 2006
05:46:18 PM
re:zfisk
by cantankerous
Jun 22nd, 2006
05:53:12 PM
let's invade Iceland
by samsquanch
Jun 22nd, 2006
05:54:11 PM
No, fuck YOU, Kung Fu Hustler!
by TopHat
Jun 22nd, 2006
06:40:10 PM
re: brycemonkey
by performingmonkey
Jun 22nd, 2006
07:01:38 PM
So this is fiction, right?
by ZeroCorpse
Jun 22nd, 2006
08:01:26 PM
excellent post, Zero
by zfisk
Jun 22nd, 2006
08:05:17 PM
CONSPIRACY UNMASKED! UFOS RIGGED 9/11 ATTACK!!
by wolack22
Jun 22nd, 2006
08:13:53 PM
re: ZeroCorpe
by cantankerous
Jun 22nd, 2006
08:16:41 PM
Proof that Paramount's "WTC" is all about Money
by zfisk
Jun 22nd, 2006
08:36:18 PM
Who cares about conspiracies....
by wolack22
Jun 22nd, 2006
08:44:35 PM
Do people need proof?
by vinceklortho
Jun 22nd, 2006
08:47:46 PM
Invading Iceland Would Be A Great Idea
by kevinwillis.net
Jun 22nd, 2006
09:24:22 PM
Cory849, from another Canadian who has lived most his
by Walterego
Jun 22nd, 2006
09:39:35 PM
If the New World Order takes over...
by Darth_Gonz
Jun 22nd, 2006
10:14:18 PM
Cory 849... that's hilarious
by wolack22
Jun 22nd, 2006
10:22:13 PM
Wolack, Canada ROCKS!
by VanLingoMungo
Jun 22nd, 2006
10:30:40 PM
Walterego, I agree about hockey
by OurManInMontr
Jun 22nd, 2006
10:31:50 PM
wolack22: your last post makes a lot of sense
by OurManInMontr
Jun 22nd, 2006
10:44:15 PM
I thought Canada was a type of cheese...
by samsquanch
Jun 23rd, 2006
12:04:18 AM

by VanLingoMungo
Jun 23rd, 2006
12:14:17 AM
Critics
by mulberry
Jun 23rd, 2006
01:02:15 AM
This president proceeded to squander your goodwill...
by readingwriter
Jun 23rd, 2006
01:14:29 AM
Wolack
by CondomWrapper
Jun 23rd, 2006
01:24:08 AM
Note to readingwriter
by VanLingoMungo
Jun 23rd, 2006
01:32:47 AM
Note to VanLingoMungo
by readingwriter
Jun 23rd, 2006
01:41:52 AM
readingwriter
by VanLingoMungo
Jun 23rd, 2006
02:13:49 AM
hahahahahaha!
by DocPazuzu
Jun 23rd, 2006
02:51:54 AM
mushrooms, coke and strippers
by gride9000
Jun 23rd, 2006
03:22:08 AM
Condomwrapper... the people going to the states
by wolack22
Jun 23rd, 2006
03:43:45 AM
Why They Hate Us
by Farging Bastige
Jun 23rd, 2006
05:39:00 AM
readingwriter
by Kung Fu Hustler
Jun 23rd, 2006
07:57:39 AM
re: the people going to the states
by cantankerous
Jun 23rd, 2006
08:24:47 AM
Got any ritalin cantankerous?
by brycemonkey
Jun 23rd, 2006
08:36:20 AM
I beg your pardon performing monkey
by brycemonkey
Jun 23rd, 2006
08:41:28 AM
Readingwriter....
by supermonkey
Jun 23rd, 2006
09:16:27 AM
ZeroCorpse and zfisk = Idiots
by Mr Nice Gaius
Jun 23rd, 2006
09:30:18 AM
re: wolack22: This is why people hate americans...
by cantankerous
Jun 23rd, 2006
10:14:24 AM
friday
by Cory849
Jun 23rd, 2006
10:18:04 AM
Yeah, in the spirit of the weekend...
by brycemonkey
Jun 23rd, 2006
10:26:30 AM
cantankerous
by Cory849
Jun 23rd, 2006
10:28:13 AM
Wikipedia
by Cory849
Jun 23rd, 2006
10:32:29 AM
Well lets see Corey...
by brycemonkey
Jun 23rd, 2006
10:36:37 AM
I'm just messing with you
by brycemonkey
Jun 23rd, 2006
10:52:22 AM
80% Canadian with props to prehistoric antecedents
by Cory849
Jun 23rd, 2006
10:56:01 AM
re: Dont tell me that this guy was your best option.
by cantankerous
Jun 23rd, 2006
10:56:36 AM
I hope they put that on his tombstone
by Cory849
Jun 23rd, 2006
11:06:55 AM
a tiny URL
by Cory849
Jun 23rd, 2006
11:44:29 AM
Fox News: "9/11 Families Say Govt Hiding Truth On 9/11"
by pockybot
Jun 23rd, 2006
01:09:55 PM
hey pockeybot
by Kung Fu Hustler
Jun 23rd, 2006
01:11:55 PM
Jersey Girls New Documenary Proves 9/11 US Complicity
by pockybot
Jun 23rd, 2006
01:49:39 PM
hmmm
by Cory849
Jun 23rd, 2006
01:59:34 PM
Never mind Cory..
by brycemonkey
Jun 23rd, 2006
02:04:34 PM
Farging bastige
by riker33
Jun 23rd, 2006
02:06:11 PM
Wow
by riker33
Jun 23rd, 2006
02:07:14 PM
I can do this all day
by Cory849
Jun 23rd, 2006
02:17:24 PM
re: pockybot
by cantankerous
Jun 23rd, 2006
02:26:58 PM
the Canadian PM
by Cory849
Jun 23rd, 2006
02:32:33 PM
Architects? Demolitionists? Structural engineers?
by DocPazuzu
Jun 23rd, 2006
03:21:45 PM
Cantankerous
by wolack22
Jun 23rd, 2006
05:09:27 PM
Norman Mineta's testimony proves inside job.
by boast
Jun 23rd, 2006
05:53:22 PM
"you ignorant ass-hat child."
by performingmonkey
Jun 23rd, 2006
06:40:43 PM
See, that's what I don't like
by performingmonkey
Jun 23rd, 2006
06:41:15 PM
The subject was why people hate Americans.
by cantankerous
Jun 24th, 2006
08:36:40 AM
What if the orders ...
by cantankerous
Jun 24th, 2006
09:06:12 AM
Do you think any dummy can fly the highly technical F-1
by Cory849
Jun 24th, 2006
10:34:11 AM
OK I'm giving up performingmonkey... truce
by brycemonkey
Jun 24th, 2006
10:41:18 AM
Warm up the virgins
by The Atomic Worm
Jun 24th, 2006
12:24:04 PM
heh
by Cory849
Jun 24th, 2006
04:11:23 PM
Cantankerous... actually a lot of what i said had sense
by wolack22
Jun 24th, 2006
06:12:08 PM
Oh brother
by cantankerous
Jun 24th, 2006
08:03:40 PM
Wolack22
by Roger Thornhill
Jun 24th, 2006
11:26:01 PM
I haven't abandonned my previous statements...
by wolack22
Jun 24th, 2006
11:52:16 PM
Wolack you ignored me :(
by Roger Thornhill
Jun 25th, 2006
12:34:39 AM
eh
by wolack22
Jun 25th, 2006
01:10:20 AM
wolack22: "Anyway, I am rambling"
by cantankerous
Jun 25th, 2006
09:24:06 AM
Where THE ZONE Go???
by ZombieSolutions
Jun 25th, 2006
11:35:01 AM
I said that cause I was sick of arguing with a facist
by wolack22
Jun 25th, 2006
11:58:09 AM
It
by cantankerous
Jun 25th, 2006
02:39:55 PM
Goddammit I did defend them...
by wolack22
Jun 25th, 2006
04:27:14 PM
cory849
by riker33
Jun 27th, 2006
07:29:02 PM
TOO SOON!!!!
by JeroenK
May 22nd, 2008
08:11:45 AM
News from 2 Years ago!
by Robnhud
May 22nd, 2008
08:17:35 AM
Great Review!
by Seth_Brundle
May 22nd, 2008
08:31:03 AM

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