We’ve already discussed this quite a bit, so I won’t rehash any of my feelings on it, but it is noteworthy that the semi-controversial movie United 93 about the…well you all know what its about…is being released today. Fair warning: Prepare yourself for the onslaught of reviews. My hope is that majority of the review we will all see and read this weekend will stick to reviewing the movie and not drift off into the ever popular and thoroughly beat to death question of “Was this made too soon?” (If you are still talking about if the movie is “too soon”, please stop. The time to discuss that is past. Its out. Deal with it how ever you like, even if you just want to cover your eyes.) The first review I have read seems to stay on the other important question, “Is it a good movie?”, for the most part. Thought it drifts some, and I disagree with a few of the sentiments already, the review is solid and worth reading. You can find that one on Cinematical

The only other review I’m reading is of course, Roger Ebert’s. In the past, Mr Ebert and I have had our differences, but in the past few years I have slid over to his side of the balcony on more and more of his reviews. Ebert’s review on United 93 seems spot on, makes me want to pay to see it and, like the Cinematical review, makes me very happy with the studio’s choice on the director. The only point where Ebert even addresses the “too soon” question is right off the bat:

It is not too soon for “United 93,” because it is not a film that knows any time has passed since 9/11. The entire story, every detail, is told in the present tense. We know what they know when they know it, and nothing else. Nothing about Al Qaeda, nothing about Osama bin Laden, nothing about Afghanistan or Iraq, only events as they unfold. This is a masterful and heartbreaking film, and it does honor to the memory of the victims.

Sounds like this movie has turned out just as I had hoped. You can find Roger Ebert’s review at his website, aptly titled: rogerebert.suntimes.com

Have you seen the film yet? Let me know what you think.

Link: Cinematical review
Link: Roger Ebert’s review