*** Official WORLD TRADE CENTER Discussion Thread

Michael Reuben · 08-09-2006, 11:43 AM

This is the Official Discussion Thread for WORLD TRADE CENTER. Please post all comments, links to outside reviews, film and box office discussion items to this thread.

All HTF member film reviews of WORLD TRADE CENTER should be posted to the Official Review Thread.

This thread is for discussing the film itself. Commentary on matters not directly related to the film will cause the post to be deleted. Thanks for your cooperation.

M.

Tino · 08-09-2006, 03:39 PM

Saw this today and liked, not loved it. It was a bit surreal watching it since I know Will Jimeno, played by Michael Pena.

Everyone was solid in it, but I guess I was expecting the power of United 93, which this film doesn't equal.While that film was an unflinching look at what (probably) happened, this film is more of a family film, with a much happier outcome.

Look for the real Will playing a PA cop, who wishes rookie Michael Pena good luck in the locker room.

it definitely had a "hollywood" feel to it, but was subdued for an Oliver Stone film. Not political at all, which I was happy to see.

Worth seeing.

Inspector Hammer! · 08-09-2006, 04:45 PM

Tino,
let me ask, did the fact that Nicholas Cage played one of the policemen distract you in any way? I don't know, IMO they should have used an unknown to play this role, the fact that I look at him and see Nicholas Cage's face takes away from the realism a bit than if it were a face that I had never seen before.

I haven't seen the film yet but want to, hopefully i'll get the chance to see it in the theater.

TravisR · 08-09-2006, 08:08 PM

I'm not Tino

but I was surprised by how well Nicolas Cage worked in the movie for me. I stopped noticing 'Nicolas Cage' and just saw his character. There's a ton of recognizable character actors but they all blended into the movie.

Patrick Sun · 08-12-2006, 07:04 PM

The only mis-step in the film for me was Maria Bello wearing those blue contact lenses that made her look strange when her eyes were trying to say something, but just looked odd when she'd look downward. Even if the actual Donna McLoughlin had blue eyes, I don't think they should have had Bello wear blue contacts because it was distracting, and not all that germane to the story at hand.

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Robert Crawford · 08-12-2006, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick Sun

The only mis-step in the film for me was Maria Bello wearing those blue contact lenses that made her look strange when her eyes were trying to say something, but just looked odd when she'd look downward. Even if the actual Donna McLoughlin had blue eyes, I don't think they should have had Bello wear blue contacts because it was distracting, and not all that germane to the story at hand.

This is a first, I actually agree with Patrick about something movie related.

Those blue contact lenses actually took me out of the film for the first couple of minutes of watching her on screen.

Crawdaddy

Michael Elliott · 08-13-2006, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Everyone was solid in it, but I guess I was expecting the power of United 93, which this film doesn't equal.

Quote:

Nicholas Cage played one of the policemen distract you in any way?

I'd give this

out of four. I had some problems with the flashbacks, which really took away from the suspense of the two officers. Perhaps I would have given this a full four stars had I not seen UNITED 93 but after that film, this film just didn't hit me the same way. *U93 wrecked my emotions and it's a film I might not watch again so that strong impact wasn't in this film. I thought both actors did a good job but I think unknowns would have been better.

I really enjoyed the film all the way through but certain parts picked at me. I already mentioned they should have stayed with the officers. I also think the movie would have worked better had they focused on those outside the Towers who were planning the rescues of not just these men but others as well. The "family waiting at home" bit has been seen so many times in the past. I wouldn't say it bored me here but it just didn't leave much of an impact.

*On U93, I mentioned in its thread that the film really wrecked me and there were several moments that I really didn't want to watch. After seeing this tamer version I really started to ask myself if the "impact" of U93 should have been so strong. I've already said WTC didn't have such an impact so perhaps on future viewings I'll come to enjoy the film for that.

Thi Them · 08-13-2006, 09:01 PM

I agree with the "good but not great" opinion. I wasn't able to see a lot of United 93 due to motion sickness, but from what I saw and all that I heard, I could tell it was a more intense and powerful movie than this.

~T

Robert Crawford · 08-14-2006, 12:35 AM

From my perspective, this film was more powerful and emotionally effective to me than United 93 because I got an actual glimpse into the lives of the two men and their families. Both, are fine films, but I was more emotionally connected to this film than the other.

Crawdaddy