Opening in theaters August 9th

[GalvestonDuck]

"World Trade Center"

http://www.wtcmovie.com/

I haven't seen previews for it, although I knew it was being made. I'm just surprised that with just under three weeks until the opening, there hasn't been much talk about it.

All I know about it so far is that it's the story of two PA officers who are trapped in the rubble during 9/11. Nicolas Cage stars as one of the two Port Authority officers.

I'll probably see it, since I also saw United 93. I'm just glad they're not opening it too close to the anniversary of 9/11.

[x-y-no]

I saw a short preview on some TV newsmagazine show. They had an interview with one of the actors and the firefighter he plays in the movie. The firefighter seemed very pleased with the film.

I'll definitely go see it.

[stormtruth]

Movies about events that happened recently seem odd. However, Nicolas Cage is a terrific actor and so this might be an exception.

[GalvestonDuck]

Just saw it -- powerful and inspirational and, unlike many Oliver Stone films, not at all political or controversial.

[CajunMama]

I think there was a write up about it in Newsweek that i remember reading.

[Audrey2Katrina]

Just saw it -- powerful and inspirational and, unlike many Oliver Stone films, not at all political or controversial.

My sentiments exactly! I went with my sister night before last to see it. Truly a powerful film--very poignant.

A2K

[Skywatch_NC]

Would be nice if some of the money that went into the production went to 9/11 families.

My family and I visited the Towers in May 1988.

[Audrey2Katrina]

My family and I visited the Towers in May 1988.

We used to go see them every year with our school trip to NYC in April. Sad what we had to see in 2002. I know it's impracticle and just the romantic in me, but I would have loved to see 'em rebuilt exactly the way they looked--despite the "ugly" comments from some folks, they'd be a beautiful sight to behold in my eyes--okay, totally not gonna happen--but I am entitled to my view of how it should've been rebuilt.

A2K

[stormtruth]

The WTC movie got unexpectedly beat by a teen dancing movie. It is still probably worth seeing but just because of Mr. Cage. Cage is also going to be Ghost Rider!

[Audrey2Katrina]

The WTC movie got unexpectedly beat by a teen dancing movie.

Sad testament, IMO... very sad how many appear to have forgotten.

and it is DEFINITELY worth seeing!

A2K

[Brent]

The WTC movie got unexpectedly beat by a teen dancing movie. It is still probably worth seeing but just because of Mr. Cage. Cage is also going to be Ghost Rider!

*Sigh*

I'm going to wait til it comes out on DVD to watch...

[GalvestonDuck]

The WTC movie got unexpectedly beat by a teen dancing movie. It is still probably worth seeing but just because of Mr. Cage. Cage is also going to be Ghost Rider!

I wouldn't say "beat" just yet...especially not for the whole weekend. The box office charts show only Fridays totals. When we went yesterday, two showings of WTC were already sold out - an earlier 4-something time and the 7:05 we went to see. Step Up still had seats available. We chose to drive out to another theater and catch a later showing of WTC. It's hard to say what yesterdays totals will add. But that's not what matters.

The story is what it's all about.

And the sound was phenomenal -- I think WTC deserves an Oscar for sound. So much of the movie was told by sound and not sight because so much if what happened, especially to the two men around which the story revolves, was not about what we saw on the live news footage, but what they heard (and felt) at Ground Zero.

Of course, there were special visual effects also, but they didn't glamorize the attacks in the usual Hollywood action-film fashion. Most of it was portrayed only with shadows and sound (and obvious news clips after the fact) without trying to go all "Independence Day" on us with the visual spectacle. The only really obvious visual special effects were the appearance of the Towers, which we know can no longer be filmed. Of course, some of it was stock footage. But there was one scene where the characters were facing the buildings right after they'd arrived at the WTC and all we saw was them looking up as documents, ash, and debris flew around them. But we knew they were facing the Towers not only because we know the events of the day (and the filmmakers knew that), but also because the Towers were so poignantly reflected in the windshield of the fire engine parked at the site.

There's just so much of about the movie that I can't quite put into words yet. But one of the most well-written lines (or, maybe the Marine actually said them) was something to the effect of "The smoke is a curtain drawn by God, shielding us from what we're not yet ready to see."

Cage and Pena were wonderful actors as well, considering most of their expressive, emotional acting was from the neck up.

[Audrey2Katrina]

The WTC movie got unexpectedly beat by a teen dancing movie. It is still probably worth seeing but just because of Mr. Cage. Cage is also going to be Ghost Rider!

*Sigh*

I'm going to wait til it comes out on DVD to watch...

If you're a movie-goer, Brent, don't let that discourage you. The movie is WELL worth the time and cost. GalvestonDuck put it extremely well in the above post. Whether a teeny-bopper movie beats it out or not, IMO, is irrelevant--popularity at the box office has never been an essential indicator of quality cinematography by my experience, and this one is a "must see" for all those who feel they need to remember just what happened on that day--and how it can be brought to the level of its impact on two families in particular.

A2K

[stormtruth]

The WTC movie got unexpectedly beat by a teen dancing movie. It is still probably worth seeing but just because of Mr. Cage. Cage is also going to be Ghost Rider!

I wouldn't say "beat" just yet...especially not for the whole weekend. The box office charts show only Fridays totals. When we went yesterday, two showings of WTC were already sold out - an earlier 4-something time and the 7:05 we went to see. Step Up still had seats available. We chose to drive out to another theater and catch a later showing of WTC. It's hard to say what yesterdays totals will add. But that's not what matters.

The story is what it's all about.

And the sound was phenomenal -- I think WTC deserves an Oscar for sound. So much of the movie was told by sound and not sight because so much if what happened, especially to the two men around which the story revolves, was not about what we saw on the live news footage, but what they heard (and felt) at Ground Zero.

Of course, there were special visual effects also, but they didn't glamorize the attacks in the usual Hollywood action-film fashion. Most of it was portrayed only with shadows and sound (and obvious news clips after the fact) without trying to go all "Independence Day" on us with the visual spectacle. The only really obvious visual special effects were the appearance of the Towers, which we know can no longer be filmed. Of course, some of it was stock footage. But there was one scene where the characters were facing the buildings right after they'd arrived at the WTC and all we saw was them looking up as documents, ash, and debris flew around them. But we knew they were facing the Towers not only because we know the events of the day (and the filmmakers knew that), but also because the Towers were so poignantly reflected in the windshield of the fire engine parked at the site.

There's just so much of about the movie that I can't quite put into words yet. But one of the most well-written lines (or, maybe the Marine actually said them) was something to the effect of "The smoke is a curtain drawn by God, shielding us from what we're not yet ready to see."

Cage and Pena were wonderful actors as well, considering most of their expressive, emotional acting was from the neck up.

Nice review GalvestonDuck! Yes, it could still climb over Saturday and Sunday. Friday nights may have a bigger teen crowd.

[CajunMama]

Teens are major movie goers. They go for guts, gore, laughs and romance. They don't want to see serious movies. Remember the many of the teens of today may have been too young to understand the impact that 9/11 had on us.

[Brent]

The WTC movie got unexpectedly beat by a teen dancing movie. It is still probably worth seeing but just because of Mr. Cage. Cage is also going to be Ghost Rider!

*Sigh*

I'm going to wait til it comes out on DVD to watch...

If you're a movie-goer, Brent, don't let that discourage you. The movie is WELL worth the time and cost. GalvestonDuck put it extremely well in the above post. Whether a teeny-bopper movie beats it out or not, IMO, is irrelevant--popularity at the box office has never been an essential indicator of quality cinematography by my experience, and this one is a "must see" for all those who feel they need to remember just what happened on that day--and how it can be brought to the level of its impact on two families in particular.

A2K

Oh it's not that... I haven't gone to the theater to see a movie in over 3 years now. Just not my thing.

[Skywatch_NC]

The last movie I saw at the theater was "The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe".

Next one for me will be "The Nativity" which opens 12/1/06.

[cycloneye]

1. "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby," $23 million.
2. "Step Up," $21 million.
3. "World Trade Center," $19 million.
4. "Barnyard," $10.1 million.
5. "Pulse," $8.5 million.
6. "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," $7.2 million.
7. "Zoom," $4.6 million.
8. "The Descent," $4.6 million.
9. "Miami Vice," $4.5 million.
10. "Monster House," $3.3 million

World Trade Center came third in money grossed this weekend.I will go and see it next weekend.

[j]

saw this as well friday night. Waited in a long line. I thought it was great.

I agree with you here Shawn:

"And the sound was phenomenal -- I think WTC deserves an Oscar for sound. So much of the movie was told by sound and not sight because so much if what happened, especially to the two men around which the story revolves, was not about what we saw on the live news footage, but what they heard (and felt) at Ground Zero."

Also agree that this won't be a huge hit with the teens...not enough carnage, not enough sex, and zero rap. Definitely suited for a more serious, mature audience.

You won't shed as many tears as flight 93 induced (IMO), but that doesn't make it any less powerful.


Just a quick note on the other film I saw this weekend --- Miami Vice -- It stunk to high heaven

[ohiostorm]

I am going to see it Wednesday. I hope I like it.