Is anyone else disgusted by all of these 9/11 films?

Question

I knew Hollywood was a sleazy industry, but they are outdoing themselves with these 9/11 flicks.

To make three (and counting) movies about a national tragedy just five years after it happened is not only callous, but sick. They are feeding on the misfortune of their countrymen like vultures. It took 60 years before they made a movie about Pearl Harbor. Why are the lives of those killed in the World Trade Center any less sacred? It makes you wonder when "Katrina: The Motion Picture" will be hitting theaters.

Anyway, the whole issue has me steamed. Am I the only one who feels this way? Give me your thoughts on the matter.

You're all making good points, even those supporting the 9/11 films. One question for the latter group, though: is there actually any danger that we will FORGET 9/11 any time soon? Only someone with severe recurring amnesia (or a complete moron) is going to see footage of the Trade Centers falling and say, "Whoa, cool! Is this a trailer for the next Mission Impossible?"

Our nation doesn't need a film to remind it that 3,000 of its citizens were murdered in the course of one day, especially when it only happened 5 years ago.

shkspr, get off your high horse and reread the question. My question is not whether these movies should be banned, but whether the timing and motives behind them are morally sound. I've already made my opinion on that subject clear, but your answer (despite its lengthiness) avoids the point of my question altogether.

Besides, the producers of these films have dollar signs dancing in their heads, not dreams of lasting art. If you feel the need to pitch the cause of independent art, please do it by supporting the cause of independent film, not multimillion-dollar blockbusters designed to jerk tears from an already traumatized audience.

Answer 1

Money , plain and simple when it comes to Hollywood!

Answer 2

There was a movie made about Pearl Harbor in 1942, just months after the attack. I've seen United 93 and World Trade Center and I thought both films treated the subject matter with great respect. The movies I would not want to see are ones made 60 years from now staring the Ben Affleck of the day, single handily fighting off the terrorists.

Answer 3

You must not have heard of the movie Tora! Tora! Tora!

Anyway, film is one of the central ways in which we share a collective memory. I think its important to have these kinds of films and I think its important that they be made by people with the ability to do strong research and have first-hand memory of the events. Sure, these films that you're talking about aren't documentaries, but it is the role of the artist to help us make sense of what is happening in the world around us.

Also, I think it takes a great deal of courage to present a film on 9/11 at this time. There will be obvious criticism, but that's ok. That's an important part of the process of art as well. Often the real knowledge from the artist is filtered and most importantly interpreted by the critic.

Actually, I'd like to see a movie about Katrina. Thanks Dave for the head's up on Spike Lee's latest movie.

Answer 4

It's just so the Government can keep our minds fresh about what happened so that when they need us to give up some more freedom in exchange for safety, we will fall right into their trap. Also they want us to get sad all over again so that we will think that the war is for a just cause. PLEEEEAAAASE! they use the entertainment industry to get to us. 9/11 was horrible and they know that they can play off of our emotions. Many families are going to have to be reminded of that terrible day and the loss of their loved ones while the Government and entertainment industry get what they want. It's absolutely sick and deceitful !

Answer 5

Well actually they have already started to make documentaries about Katrina. They are also in talks about movies so I guess it all goes the same way with any horrific tragedy there is always some money hungry *** looking to make some fast cash. I honestly believe that if it was one of my family members that had lost their life in one of theses events I would get a lawyer to try to prevent anyone from making a profit off of someones death. But that is just my opinion...

Answer 6

Artists respond to the world around them, and they react to it through their films/plays/songs/paintings/etc.

Your suggestion that artists ought to adopt a "hands-off" attitude towards certain events is baffling. Which events, exactly? "Tragedies"? Which ones? Who's going to create the list of what's appropriate subject matter and what isn't? You?

I take it you haven't seen "World Trade Center;" and yet you're advocating censorship without having a clue as to what the film is trying to say. Bravo. Send me an invitation to the next book-burning, while you're at it.

You don't like the idea that Hollywood is starting to respond to the events of 9/11? Then keep your wallet in your pocket, and cast your "vote" in the only way that's meaningful in the arts: by your attendance or non-attendance.

[And, by the way, I'll get off my high horse when you stop pretending to be the spokesperson for some elite group out there whose extreme sensitivity gives them the right to determine the proper artistic response to tragic events. Where, exactly, do you get off, assuming that you know what motivates Oliver Stone to do what he does? Can't wait to see what you have to say about Spike Lee's film about Hurricane Katrina...or is that one fair game?]

Answer 7

I agree and won't be seeing any of them on principle. The producers make a big deal about promoting the 'fact' that the families of the victims they consulted were happy about their movies being made and released, but there are some other families of the victims who have been upset about the movies as well. So the movie makers are simply justifying their attempts to cash in on a tragic event.

Answer 8

Is there an exact timeline of when exactly it would be acceptable to release such films? I actially watched WTC yesterday, and thought that it was really well-done and tasteful. I don't think it was exploitative in the least. And there are many films about many tragedies that have come out not too long after the actual events. Don't you think it's good to honour the people who lost their lives so that they aren't forgotten?

Answer 9

"An American Tragedy" I believe is the name of the Spike Lee film about to be released about Katrina.
I don't have a problem with any films about anything. It's a free country. If a film is on T.V. that I don't like, I change the channel. If a movie is in the theater that I don't want to see, I don't buy a ticket.

Answer 10

It makes me sad. I cried when I heard it was coming out b/c so many innocent people died, people who had family's and kids, grandparents you get the point, loved ones!

Think of how hard it was for the people who lost there family and friends to acts of terrorism, or natural disasters

The only reason these movies are being made is because the producers know that they will make billions or millions, or wtv amount of dollars off of them

Pathetic

Answer 11

I had a lot of direct contact with New York when that happened , I am really against Nicolas Cage being in a movie about it as well as the fact that we do not need a movie , play real fottage of that day is enough.