2006年VOA标准英语-Movie Based on United Flight 93 Crash Open

By Penelope Poulou
Washington, DC
01 May 2006
 
watch United 93 report

A movie about the tragic¹ events of September 11, 2001 plays, for the first time ever, in the movie theaters.  The film "United 93," by director Paul Greengrass, focuses on the last minutes of the lives of the 40 passengers on-board one of four doomed² flights, United 93. The gritty re-enactment of what happened to it has raised the question of whether a movie like this should have been made. 

Radio Announcer:  "We're going to go over to Chris and talk about the forecast. It was a very good one." 

On that beautiful morning of September 11, 2001 no American could have imagined that this day would be so different.

The Captain speaks over the loud speaker saying, "We've reached our cruise altitude of 35.000 feet and I'm going to turn the 'fasten seat belts' sign off..."

United 93 terrorist  
  
There is nothing overstated about this or any scene in "United 93."  The disbelief, the fear, the horror -- key elements in successful action films -- are too real, too painful, in this movie to be escapist.

But, escape was not in Paul Greengrass's mind when he was making this movie. "Personally, I think so much of what has happened in our world today, goes back to 9/11 -- that we have to be prepared to go and look at that event, and look at it with a degree of reality. You can't airbrush the terror and the fear of 9/11. We have to face up to it." 

 
Paul Greengrass
  
Paul Greengrass focuses on the events of the ill-fated United 93 because, as he says, it highlights human bravery and human weakness.     

Over the speaker the pilot says, "It looks like we've run into a bit of rush hour traffic. Unfortunately there is going to be a 30 minute delay."

Mr. Greengrass says timing³ was everything. "The extraordinary thing about flight 93 is that it was very late. By the time the flight 93 took off, the other airplanes were reaching their targets."

And when the hijackers take over, the camera captures people's confusion, their disbelief and terror.  Some sneak⁴ calls to their relatives and learn that the hijacking⁵ is part of a wider terrorist attack. They realize that their plane will also be used as a weapon against a target in Washington.

  
  
Again, Greengrass. " At that moment those people on board that aircraft could see exactly what they were dealing⁶ with and what they were faced with was a dreadful choice, but with immense courage that group of people weighed those choices, made a decision, and acted upon it."      

While the drama unfolds in the air, Greengrass' camera looks critically at the bureaucracy and the lack of coordination⁷ on the ground.

A military officer says, "Four planes. That's all I got. I cannot defend the whole eastern seaboard with four planes. What you've got?"

A female officer remarks, “Washington is on the phone. They say they have got American 77 it just went missing out of Dulles. It was supposed to go to LAX."

A male officer replies, "This is another one?" 

Ben Sliney was the FAA National Operations Manager that day and has a cameo role in the movie. 

 
Ben Sliney
  
"Listen. I'm not taking any more chances. We've got stuff flying around we do have not control over. And I don't want a board full of these planes hitting any of these buildings on the East Coast. This is a national emergency. Everyone lands regardless of destination," he says in the re-creation.

In an interview, Mr. Sliney says, "The irony⁸, of course, was they first wanted to know who gave me the authority to do that, and then ten minutes later, after 93 had crashed, which they thought had taken off much later than it did, they wanted to know why I hadn't done it sooner."

Using a handheld camera, Greengrass takes close-up, unsteady shots creating the effect of a docudrama, full of stress and tension. Its effect is visceral.

Some who appear in the movie took part in the actual events of that day. Others, are victims' relatives. The effect is so realistic that many have questioned whether audiences are ready to watch a film like this. 

Dr. Jeffrey Jay   
  
Psychologist Jeffrey Jay says that 9/11 still strikes too close to Americans' hearts. "We still carry a piece of that fear and the whole country is still involved in a war, in trials. We're still trying to figure out what all this means. It began in 2001 but, it's not that long ago and we're still trying to figure this out. So, we're all participants in a different way. 

Greengrass says retelling the story has been a delicate undertaking⁹. "I don't think you ever know when is the right time to make a film like this. And that's why you have to start by going to see the families. They clearly feel that it's the right time. So, we should listen. We should listen to what their story is"

In the film, the voices of the passengers are heard. "We have to do something. They are not going to land this plane. They are not going to take us back to the airport. Is there any other option we have? We are gonna die … we're gonna die..."                         

Critics have hailed this film as a truthful¹⁰ and emotional account.  Director Greengrass approaches the subject with respect and sensitivity. His movie is a tribute to the victims of 9/11 …and to those who will be influenced forever by the events of September 11th.

1 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

2 doomed   

命定的

参考例句：

• The court doomed the accused to a long term of imprisonment. 法庭判处被告长期监禁。
• A country ruled by an iron hand is doomed to suffer. 被铁腕人物统治的国家定会遭受不幸的。

3 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

4 sneak   

vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行

参考例句：

• He raised his spear and sneak forward.他提起长矛悄悄地前进。
• I saw him sneak away from us.我看见他悄悄地从我们身边走开。

5 hijacking   

n. 劫持, 抢劫 动词hijack的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• I have been told about the hijacking . 我已听说了那次劫机事件。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 口语
• They are taking measures to guarantee against the occurrence of hijacking. 他们正采取措施防止劫机事件的发生。

6 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

7 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。

8 irony   

n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄

参考例句：

• She said to him with slight irony.她略带嘲讽地对他说。
• In her voice we could sense a certain tinge of irony.从她的声音里我们可以感到某种讥讽的意味。

9 undertaking   

n.保证，许诺，事业

参考例句：

• He gave her an undertaking that he would pay the money back with in a year.他向她做了一年内还钱的保证。
• He is too timid to venture upon an undertaking.他太胆小，不敢从事任何事业。

10 truthful   

adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的

参考例句：

• You can count on him for a truthful report of the accident.你放心，他会对事故作出如实的报告的。
• I don't think you are being entirely truthful.我认为你并没全讲真话。