Ready or Not, 'United 93' Brings Mixed Emotions
April 29, 2006 — -- A tragic day for America is now playing at a theater near you, and for some far from the attacks, it is 9/11 up close for the first time.
"United 93," the first major movie about Sept. 11, opened nationwide Friday. The film was pieced together from actual cockpit recordings and phone calls to loved ones from the doomed plane, which heroic passengers overtook from hijackers to avert an attack on Washington.
The movie depicts in real time each of the 91 minutes from the boarding of Flight 93 to its terrifying final moments.
The horrifying events of that September day took place 500 miles from Batavia, Ill. But now, they are as close as the local cinema.
Jim Smyth, a retired 911 dispatcher, said he had to see the movie.
"It's just gonna be hard to get through," he said.
Along with Smyth, Sandra and Michael Lech were also at the front of the line in Batavia on opening day.
"There was no question in our minds that we were coming this evening," Sandra Lech said.
But many say the release of the painfully authentic film is too much too soon.
The family of Flight 93's pilot, Jason Dahl, did not attend the premiere. The memories, they say, are too raw.
"It's just-- I can't do it," said Lowell Dahl, Jason Dahl's brother. "It's just too hard. I don't want to relive it right now."
There also is concern that Hollywood has created scenes that manipulate the truth. The movie suggests the terrorists had killed the pilot and co-pilot, and were headed for the Capitol. In reality, those facts are unclear.
Still, viewers say the film sends a powerful message -- and some say watching the courage shown in this heart-wrenching film is uplifting.
"In a way it made me feel a little better about knowing we weren't afraid to fight back," moviegoer Rob Brundage said.
ABC News' Barbara Pinto originally reported this story for "Good Morning America Weekend Edition" and "World News Tonight."
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