With the news trickling through to the UK that there's potentially predictable controversy, or alternatively a negative or shocked reaction, over the newest trailer for 'United 93', with the footage being removed from some cinemas in America, I am wondering what peoples thoughts are on the films existence and subject matter - the timing, the aims, the value and so on. One of the main issues seems to be the relatively close point in time in which the films is coming to screens, I am wondering how we can compare this to other films of shocking events - for instance, there seemed to be films about World War II as it was happening, in one way or another, but there were certainly more stories and potential angles to view what was at once 'one event' but ultimately a whole sequence of numerous events and stories with both positive and negative elements, as well as direct and indirect consequences. Is 9/11 comparable?
Is it too soon then to approach the whole story from an 'entertainment' perspective? Is it possible for it to be taken as a serious Docudrama? Can Hollywood justify capitalising on the film, or can it find itself in a position from which to discuss important issues when it mostly doesn't? Is it a legitimate exercise to spend what's likely to be so much money on the story? Is it good to put some record of the events we won't have experienced in the hours of live coverage on TV into a film whilst we are still relatively fresh in our memories of it all? Should events like this (or for instance, the Tsunami of Boxing Day 2004 which seems also to be heading to the screens) be avoided, left for a set period, not dramatised? Is it Voyeurism, Human Interest, Exploitation?