We just saw The Queen. I think we're about done with the Oscars although we might still see Notes on a Scandel and both Little Miss Sunshine and Water are coming from Netflix. The Queen had very good acting but I didn't think the story was that interesting. But I've always considered royalty to be rather useless and expensive so I didn't care that much about the queen or her struggles. Diane described Pan's Labyrinth quite well. It is mostly a war story with some fantasy elements. The grisly part is mostly the fights between the army and the rebels which does include the aftermath of the torture of one of the rebels (although thankfully it does not show the actual torture). I feel sorry for my mother right now. She likes to watch the movies on our top ten lists for the year but she hates violence. And pretty much the only non-violent movie on my top ten is Shortbus which has a lot of graphic sex. So I can't exactly recommend that one to her either. I think she'd really like Volver though and all the violence in that is off-screen so I think that one is okay at least.

I finally saw it, late last night. I felt a knot in my gut get tighter and tighter as the scenes passed and the drama of desperation accumulated. But other than that, the movie did not cause any intense or unusual emotional disturbance in me. I thought it was exceptionally, commendably well done. DW even went with me, and for once, we both came through about identically, emotionally. DW was offended because it seemed to her like the military characters were singled out for put-downs. It looked to her like there was an imbalance of portrayal of the military folks, compared to the other responders, as the least intelligent, most disorganized and otherwise most inept. I didn't take it that way, although I understand why she would. But really, the attacks were not something anyone was well-rehearsed in responding to. (Who's all set to execute plans to respond to an earthquake in Chicago? Or a bee swarm in a shopping mall, for that matter?) There probably would have been unnecessary shootdowns if the President's orders had been passed. That's the kind of thing that happens simply because of the "fog of war," absent any blood lust, overreaction, or insubordination. I thought the commanders' declining to pass the shootdown orders was as brave and admirable an action as the passengers' revolt. I guess I brought that up because I'm familiar with air-to-air scenarios. For irony in personal experience, just this past week I watched The Godfather Part III on DVD. Weird movie, but I suppose it was a way to bring some kind of closure to the first two parts. Anyway, one very good line in it was: "Don't hate your enemies; it clouds your judgment." I think United 93's most clever quality was its portrayal in a way that did not strive to focus viewers' empathy toward either hijackers, or passengers, or other responders, or other less involved characters. Portrayal with any hint of "partisanship" would have disserved the public and cheapened the movie. The media are already far too full of historical portrayals that stoke already existing hatreds (and create new ones), such that too many people are fighting the war we are in with clouded judgment. It's one thing for combatants to adopt, or reject, one another's strategies, tactics, methods, ideas or styles. But it's self-defeating to the warrior who lets propaganda affect how he "feels about" his enemy. I ached after the movie, not because of it, but because there aren't more like it, especially covering the current war.

Patti - Thank you for that video. I don't think there are adequate words to describe that kind of courage and I'm so glad that GB told her story. As to her not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize - well, there are many righteous people who have been passed by. Irony noted. I linked to more details about her. In Israel, in Jerusalem, is the great memorial to Holocaust victims, Yad VaShem. One of its most affecting areas is a lovely country lane shaded by hundreds of trees; the Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations, meaning non-Jews who helped saved Jews (and others) from the Nazis. It's pictured on the top right of the link below. I have walked there often, always moved by its stillness and serenity. Irena's tree is at the entrance. Of course, thousands of people were rescuers, and they are all named and honored on Yad VaShem's website. After watching your video, I suspected that she might be listed, so googled the site and found her! Yes, I watched the preview, and yes, we'll see the movie. Thanks again! Declansmom - every time I see your name I smile, because our first and only DGS is named Declan. That was the first time I'd heard the name and it took awhile (about three minutes) to adjust to. I want to call him Dex, but DS and DDIL prefer his full name. Here is a link that might be useful: More about Irena Sendler

Oh, yes, I think everyone's had this experience. It often happens when you've been told about a family story so often that you think you remember it, even though you weren't much more than a baby at the time. Have you ever read anything by Elizabeth Loftus about memory creation? Scary stuff.