9/11 - The Filmmakers' Commemorative Edition

Rating:
Summary: This film centers around one department of Firefighters
Review: The title of the film indicated to me that the presentation would be about the whole episode of 9/11. I anticipated seeing all of the film of the planes crashing into the buildings, the collapse of the towers (both of these were in this film but the pictures were not clear in explaining the event. They are more amateur/victim footage from up close to and inside of the building while the tragedy is taking place.)

The film is interesting. And if you want more of a personal documentary approach (centering on a department of Firefighters who were there that day - but, only one of the many departments of Firefighters involved) then this is the film for you.

I bought a copy with the thought in mind of having a record of the event that I could show to my children in ten years so that they could, with candid clarity, understand what took place. This is definitely not the film appropriate for that purpose. The feeling of the film is a record of what we all thought on that day, "what the hell is going on?" There is no follow up footage on what we discovered about the events in the years following or even what happened after the rescue operation which took place for the few weeks after the collapse. There is no theory as to how the hijackers accomplished what they did or what motivated the attack. There is only a bunch of stunned people trying to figure out what they could possibly do. This is not a "9/11 documentary".

Rating:
Summary: a solemn reminder of why we must never forget
Review: I am basing this review upon watching my own videotaped copy of this CBS episode. No matter how many times I watch this I am constantly reminded of my own thoughts and feelings on this terrible morning. Being a transplanted New Yorker living in CA, I feel a very personal sense of sorrow for those who lost loved ones that day, anger at those responsible and absolute admiration for those whose bravery is so indelibly captured on this tape. The brothers do a great job as witnesses to history, treading that delicate line between bystander and victim, witness and participant. I admire them for their courage and professionalism. One can only hope that we all, as a country remember this tragic morning and that our response to it as a nation continues some 3+ years later, must never waver, never stop until the threat of more cowardly attacks such as those on 9/11 abates.

Rating:
Summary: Great 9/11 footage
Review: This is one of the best 9-11-01 Video, Watching the command post in the lobby of the North Tower sent chills up my spine, I knew some of the firefighters that perished on that day. I just glad that we have a record of that day. Another great video is my video that just became available on Amazon.com, WTC 911 Day of Disaster. It picks up, where this video ends, following firefighters through the ruins regrouping and starting the rescue operation. I highly recommend both videos.

Rating:
Summary: The only inside view
Review: It was a fluke that one of the Naudet brothers was with the first fire chief to reach the North Tower. Every minute of the fight to get organized and start the rescue of Tower 1, amid all the horror of the debris, material and people, falling outside of camera range is captured for you to HEAR and feel. The concern and fear in the faces of the firefighters is real. The other brother captures the astonishment of the crowds of on-lookers on NYC streets and displays the true international scope of the city. How would we cope with those sights, those sounds and that terror?

Rating:
Summary: A must see historical item
Review: This is a must see documentary of the events on 9/11 as seen by a filmmaker working with NYFD prior to 9/11. Watch as the first plane hits the tower. Go into the tower and watch the command post in action. See the concern on the face of the NYFD Chaplin as he says silent prayers for the people there. Then watch as he is carried out of the building after becoming the first official casualty.

A moving tribute at the end of the show with the singing of Danny Boy as the pictures of all the firefighters killed at the WTC.

Rating:
Summary: Incredible
Review: I watched this again last night on DVD after first seeing it on CBS a few years ago. I had forgotten how captivating it was. Unbelievable footage inside the lobby of Tower 1 as people are evacuating. Incredible segment where one of the filmmakers and firefighters race up stalled elevators as the other tower falls and then become shrouded in pitch black dust. Horrifying shots of people fleeing as the first tower collapses, a huge cloud of dust advancing quickly behind them. I sat on the floor in front of my television, glued once the disaster begins to unfold.

Like another reviewer here, I found myself pausing and slow-searching through some shots that were too unbelievable in real time. This really is an amazing document of a horrible day.