New York theatre pulls trailer for 'United 93'

Four-and-a-half years after the Sept. 11 attacks, a new movie about what transpired on one of the hijacked planes is set to open in New York.

But with the wounds of the terror attacks still fresh, critics say it's much too soon to relive the terror of the al Qaeda-hijacked plane that crashed into a Pennsylvania field.

Canadian Maureen Basnicki, whose husband Ken died during the New York attacks, says the film "United 93" is being released without any regard for the victims' families.

"To deal with this movie it's just too much, I think, for myself and for any individual to go have to go through," Basnicki told CTV News. "I can't handle it today."

In New York City, the manager of AMC Loews Lincoln Square 12 theatre in Manhattan has pulled the trailer for the film, saying he made the decision after hearing complaints from viewers.

"I don't think people are ready for this," Kevin Adjodha told Newsweek magazine.

"One lady was crying," he explained. "She was saying that we shouldn't have played the trailer. That this was wrong."

Universal Studios in Los Angeles, meanwhile, is refusing to pull the trailer for the thriller, which is scheduled to open in theaters on April 28.

Universal says it will continue to market the film "in a manner we feel is truthful and direct so that those who elect to see the film will be prepared for the experience.

Adam Fogelson, Universal's president of marketing, said it would be shown only before R-rated movies or "grown-up" PG-13 ones.

Fogelson told The New York Times that the film is an "honest and real look" at the events on board Flight 93.

He said it doesn't sanitize or soften the terror that victims of the tragedy went through.

"If I sanitized the trailer beyond what's there, am I suggesting that the experience will be less real than what the movie itself is? We as a company feel comfortable that it is a responsible and fair way to show what's coming," he said.

But some filmgoers felt far from comfortable after seeing the promotional spot. At the famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, filmgoers were heard shouting "too soon."

"It is pretty offensive. I was pretty offended and shocked actually when they came on," one moviegoer told ABC News.

The trailer begins with passengers and crew preparing for Flight 93 on a sunny morning. But the drama builds quickly with pulsing music played under news video of a plane about to hit the World Trade Center.

The viewer is then taken inside United Flight 93 as terrorists begin the hijacking. It ends with a passenger calling his family to inform them of the impending disaster.

One psychiatrist warns that the visual reminder may be jarring for some viewers.

"Even if you have put 9/11 well behind you and you have been able to move on with your life, you may not want a graphic reminder to pop up suddenly in the movie theatre," Dr. Randall Marshall, director of trauma studies for the New York State Office of Mental Health at the New York State Psychiatric Institute, told ABC News.

The film, however, does have the support of several family members of 9/11 victims.

Kenny Nacke, who lost his brother Louis J. Nacke II who was on board Flight 93, is helping to promote the film.

"Our loved ones continue to live inside all of us, so we continue to be their voices," said Nacke. "I would hope someone would walk away from hearing the feats of the passengers and crew of Flight 93 empowered."

Alice Hoagland, who lost her son in the attacks, called the film "a beautiful story in all that ugliness."

The makers of "United 93" said they made sure they consulted with all the family members of the 40 passengers and crew aboard United 93 before they went ahead with the project.

Paul Greengrass, the film's writer and director, said the families were unanimous in wanting to see the film produced.

"It will be painful, but ultimately in the case of this particularly story, "United 93" (will be) inspiring," Greengrass said.

"United 93" is scheduled to make its world premiere on opening night at the Tribeca Film Festival in Manhattan, which was created to help lower Manhattan recover financially from the attacks.

The festival begins April 25 and runs through May 7.

Universal Pictures says it will donate 10 per cent of the first three days' grosses from the film to The Flight 93 National Memorial.

Located in Somerset County, Penn., the memorial will be meant to provide a place to learn about the events of Sept. 11.

*With files from The Associated Press

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