The image above isn't taken directly from Paul Greengrass' United 93 (2006), but both represent something much larger than what's on display. It is, of course, the recovered flight data recorder of that doomed Boeing 757; the last plane to crash on September 11th and the only one that failed to reach its intended target. Discovered some 25 feet down at the site of impact near Shanksville, Pennsylvania (roughly 130 miles west of my hometown, Harrisburg), this recorder was one of the only existing tools used to decipher what exactly happened after the plane was hijacked.

United Airlines Flight 93 took off for San Francisco at 8:42 am, following roughly 42 minutes of routine traffic delays. Four Islamic fundamentalists took control of the aircraft by force just before 9:30 am, changing the plane's destination to Washington, DC. Armed with knives and a bomb---the latter of which was eventually discovered to be a fake---the hijackers held the passengers at bay, stabbing several to death in the process. The passengers and remaining crew attempted to regain control shortly thereafter, but the plane went down just after 10:00 am. Forty innocent passengers and crew members were on board, but none survived the flight. That much is certain, according to the 9/11 Commission, the cockpit voice recorder, the flight data recorder (above) and numerous phone calls made by passengers during the incident. The exact details may never be known...but they can be speculated, based on the facts.

Though it's not the first film to re-enact the fate of that doomed flight, United 93 is perhaps the most self-aware and affecting. Other tragedies that day---including the destruction of the World Trade Center and the damage done to the Pentagon---are briefly touched upon, but this story remains largely self-contained. We see the incident through the eyes of the FAA and the military as they scramble to get their bearings, but it's mostly seen from the perspective of those on board. Numerous phone calls are made to friends and family members, either for confirmation of other tragedies or their final goodbyes. Though much of what takes place on board is purely speculative, it's completely plausible at every turn. First-time viewers will likely sit, frozen in shock, just as we did while watching the original events unfold.

Largely populated by unknown actors and real-life participants playing themselves, United 93 feels like a horrifying documentary peppered by brief dashes of dramatization. Paul Greengrass has stuck with the shaky, hand-held look employed in The Bourne Sumpremacy, while the relative obscurity of those onscreen ensures that we're not playing "spot the celebrity". The simple but competent production avoids flashy effects, most notably during the brilliantly understated closing moments. Though a few aspects of certain characters still bothered me---including the complete lack of initiative by the flight attendants---United 93 does a fantastic job of avoiding Hollywood formulas, especially since it's such an easy target. Essential viewing for anyone affected by the tragedy, it's easily one of the better films of 2006 thus far.

Presented on DVD by Universal in both one and two-disc packages, United 93 is rounded out nicely by an excellent technical presentation and a few noteworthy extras. All things considered, it's a fairly potent release in all departments, only slightly hampered by a lack of technical-related supplements. Let's take a closer look, shall we?

Presented in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio and anamorphically enhanced for widescreen displays, United 93 looks excellent from start to finish. The slightly muted color palette is bold but natural, while the overall transfer remains crisp and dirt-free. Other problems, such as edge enhancement and digital combing, don't seem to be an issue with this release. Overall, this is a fantastic visual presentation that won't disappoint.

The 5.1 Dolby Surround mix (also available in a Spanish or French 5.1 dub) is equally impressive, boasting clear dialogue and ample surround activity when appropriate. Also included here is a DVS (Descriptive Video Service) track---utilized in many other Universal releases, including Cinderella Man---in which a narrator describes each scene in detail. English captions are provided during all content, while French and Spanish subtitles are included for the film only.

Also of interest is "United 93: The Families and the Film" (presented in 16x9 widescreen, 59:50 total), a thoughtful documentary with footage of several actors meeting the real-life families of the victims they're portraying. It's a bit unnerving to see such private moments captured on film, but this tastefully done piece is well worth watching. On a similar note, we also get several text-based Memorial Pages of each and every United 93 victim, many of which are penned by friends and family members. Closing things out is a short Preview for the 2003 Academy Award-winning short documentary, Twin Towers (2:14). A two-disc limited edition of United 93 (including a second documentary) is also available, but this solid one-disc release should be enough for most fans of the film.

It's certainly a tough film to sit through, but the chilling United 93 is a fitting tribute to what happened five years ago. Devoid of mawkish sentimentality and slow-motion flag waving, United 93 carefully treads the line between accepted facts and "what might have been", mainly drifting towards the latter during its final moments. The participation of mostly unknown actors---not to mention several real-life participants---only strengthens the film's effect. Universal's excellent DVD presentation does the film justice, boasting a strong technical presentation and a few noteworthy bonus features. It may not be a disc you'll watch regularly, but you'll be glad United 93 is on your shelf. Firmly Recommended.