another life blog

Ladder 49 is a movie about firefighters. It’s a movie about heroes who live around us – protecting and saving us when emergency arises. It’s a movie telling us that firefighters should command respect for their courage. Unfortunately, 68% of reviewers can’t seem to understand this, and made fun of the movie because it was “manipulative” or “corny” or “too simple…” They need to understand that Ladder is a documentary with a dramatic flair. A documentary!

The documentary opens with a burning building of modest height (14 stories?). Some people are trapped on the burning 12th floor, and the flame is spreading rapidly through the various floors. Structural integrity is collapsing, little explosions are happening, and smoke is really heavy and crazy. Jack Morrison (Joaquin Phoenix) is going through the floor, checking every nook and cranny for possible survivor/victim – and eventually come across one. As he makes it to the window to lower the man down, another tremendous explosion happens and the floor collapses. Jack falls through several floors, and lands heavily. We are then taken through a journey of what the life of a fireman is like through flashbacks.

Is the story told in somewhat corny manner? Yes, it is. Is the director manipulating the viewers’ emotions? Yes, he is. Is the story over saturated with bravery and courage? No — because damnit, THEY ARE THAT BRAVE AND COURAGEOUS. They deserve respect, and a movie that brings them to our attention is worth praising. I could expound on this, and spoil the whole story, but I think the movie needs to be experienced.

Just remember while you’re watching that it could be you they’re saving one day.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 21st, 2005 at 11:17 pm and is filed under Movies and Music. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.