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List Price: $14.98 | | Label: Lions Gate
Salesrank: 51730
Released: August 22, 2006 |
| Our Price: $2.90 |
| Used Price: $1.58 |
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MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
A documentary about September 11, where the 9/11 Commission Report is used to study the attack and the systemic flaws that allowed it to happen.
Description of On Native Soil:
Almost as frightening as the tragic events it details, On Native Soil is essential viewing for anyone seeking to understand how systemic failures in U.S. national security led to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. By focusing on 9/11 survivors, the surviving family members of 9/11 victims, and their passionate demand for an official investigation into the World Trade Center attacks masterminded by Osama bin Laden, this riveting documentary serves as a remarkable audio-visual companion to the 9/11 Commission's official report (which is included in its entirety on this DVD). Featuring alternating narration by Kevin Costner and Hilary Swank, the film contains much of the same material included in other 9/11 documentaries, but it's informed by an inspiring sense of moral outrage as we learn, step by step, how much the U.S. government and the Bush administration knew about possible terrorist attacks prior to 9/11, and failed to take any significant action against those threats. Beginning with former CNN reporter Peter Arnett's revealing interview with bin Laden in Afghanistan in 1997, and ending with the sobering observation that we're still inadequately prepared for another 9/11-like attack, On Native Soil unfolds with a deeply personal perspective that's dramatically contrasted by the galling audacity of administrative spin control.
As recalled by surviving family members of 9/11 victims, ample evidence existed to prove that the government was aware of terrorist plots on native soil. In light of their research, then-National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice looks particularly culpable: As one grieving widower observes, Rice either lied in her post 9/11 press conferences (when she claimed "nobody could have known of these attacks") or--worse yet--she was unaware of the voluminous evidence of active terrorist plots available in the public record. It goes on from there: interagency communication breakdowns, disorganized response strategies when the attacks occurred, incredibly lax security at airports, and damning evidence of governmental neglect--all leading to the inescapable conclusion that 9/11 might have been avoided had the Bush administration been more attentive to obvious and immediate threats to national security. In driving these points home, director Linda Ellman doesn't flinch from the harshest realities: This is one of the few 9/11 documentaries to show attack victims leaping to their deaths from the burning twin towers of the WTC, and emotional testimony from survivors adds yet another layer of tragedy to these earth-shaking events. As a tribute to the families who confronted a shockingly reluctant administration and demanded the 9/11 Commission Report, On Native Soil serves a noble and timeless purpose: It honors those who died on 9/11, provides a cautionary warning against complacency among government officials and U.S. citizens alike, and reminds us that terrorism on native soil is a constant threat that must not be ignored. --Jeff Shannon
On Native Soil Reviews:
At Least 3,000 Reasons for Viewing 
2009-03-10 - "On Native Soil" examines what lead to the successful attack against the United States on September 11, 2001, what happened during the attack, and its aftermath.
Several events point to an attack on this country by the use of airplanes as missiles. The Bojinka Project, the Phoenix Memo, Federal Aviation Administration warnings, airlines lobbying against increased security measures, (after all, security doesn't sell seats), a lack of shared information amongst intelligence and law enforcement agencies, and a national security advisor who claims that such attacks were unforeseen, make the same possible. Fighter planes are sent in the wrong direction, away from the threat. A failure of communication pervades through the entire chain of command, from the President on down, a paralyzed and unaware 911 emergency system, and a communication dead zone between the FDNY and the NYPD because they have radios that are incompatible. Even Port Authority of New York security encourages people to return to their workplace in Tower 2 after the first one is hit. They have no plan for what happened. Despite an FAA warning of a terrorist threat being high, neither it nor the airlines warn the public. The only people ready and willing to act are the passengers of United Flight 91. Ordinary Americans act in an extraordinary way to be the only ones who defeat terrorism this day.
Senators McCain and Lieberman spearhead the efforts of families who lost their loved ones to have an independent commission appointed against the strong objections and recalcitrance of the Bush administration, which will continue to constrain the commission with demands, limitations on budget, and stonewalling. The commission will claim that 9/11 occurred because of a failure of policy management, capability, and a failure of imagination. It will recommend increased preparedness through tighter border security, better interagency communication, the appointment a national director, and the creation of a national counter-terrorist center. The commission will blame no one, so no one will be held accountable. The administration will ignore almost all of its recommendations, and legislation will protect airlines from litigation. Only one government official will acknowledge responsibility and ask forgiveness--Richard Clarke.
The personal stories of tragedies and heroism are played throughout this documentary which give it its two-hour length, and Kevin Costner's lackluster narration can make this seem even longer. The accounts are tragic and poignant, but do not address the lack of security. It seems almost peripheral to what the title says we will see, making this tedious viewing on occasion.
This documentary provides excellent background and examination of the events of 9/11. It doesn't examine accountability and the commission didn't offer any. It is up to the viewer to make that determination. The story makes it clear that it was preventable by the Clinton and Bush 2 administrations.
The story ends with retired firefighter Lee Ielpi, the most decorated firefighter in FDNY history, who lost his son, relating how people ask him what they can do to ensure that such an attack never happens again, He responds by politely asking: "How many of you have actually contacted your Congressman or your US Senator? Please raise your hands." He says the answer is always the same--almost no one ever does.
You might wish to see this DVD, or you might wish to contact your congressman to do something to see this doesn't happen again.
Also Recommended:
Ridgeway, James, "The Five Unanswered Questions About 9/11." Seven Stories Press. (Very highly recommended).
Flynn, Steven, "The Edge of Disaster," Random House, 2007.
Flynn, Steven, "America the Vulnerable: How Our Government is Failing Us," Amazon Remainders Account, 2005.
Breitweiser, Kristen, "Wake-Up Call: The Political Education of a 9/11 Widow." Grand Central Publishing, 2006.
Not great 
2009-01-09 - I've seen better coverage of 9/11 and was not too thrilled with the content. Lacks the critical questioning of the US government and their role in 9/11. Would not recommend this dvd.
On Native Soil 
2008-11-24 - Excellent documentary of what happened on The Day America will never forget. This film should be a MUST for all the high school history classess in the country.
Absolutely essential
2007-10-22 - This documentary should be a must-see for any concerned person of conscience. It tells an absolutely chilling tale of everything that went wrong before, during, and after the attacks. Two administrations knew that a major terrorist threat was in the works against the United States, with warnings along the way such as the attack on the USS Cole and the embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania, yet they chose to do nothing, ignoring all of the potent warning signs till it was too late. The documentary isn't political at all; it blames politicians of both major parties, along with the FAA, the military, airline traffic controllers, and other people who were in positions of power to do something, anything. It's utterly stunning to listen to these taped conversations that were made when the attack was in progress, with a bunch of people such as 911 operators and airport controllers. These people come across as such incompetent buffoons, like the people who kept asking flight attendant Betty Ong for her name, flight number, and flight seat, the people who kept putting survivor Brian Clark on hold while he was in the middle of evacuting Tower 2 (from the 84th floor!) and trying to get medical help for a severely injured man some floors above, and the man who actually hesitated and said he wasn't sure when asked if he should do anything about scrambling jets. Some of these people were still trying to locate the hijacked jets on their radar after they'd already crashed! If these people had done their job properly all along the chain of command, several thousand people's lives could have been saved, even after the attack got underway.
The documentary uses a lot of footage that hasn't been seen before, such as people jumping to their deaths from the towers, close-up images of all of the people trapped on the floors above the impact zones (many of whom tried to go up to the roof like they had in 1993, only to find the doors locked), and video interviews with terrorists made long before the attacks, in which they reveal they're planning something major. It's also very effective because it uses so many interviews with surviving family members, the people who pushed for the creation of the 9/11 Commission and some answers and apologies. It's outrageous that the current administration was such a stick in the mud about launching an investigation, and then, all except Richard Clarke, refused to acknowledge any responsibility for having failed to protect American citizens, let alone even apologise. Hopefully this documentary will inspire more concerned citizens to become more proactive and involved with their government, instead of being passive and uninformed and thus setting the groundwork for another possible future attack. A bunch of extras make the DVD even more powerful, such as the extended stories of some of the survivors, a Court TV special, a photo gallery, interviews with surviving relatives, the intelligence community, and politicians, and, best of all, a downloadable version of the 9/11 Commission Report.
On Native Soil
2006-11-10 - The best documentary I've seen regarding 9/11! A fair and unbiased report.
