A.J. Becker's column last Thursday regarding the release of "World Trade Center" seemed to me not only off-base but also ridiculously ill-informed.

Her assertion that it took 60 years to make "Pearl Harbor" in comparison to the five years that have passed until the release of "World Trade Center" disregards the 64-year history of all other films made addressing the Japanese attack. If her knowledge of World War II cinema begins and ends with Ben Affleck and Kate Beckinsale, she has my pity — as do the readers of her culturally illiterate twaddle.

For her edification, the first dramatic film rendering of the Pearl Harbor attack was released the year after the event, in 1942, and was titled "Remember Pearl Harbor," followed closely by "Air Force" in 1943. However, for those as much in need of a film education as Ms. Becker, by far the best treatment has to be the magnificent and even-handed "Tora! Tora! Tora!," released in 1970.

Ms. Becker also seems to think that "World Trade Center" was made and released for the sole purpose of reminding her of 9/11. She repeatedly points out, "We all remember how we banded together, if only for a short period. I really don't need to see it on the big screen."

Well, congratulations A.J. You are more than welcome to stay home. But there are others of us who do not consider it premature to examine those events through a unique and new point of view. Some of us have very clear memories of our own circumstances on 9/11, but can hardly fathom the experiences of those who lived through it in a more immediate form, either on the planes themselves ("Flight 93," "United 93," etc.) or buried beneath the rubble of the towers ("World Trade Center").

For our sake, Ms. Becker, (and it would appear there are millions of dollars worth of ticket buyers amongst us) kindly allow Hollywood to create artistic renderings that might offer us a broader emotional window into the tragedy that was 9/11. Without your whining.

I'm ready to have an intelligent discussion about these films; for example, what it means for a capitalist democracy to produce "art" about 9/11 which is by its very nature inextricable from "commerce."

Ms. Becker, however, seems content to wallow in short-sighted show business history and the pose of being holier-than-thou for simply not seeing a film. I say, "Praise the Lord, and pass the popcorn." Ms. Becker can look that one up herself.

Burke is a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences.