There are only a handful of movies that I had watched twice in the cinema. One of them is Ladder 49. I was exploring my house’s network when I saw the movie in one of my housemates’ computer. I copied it to my computer and started to watch it for the third time. Call me a sissy if you want to, I still shed my tears while watching the movie, even for the third time.

Ladder 49 is not a new movie, considering it was released in October 2004. Starred by Joaquin Phoenix and John Travolta, it is a movie on Jack Morrison’s life as a firefighter (Fireman, get it?). Joaquin Phoenix is Jack Morrison, a search-and-rescue guy who is introduced in a blaze, well, to search and rescue. One more life saved, and he falls through the ceiling and lands in a broken heap a few floors down. He begins having flashbacks about his firefighting career while he waits for help.

Here are some interesting facts from IMDB :

The filming of the big warehouse scene caused something of a panic in Baltimore. The fire was visible from I-95 and the Baltimore Beltway, so Good Samaritans kept calling the fire department to report it. So many people called that the fire department ended up calling radio stations to confess that the scene was being filmed and to request that people stop tying up the emergency lines.

Every fire scene in the film depicts an actual firefighting incident somewhere in the USA. The scene where Jack Morrison is rescuing the civilian trapped on the 20th story ledge was an incident in New York City, where an acquaintance of Tim Guinee (Tony Corrigan) was rescued by firefighters in the same exact manner.

More than 2,000 real-life firefighters showed up at casting in Baltimore, some from as far away as North Carolina. For the filming of the the funeral scene, more than 800 real-life firefighters and fire trucks from up and down the East Coast, from as far as Massachusetts, made the trek to participate.

More… (Warning : Spoiler ahead.)

If you have not watch or missed the movie, go download or visit Uncle Ho to get your copy. Although it would 100% better if you buy the original DVD, but you know… It is a movie that you should not miss, in my opinion. Click here to download Ladder 49’s theme song - “Shine Your Light” and its lyrics.

“People are always asking me how is it that firefighters run into a burning building when everyone else is running out. Courage is the answer.” Chief Kennedy.

Related posts:

1. Human Cloning? No Thanks!
2. RM59.87 For A Towel, Razor And Hair Gel
3. My Afternoon
4. “Meng Fu”
5. In Reality, Jason Is… - Scared Of Watching Horror Film