This undated photo, supplied by Paramount Pictures, shows Oliver Stone (L) directing a scene from 'World Trade Center,' Hollywood's first look at the Sept. 11, 2006, terrorist attacks that destroyed two of the world's tallest buildings. The movie opens nationwide on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2006.

    "World Trade Center," which tells of the heroism of two Port Authority policemen who raced into the inferno of New York's Twin Towers to save people and wound up being buried in rubble, opens nationally on Wednesday.

    Box office experts say that despite rave reviews, the 65 million dollars Paramount film faces a major test -- will people be willing to see it or will they stay away because of the sensitivity of the subject matter?

    Some experts say the film could be considered a success if it draws more than 20 million dollars in its first five days.

    That the film was made by Stone raised a lot of eyebrows at first because Stone is famed for political films that hack away at authority, movies like "JFK" which suggested that John F. Kennedy's assassination involved conspiracies at the highest levels of government.

    This time, Stone has not found any conspiracies -- much to the disappointment of groups that believe the disaster was planned and then covered up by the U.S. government.

    Conservative columnist Cal Thomas called the movie, "one of the greatest pro-American, pro-family, pro-male, flag-waving, God Bless America films you will ever see."

    Stone said he hoped his movie will prove therapeutic rather than incendiary.

    "We're saying, 'Look, go back to the day, forget about all your prejudices and look at it again,"' Stone said in an interview with Reuters. Enditem

    (Agencies)