Battle in Seattle

Important, insightful and extraordinarily well made
Promising new director STUART TOWNSEND -- perhaps better known for his starring roles in films such as "A League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" or "Queen of the Damned" -- proves to be an effective storyteller with his skillful and dramatic recreation of events surrounding the historic World Trade Organiation riots in Seattle. Featuring an impressive, but not distracting, all-star cast, "Battle In Seattle" presents an effective and engaging look at the motivations behind those forces who want to control the world's marketplace, with those who will fight for freedom, opportunity and balance in commerce. Regardless of one's political or economic leanings, the film holds the audience by presenting the human-drama endured by participants on both sides of the police lines. Townsend handles his cast with skill and grace, perhaps borne from years of his own experience in front of the camera. Given a more traditionally structured screenplay (and a less controversial topic), you can expect to...

Neglected film about an important event in American history
This was one of the best films I saw in 2008 (yes, I was lucky to be at one of 2 screenings in Los Angeles). Frankly, it was better than any of the Oscar nominated Best Films. It's well-shot, well-acted, well-researched (as I understand it, the factual basis is completely accurate) and well-written. What's amazing is that though the writer-director is a well-established Irish actor, this is the first film he has made. The film is very much an ensemble work, weaving a tapestry of all the players in the Seattle riots (politicians, cops, activists, by-standers). What I particularly liked about this film was just how fair it was to everybody. Nobody is a villain even when they do very bad things (the cops, the mayor). There are very real motivations... people had the best of intentions. It's a complex portrait - nothing like the media coverage given to us. It's a completely entertaining movie, but it's an important film as well. I think this is a movie every patriotic American should...

one of the best movies ive seen in recent years
the cast was fantastic and the story was told genuinely. this movie demonstrates what a protest is through the eyes of a protester, civilian trying to get from point A to point B, and the police man who is just doing his job. have you ever wanted to know the reality of what people in the middle of a protest go through? this is the movie that tells you the truth, the tragic truth. the protesters fight for what they believe in while the law enforcement are told to hold them back or end their march. their is also the reporter covering what the media wants you to see, and unfortunately there are always those unfortunate civilians trapped in a protest, and become victims.(SPOILERS) a mother loses her unborn child because of the unnecessary strategy and methods police men use and a police man loses his son or daughter because of what a police man did. there are also protesters who feel like every profitable business is the perfect target to get back at the WTO. And unfortunately those...

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