An uneven but ultimately impassioned recreation of the riots at the 1999 World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle.
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09/22/07
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Battle in Seattle (2008)
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Reviews Counted:56
Fresh:28
Rotten:28
Average Rating:5.6/10
Consensus: Well intentioned and passionate, this docu-drama about the 1999 WTO protests draws stronger political assertions than it does strong characters.
Theatrical Release:Sep 19, 2008 Limited
Box Office: $120,313
Synopsis: Actor Stuart Townsend (HEAD IN THE CLOUDS) makes an accomplished writing and directing debut with BATTLE IN SEATTLE, a fictionalized account of the 1999 World Trade Organization (WTO) meetings and... [More]
Starring: Charlize Theron, Martin Henderson, Woody Harrelson, Michelle Rodriguez
Director: Stuart Townsend
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Reviews for Battle in Seattle
Very ambitious, the story constantly jumps back and forth, trying to give both sides of the story. I'll say it's mostly successful.
10/08/08
It sheds much needed light on a mostly forgotten event in our country's history.
11/06/08
While stiff where it counts the most, Seattle does stimulate the senses, projecting rage and discontent, reminding the viewer that mobilization is a critical step toward any form of change. It's hard to argue such passion.
09/18/08
"Battle In Seattle" is a poignant depiction of a dire fight for justice that found traction over a period of several days, in a story that was misrepresented by the American media. Here then, is a closer view of those events and motivations of the people
09/03/08
...an entertaining yet heavy-handed and ultimately simplistic look at the '99 WTO protests that essentially turned Seattle into a war zone.
10/16/07
Effectively mixing original broadcast and amateur vid footage (especially during scenes of crowd panic and police brutality) with interwoven fictive strands, Townsend acquits himself well, if not outstandingly, as both writing and directing newbie.
09/11/07
Top CriticAn ambitious directorial debut from Irish actor Stuart Townsend that does an impressive job recreating the 1999 protests that accompanied the World Trade Organization's arrival in Seattle.
09/18/08
If [the film] inspires even one moviegoer to learn more about how an organization like the WTO affects his or her life, then Townsend has performed a valuable public service.
09/08/08
Three cheers for this prophetic political film about activists willing to take a stand against rich and powerful multinational corporations.
09/18/08
Wisely uses the docudrama approach rather than talking heads to dramatize the 1999 protests against the World Trade Organization.
09/14/08
Political ensemble drama is provocative, preachy.
09/18/08
Braiding brief snippets of these automatically suspenseful storylines with archival video footage of the actual event, Townsend makes a good point that the thing just got away from all involved.
10/02/08
One strength is Barry Ackroyd's handheld-camera work, which deftly tracks the action but still captures the disorientation of those engulfed by the mayhem.
09/26/08
By not necessarily glorifying the activists while agreeing with their cause, writer-director Stuart Townsend creates a multilayered portrait of an eventful five days.
01/24/08
What the film lacks in artistry it makes up for in commitment.
09/19/08
While it makes no bones about where its sympathies lie, these fictional stories show a genuine fascination with the role politics plays on both sides of such confrontations and how things can spin out of control with no single person to blame.
09/14/07
Top CriticA tense debut about the need for stern yet peaceful action when so many global frustrations are already primed to blow.
09/18/08
It sounds like a bad TV movie, yet Stuart Townsend, the veteran actor-turned-director re-creates it all with stunning passion and skill in Battle in Seattle.
09/24/08
Top CriticThis is a powerful, wrenching and impressive writing and directing debut for the talented actor, definitely now a triple showbiz threat.
11/20/08
Latest News for Battle in Seattle
March 21, 2009:
In the continued acceleration of doc and drama cross-breeding, the movie is adept at fleshing out opposing points of view leading to a city under siege, but setting the stage for a tad too impartial percolating political passions. 
More...
March 21, 2009:
In the continued acceleration of doc and drama cross-breeding, the movie is adept at fleshing out opposing points of view leading to a city under siege, but setting the stage for a tad too impartial percolating political passions.
More...
September 18, 2008:
Critics Consensus: Lakeview Terrace Isn't Sturdy; Igor Lacks Brains
This week at the movies, we've got an angry cop (Lakeview Terrace, starring Samuel L. Jackson); a disgruntled hunchback (the CGI Igor with voice work by John Cusack and Molly... More...
September 16, 2008:
Exclusive Clips: Charlize Theron in Battle in Seattle
Watch Charlize Theron in two exclusive clips from Battle in Seattle, a fictional retelling of the five tumultuous days in 1999 when thousands of protesters stormed the streets... More...
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