Thousands of activists arrive in Seattle, Washington in masses to protest the WTO Ministerial Conference of 1999 (World Trade Organization). Although it began as a peaceful protest with a goal of stopping the WTO talks, it escalated into a full-scale riot and eventually, a State of Emergency that pitted protesters against the Seattle Police Department and the National Guard.
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You won't be disappointed!
The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful
One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.
All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.
Activists arrive in Seattle, Washington en masse to protest a meeting of the World Trade Organization. Riots and chaos ensue as demonstrators successfully stop the WTO meetings. Starring an all star cast of talented people like Charlize Theron, Woody Harrelson and Ray Liotta. Battle in Seattle might be a propaganda or something that you could easily see on television but thanks to it's all star cast and moving story is a great film on it's own the only problem i had was with the character of Dale played by Harrelson his performance was good but there was like not too much emotion all this things happen in his life he should be affected more against the people responsible for all this instead someone innocent. The Battle Continues....
I really liked this movie, what an impossible situation, that's well portrayed here as we get to see it from all sides of the protest; the police, the assorted protesters, the mayor, several WTO delegates, a news anchor and her cameraman and a pregnant woman caught in the middle of it all. An excellent ensemble cast represent all these characters and I love movies with multiple story lines that all converge.This movie wasn't perfect by any means but I definitely got wrapped up in the fictionalized account presented here of the 1999 protest riots at the World Trade Organization conference. My eyes were actually (sympathy) stinging from all the tear gas used, as we see thousands of activists descend on Seattle Washington and witness the chaos that ensues over the next several days. Brutal. Huge cast but I would have to say Woody Harrelson & Charlize Theron's story stood out the most. I also really enjoyed Michelle Rodriguez & Martin Henderson as the activists. On a personal note this was very relatable as I was in Vancouver for the Stanley Cup riots. 9/30/14
This film is about the protests against the World Trade Organisation meeting in Seattle in 1999."Battle in Seattle" is a gripping mix of drama and documentary. It tells the story from the perspective of a group of activists and a policeman. It also has a side plot of a delegate from an African country, and a spokesperson from a well known charity organisation. Such comprehensive coverage from various angles gives "Battle in Seattle" a balanced view on the heated subject. The story is emotional and gripping, and there is much to be pondered upon. I feel sorry for the woman who happened to be standing at the wrong place at the wrong time, and the charity spokesperson who cannot make people realise what causes are more worthy. There is so much food for thought in the film, that makes me wonder what the world has come to.
I had never heard of this movie until it came on the TV the other day. It would have been better if it had remained that way.You don't get real idea of what the protesters were protesting about. Very much like the real protesters who were a mish mash of anarchists, drop-outs, ravers/party goers, manic depressives, attention seekers, show offs, chancers, and total dreamers. None of whom have any idea of reality because they cannot use logical thought processes.Anyway, Charlize Theron spends most of the movie crying in bed ignoring her husband Woody Harrleson who plays one of the riot police officers. I had high hopes for Theron when I first saw her years ago but she sure knows how to pick bad scripts and I do think her career is suffering from it. Woody (like Theron) will have been drawn to the project because of his environmental background and on paper he must have thought it would be a good move to accept the role. He, and Theron are both lucky the movie didn't finish their careers off. Ray Liotta plays the Seattle Mayor. The Mayor seems like a decent trusting guy but is essentially betrayed by the protesters rampage. Liottas performance, as well as Theron and Harrleson were mediocre at best. I don't blame them though. Clearly the director has absolutely no idea how to coax a performance from actors and if I were to hedge a bet I would say the director was personally caught up (emotionally) due to his obvious political views. Nothing wrong with putting your case forward in a movie, but you have to do it right and provoke a reaction from the audience, make them think. This completely fails to do that. The man completely forgot he was making a movie and like most extreme leftists the idea is always better than the reality. As you watch you will care nothing for any of the characters in the movie. Your constantly hoping something will happen, it never does because quite frankly very little actually happened in Seattle over those few days. A few protesters running around smashing windows will not give anyone the ammunition to make a full 90 minute movie.Its quite telling that since the movies release two years ago it only has around 40 reviews on IMDb. Just goes to show that no one, not even the protesters give a damn about this movie. They are probably to embarrassed.The favourable reviews of which there are far to many can only be from a few dreamers and those with an agenda. But seriously, pay them no attention because this is a really bad movie no matter what side of the political spectrum you come from.Avoid at all costs.