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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Gilbyk
Format:DVD
A great film for people who want to quickly dip into this period, the events and the wider context. To cover such issues in such a short film, many facts have to be distorted/amplified as is evident in it's biopic nature. Interesting, paced, highly watch-able accepting the coincidences that occur in the plot for it to hit home for broader appeal.
2 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Steve W
Format:DVD
Not a political/anti-capitalist film. Battle in Seattle in my view was a massive missed opportunity. It neither addresses the problems of capitalism nor offers any alternative ideas. What are the political motives/ideas? The film is a stupidly romanticised version of a group of bourgeoisie protesters who apparently can afford to travel the globe organising protests, it's more like a rough guide to "not in my back yard" propaganda, implying that there are really good guys on all sides, pathetic! In the meantime there is a stereotypical Hollywood storyline that gets worse frame by frame.
There is a moment towards the end of the film when one protester says to the other
"how long have we been doing this"?
"not long enough"!
Stuart Townsend has obviously never read a history book or political book, and never heard of Wat Tyler!
The whole point about this film ought to have been to say that protesting is a complete waste of time, what would have happened if they had of won the protest? What would they replace it all with? There is zero discussion about any alternative to the current oppressive ideology, and no hint of an explanation as to why workers, who happily all join various groups, refuse to consolidate their interests into one political movement. It was all pointless and is mainly about people stroking their own ego.
The Baader Meinhof Complex - Uli Edel (2008) is far superior and emphasises even more why democracy and the ballot box are the only way forward.
There is a moment towards the end of the film when one protester says to the other
"how long have we been doing this"?
"not long enough"!
Stuart Townsend has obviously never read a history book or political book, and never heard of Wat Tyler!
The whole point about this film ought to have been to say that protesting is a complete waste of time, what would have happened if they had of won the protest? What would they replace it all with? There is zero discussion about any alternative to the current oppressive ideology, and no hint of an explanation as to why workers, who happily all join various groups, refuse to consolidate their interests into one political movement. It was all pointless and is mainly about people stroking their own ego.
The Baader Meinhof Complex - Uli Edel (2008) is far superior and emphasises even more why democracy and the ballot box are the only way forward.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3.3 out of 5 stars
29 reviews
19 of 23 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Important, insightful and extraordinarily well made
8 Jan 2009
By E. Parkinson
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:DVD
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 see something truly profound from Stuart Townsend in upcoming films. Check out "Battle in Seattle," and enjoy!
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Neglected film about an important event in American history
7 May 2009
By Julius
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:DVD
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 see, and by patriotic, I mean those who believe in the U.S. Constitution. But it was financed by a Canadian and had no major studio distribution so thus, nobody knew about it.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
one of the best movies ive seen in recent years
18 Nov 2011
By emmanuel pascal
- Published on Amazon.com
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 irresponsible actions from those few who protest with violence force the police to generalize every protester as being aggressors. and of course that reporter who instead of covering the event experiences what she sees, and her humanity forces her to do the right thing.
based on the reviews below or above, i thought the movie was going to be poor. to my surprise the movie was an incredible experience which made me cry and see the bigger picture of what a protester must go through to get a message across the ears of the civilian judging them at home watching the news and the people that force them to fight in order to make a difference.
based on the reviews below or above, i thought the movie was going to be poor. to my surprise the movie was an incredible experience which made me cry and see the bigger picture of what a protester must go through to get a message across the ears of the civilian judging them at home watching the news and the people that force them to fight in order to make a difference.
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3.3 out of 5 stars
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