"Fictionalized drama frustrates, rather than facilitates, understanding about the 1999 World Trade Organization (WTO) protests in Battle to Seattle." - Nick Schager

Decent movie with great cast which isn't used to it's full potential yet it's only big plus about this movie. Real clips from protests fit in good. Since plot couldn't be altered much, they could do better something else like character development.

story, Charlize T!, W Harrelson, (casting)

Sensationalist? Probably, but still quite compelling viewing. Townsend presents a somewhat one-dimentional view on anarchism, but his real focus is on the failure of the WTO, and in highlighting this at least he succeeds. Townsend gives you just enough of each character to make you care a little for their plight and the varied cast do a solid job also. Overall generally well made, and interestingly put together and edited, but not exceptional.

Trite. Everything sounds scripted and none of the characters seem natural. Despite attempting to be evenhanded there's a scene where a policeman clubs a pregnant woman causing a miscarriage, which never happened. The WTO is shitty but this film, like all those precious anarchists, just makes you roll your eyes.

The first few minutes gives you the impression it's another 'Zeitgeist'/'An inconvenient Truth' type of film, but it quickly shifts away from that (not saying that type of film wouldn't have worked, in fact, I would love to see that as well). There were some beautifully depicted scenes of the riot that showed the grisly events for what they were, but there were also some scenes and dialog that left me scratching my head, the film was good enough without trying to buy our sympathy.

Impressively plotted and edited, albeit the characters are a tad cliche. Plus, it explores an issue so timely and politically volatile, I'm surprised it hasn't been tackled by a more 'mainstream' Hollywood film (wait, no I'm not surprised).

<==WTO / Democracy==>

Really well made, I must say. The riot scenes are pretty fantastic, and it can be extremely moving. It's way too heavy-handed for me to fully appreciate it, but I do admire it from simply a filmmaking perspective.

A very impressive directorial effort from Stuart Townsend with this poignant, interesting look at the WTO riots. A solid cast shines in an otherwise heavy-handed film that still doesn't feel preachy.

Townsend can direct a movie? You gotta be kidding me. First Clooney, then this. B.S. sounds a bit pretentious from time to time since a lot goes unexplored for the sake of keeping the machine going. This is one of the few movies that explores activism from a mainstream point of view. Luckily Townsend avoids most of the wide open pits ahead and delivered a rollercoaster. Also ensemble cast does a good job.

Ok not the greatest realization as a movie but I give it 100 point for just tackling the subject.

Too light on detail.

Had some very lovely images, but this is one of those flicks that will be rather contentious just because of the subject matter. I'd like to see Michelle Rodriguez play a different character every once in awhile. She's pretty dialed in to the squinch-faced quasi-badass Latina, which gets boring. I was all over the sometimes-seamless transition between dramatized depiction and legit footage of the riots. Things could have been better, some of the dialogue was wonky while some was brilliant.

Well the subject alone gets a lot of points for me because I'm biased. Movie does a pretty decent job being fair to most (though maybe not enough about the actual anarchists there), and humanizing everyone. Coulda done without the love story and the other cliche moments but this was well put together and there are some great scenes.

Really well done, intense and interesting. It's a bit all over the place at times but this is a cool look at these protests, trying to show all sides of the protest do differing effect.

If anyone was prepared to like this movie, it was me. I've been to numerous WTO and FTAA protests, contributed some of the footage for the credits, and appreciated any attention given to these issues. I have no problems with the portrayal of any issues in the film, its just badly written, with trite dialogue and shallow, undeveloped characters. Like Silver City, I felt the filmmaker's hearts are in the right place, but its just badly executed.

Good Movie

A gritty and brutal, but somehow still hopeful film about the WTO convention in Seattle and the protest-turned-riot that ensued. It felt much like United 93 in its docu-drama "tell it like it was" style, mixed with Crash's "you're all connected"-ness and a little of An Inconvenient Truth's activist streak thrown in for good measure. Features strong performances from everyone, including surprising turns from "Torque" star Martin Henderson and god-damned Andre 3000... Ultimately, it