I’ve never written a film review--never even considered writing one.  This one is by request.

I’ve seen Battle in Seattle twice.  In two incredible theaters, sitting with the actors, director and producers.  First in the McCaw Hall at the Seattle International Film Festival, on opening night.  And again at the Dolby Corporation’s in-house jewel box of a screening room.  The image and the sound of this film was big, bright, and all around me.  What would you expect from Dolby?

I mention that, not because I typically rub shoulders with the likes of Stuart Townsend, Andre Benjamin, and Charlize Theron.  Truth is, I hadn’t really seen or heard their work much until this film (yes, I’m a bit of a luddite).  You’ll want to keep that in mind when reading my “review”.  I’m no film expert.

[Full disclosure:  I wanted this film to be very good.  As a self-described “turtle-geek” and ocean activist-scientist, I’m a bit closer to the subject matter than most...maybe too close to write an “objective” review.  But, here goes...]

The film opens with the line: “Jay, she’s turtling”, as Michelle Rodriguez (stunt doubled by Harold Linde) hanging from a giant crane, slips and flips upside-down.  She is expertly “un-turtled” by “Jay” (played by actor Martin Henderson) and they proceed to unfurl the now-famous WTO <--> DEMOCRACY banner.

For a guy (named J.) who spends his time studying turtles, any movie that comes out the gate with “Jay, she’s turtling” is two thumbs up in my book already!

Things just start jamming from there as the film escorts us into the heart of the 1999 WTO protest that shut down Seattle.

Director, Stuart Townsend does a great job mixing actual news footage with new film giving the feeling that you’re down on the street.  This, I’m told, isn’t an easy thing to pull off.  The result is a sort of reenactment/documentary feel that Townsend and his editors handle expertly.  This is a fictionalized take on the days around the meeting and many of those who were “there” agree, it works.

Hearing from Stuart about how the film was created, the depth of his research, casting the characters, calling in favors, one gets the sense of something hand-made.  Not Hollywood.

Various points of view, from the protesters to the mayor, to the African delegate, to the police are considered.  I felt some sympathy for everyone as they variously tried to express their right to dissent, protect their city, care for their family, save their country, and/or do their job...

But when it comes right down to it, this film is about one thing...

Sea turtles.

No doubt, Andre Benjamin will get an Academy Award for Best Sea Turtle Activist in a Major Motion Picture for his portrayal of Django, the turtle-loving, Bobby McFarin-singing, peace-spreading, glass-is-always-half-full, philosopher-activist.

He’s just the coolest guy in the room and kind of steals the show.  Even when he’s being hauled to jail.  Even when he is marching in a hand-made turtle costume.  ESPECIALLY when he’s marching in a turtle costume.

I told him after the screening that his “Django” may do more for sea turtles than any character in film ever has, with the possible exception of Crush, in Finding Nemo.

Andre and I had some time to bond over the turtle thing.  Turns out his nickname as a kid was “Turtle” and his production company is called Moxie Turtle.  Turtle geeks unite.

(For those of you who are members of the International Sea Turtle Society, you’ll be proud to know that Andre Benjamin (aka Andre 3000, lead singer of Outkast...THAT Andre) now wears his Seri sea turtle Journey Bag filled with sand from 200 turtle beaches around the world.  For those non-ISTS members: it’s a turtle thing)

Sea turtles became the icon for the march in Seattle.  “Turtles and Teamsters” united.  At stake were tens of thousands of turtles being caught by destructive shrimp trawlers around the world.  In dispute were laws requiring all shrimp imported to the US be caught using turtle-safe nets. 

Sea turtles offer a compelling image of what globalization and corporate indifference to nature means for our future.  And sea turtles have emerged as a powerful symbol for those fighting on behalf our changing, deteriorating ocean planet. 

Sea turtles are menaced by plastics, oil, sea level rise, ocean acidification, bottom trawlers, longliners, speedboats, seawalls, resorts and parking lots.  And sometimes even large globalizing institutions such as the WTO.

In the decade that has passed since the Seattle WTO meeting things on our ocean planet have gotten even worse.  And the policies forced on us by the WTO are worn out.

We need this important film now.  Non-violent protest is important.  Remembering that it’s a long-standing tradition to gather together and say “NO” sometimes--it is part of our hard-earned democracy to peacefully protest injustice. That is important.

The film ends with a montage of images from citizen protests around the world. 

Some you’ll recognize and others may be new.  It’s powerful to see them all together like that.  All of the people standing together, creating change.  Demanding change.

For the sake of our planet and future generations,  this film demands nothing less than a revolution. 

A hand-made revolution. 

For the sea turtles.

[Battle in Seattle opens in NYC, San Francisco, Seattle and LA n September 19th.  See it, tell your friends, rent a whole theater if you can.  If it opens strong, it will grow.]