Bowling for Columbine (Special Edition) (2002) Review

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OK, I had heard so many negative things about this movie that I didn't want to bother with it. Then, my beloved brought it home. We watched it together and I completely flipped! Michael Moore is a film-making genius! His guerilla style is perfectly suited for the subject matter. Who else has even attempted to ask the question "Why so much fear and violence in america?" without finding simplistic, kneejerk answers? Moore takes us to Columbine to not only relive the tragedy, but to talk with the surviving victims. He even takes them to K Mart's HQ to confront the company's policy of selling handgun ammo (the columbine shooters purchased their bullets at the local k mart) with successful results. This is not just some propoganda film about the evils of gun ownership. Moore himself was raised with guns and still carries his NRA membership card. This movie is about Moore's quest to find out why we love to kill each other so much here in the states. Is it poverty? Nope, other countries have worse economic problems without the bloodletting. Is it violent music or video games? Uh-uh, these are endemic throughout the civilized world. Could it be the proliferation of handguns? No, Canada has millions of guns and it's big cities have the murder rates of our small towns! Is it our violent, gun-toting history? Negative, the entire planet has a bloody, violent past. Moore has the audacity to try to get to the bottom of this mess. BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE is not for the squeamish or the political zealot from either right or left. It's for folks who wonder at what we've become. It's for people like me who hate the idea of barracading themselves in their homes for fear of being slaughtered. This fear is also challenged here. Many sacred cow arguments are terminated. Prepare to be angered, saddened, provoked, offended, and oddly entertained as only Michael Moore can do. A must own classic...

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I have taken 4 friends to see this movie. I have even seen this movie while I was in Montreal to see what the Canadian reaction would be. I must say, I was embarrassed to be an American after watching this movie. I then thought of all the things I should be doing to make this place a better place to live. In other words, this is a thought provoking movie that is truly provocative.

You will see Charles Heston wring his hands in nervousness after he says, "We don't want any more of that civil rights business going on again", or "the reason America is violent is because of all the mixed ethnicities." What an idiot.

And that is just what Michael Moore does, he shows people and the government in their natural element speaking freely, and shows us how insane they are and sound. From George Bush proclaiming that our number one priority should be defense spending when people all over the country are out of work and children are living in poverty without parent supervision, to the crackpot rednecks who are buying more "guns and ammo" because they want to protect themselves from the "evil doers." It's this candid honesty of Moore's subjects that makes us look inward to how this country gone astray. Then Moore tries to explain this with his amazing short animation movie "A Brief History of the United States of America." Although he simplifies everything, and it is truly brief, it hits home and is certainly eye opening.

Moore tries to explain the question of why America is so violent. Why we are the unique country in the world that kills people with guns on the astronomical level that the United States does. He offers a lot of options to this answer, but ultimately, he leaves the question open for the viewer to search out within him/herself for the answer and make change.

A truly great achievement and I can't wait till his next film that is due out 2 months before the election that will no doubt, open up people's eyes to the corrupt and blood thirsty administration that occupies the White House.

Bravo Mr. Moore! Bravo!

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Only in a few places does Michael Moore's Academy Award-winning documentary veer too sharply into diatribe. The incomprehensible student shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado formed the impetus for the making of this film, which is filled with unforgettable vignettes, including the following: the bank that offers a big gun to everyone who opens a new account, Charlton Heston turning his back on the photograph of the 6yo girl killed by her 1st grade classmate, the manager of K-Mart agreeing to halt the sale of guns and ammunition, and most disturbing to me, the disclosure that Canadians have more guns per household that we do in the USA, yet they have an infinitesimal rate of murder.

Go figure.

Definitely worth watching and then thinking about for a long time.

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Some of the reviews I've been reading of "Bowling for Columbine" remind me of a statement that a Canadian makes about Americans in the film that we don't think before we react. Obviously, certain people were angered by this film (hopefully everyone was at least once) and for some reason don't like Michael Moore and have written their reviews before letting it all soak in. "Bowling for Columbine" has just that a lot to soak in. I will not give away parts of this film because it truly has to be witnessed to be believed. I can't believe this even came out to the theatres. I would like to respond to a few things others are saying who obviously don't fully get what is presented in this film. First off, "Bowling for Columbine" IS NOT a comedy. Yes, it has laughs and funny ironies, but it is not a movie you go to for a good happy laughing experience. This is a documentary film with a focus on gun control and gun violence, which also includes segments on racism, the media, and other politics. This is not a movie you just shrug off and giggle at this movie should not be called "hilarious" because it never comes near it. It is also not for the faint of heart because there is footage of actual shootings, Security camera video from the Columbine High School, and also footage of the second tower of the World Trade Center being attacked. How anyone could call or expect a film with this footage to be a comedy is beyond me. I don't consider myself to be a liberal or conservative, but the facts are the facts and yes some things in this film are a little biased and maybe even over exaggerated, but the people who Moore interviews speak for themselves. Moore isn't "making them look bad", they make theirselves look bad. All I see Moore doing is asking questions...he's not accusing them of anything. The way they respond is up to them. I don't have a problem believing these enormously rich famous people like Heston and Clark are represented realistically in this film. Why should they care? These guys are so far removed from reality its not even funny. I love Heston fumbling with words trying to justify why he, a rich movie star who lives in a gated fortress probably with his own security team, has to have loaded guns in his house. Even better is the part with Dick Clark (I won't ruin it). Another scene involves a TV reporter who "acts" emotional when covering a story about a murdered child on the air and as soon as the camera is off he starts laughing and worrying about his hair...as soon as its time to go back on he puts his "sad" face on priceless. In scenes like these and many others Moore doesn't have to say a word because these people bury themselves. I wish this kind of footage would be shown more often footage showing what people are really like when the camera goes off. Marilyn Manson has one of the best and most intelligent comments in the film about what he would say to the victims of Columbine Everyone who dislikes Manson should hear what he has to say in this segment. I'm not really even a fan of his, but he made more sense in 5 sentences than most any other famous people interviewed in the film. Also of notable mention is Matt Stone of South Park fame who actually attended Columbine High. His statements are also important especially the one about High School seeming so important when you're going through it, but when it's over...its really over. The real stars of "Bowling for Columbine" are the non-famous people who either have had first hand experience or just voice their opinions. These people actually live in the real world...not in some mansion surrounded by guards & yes-men. I think people are going to be mad at this film because its too much to handle and accept. I'm not saying that everything in this film is all true, but most of it obviously is and I think the people who hate Moore and call him "Anti-American" or "Communist" actually just hate the idea of admitting there is truth here about our Country. It's alright to be an American, a "good" American, and still be aware and critical, even angry at the injustices and stupidity that goes on around you. People who think Moore is "Anti-American" should watch his film "Roger & Me". That film is for Americans and about Americans. The film centers around the closing of a General Motors plant in Flint, Michigan and the devastating effect it had on that town and the thousands of people who lost their jobs. "Bowling for Columbine", like "Roger & Me", presents some hard undeniable truths and if people are not ready to deal with them, maybe they should go see something else...better yet, maybe the perfect time to see this is when you're not ready. This is a very important film, if for anything because it makes you think and form opinions. Moore doesn't tell you what to think at anytime in his films. You see what you see and interpret it. If you're angry when you leave the theatre or emotionally overwhelmed...you should be.

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I just got back from seeing this film at the Toronto International Film Festival and I am stunned at how good and powerful this film is. Michael Moore attended the screening that I saw and he did a little talk before and after the film which gave it some nice perspective. It does paint an inacurate (in a good way) picture of Canada as a crime free utopia but during his talks Mr. Moore mentioned that it was done by an American, for Americans and it is meant to be a bitter pill for THEM to swallow, being a Canadian I could appreciate what he was doing despite the inacurate depiction of my home. This film gives you an odd feeling, at one time you are laughing at how funny it is, then you are on the brink of tears at the sorrow and shock you receive while watching actual Columbine High School security footage, when you see the children run and the two murderers walk in it sends shivers down your spine. This is perhaps one of Moores best works and very poiniant at a time like this.

The title itself is quite clever but a little misleading, the focus of the film is Columbine but it also covers school shootings in general as well as the state of America when it comes to gun control and even foriegn policy in regards to 09/11/01.

It opens in theatres in the states on the 11th of Oct. and Mr. Moore commented that he is pleased it opened at the TIFF first as it got a very warm reception with the mostly Canadian audience and he is concerned/interested in seeing how Americans tolerate this work.

A modern masterpiece that is highly recommended.