RSS 2.0Bowling For Columbine (2002)
Michael Moore ‘s latest film is such a brilliant documentary I really think they should give it an academy award. What they really should do is to give him that award and make Charlton Heston have to present it to him. Why Chuck? Well if you’ve seen this film you’ll know that he plays a key role in it.
As major mouth piece for the National Rifle Association, old Moses unwittingly reveals on camera, that he’s basically a senile old git. If it wasn’t heartless enough that shortly after the Columbine High School killings, C.H. decided to shoot off his mouth about shooting off his gun in this devastate town; then they go do it again right after another shooting takes place in an elementary school. That’s some cold, and quite frankly, entertaining stuff which is what makes Moore’s documentary such an important piece of cinematographic art.
Moore pulls out the stops to make the sort of public information film I wish they showed us in school. There are a lot of fun facts but also some strong medicine that at certain moments is very hard to look at. The film is gripping from beginning to end and most importantly inspires you to consider what lies under the media hyped up surface of it all.
Moore has clearly not made an anti- gun film. But he’s certainly made a strong anti-aggression film. It is not anti- American. In fact, I was really moved by the genuine love of his country. Michael Moore loves America so much he’s willing to dig up the dirt in the hopes that the people of the USA will wake up and see how things need to be fixed. It’s almost as if he’s on a mission to save the soul of America. Most importantly he’s asked the important questions. The ones most media makers are afraid to touch. This is an entertaining and inspiring documentary that I strongly feel everyone should go out and see. The emphasis being on ‘out’. Don’t rent it on video and watch it in the security of your home. Go out, into the real world and see it with your neighbors. Don’t be afraid to see it while amongst the general public.
denise (91 posts)Loves the big screen experience of sitting in a dark room with about a hundred strangers all getting sucked into the fantasy realm beyond the silver screen.
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This movie now has the exact same score on IMDB as the nr. 1 in their top 250 of all times. I guess they’re not putting it in there because it’s a documentary, but they should! It’s funny, it’s thought-provoking, and it genuinely important.
I loved the bit with the bank giving away free rifles when you open a new account . Great start, that really sets the tone for the rest of the film.
Comment by weefselkweekje — Fri February 14, 2003 @ 13:56I’m curious about what public opinion in the US says about this fim. It’s certainly been a much talked about film over here.
Comment by reisneus — Fri February 14, 2003 @ 13:57I checked the imdb discussion board about this movie a while back, and well, let’s just say people weren’t being very polite…
It’s funny to see that pro-gun activists can’t really seem to come up with a better reason than gun ownership being their constitutional right. Laws can be wrong you know, that’s why we change/update them from time to time. “From your cold dying hand”? Yes please…
Comment by weefselkweekje — Fri February 14, 2003 @ 13:57I haven’t seen the film yet, but I can try to answer to the American perspective (if living in the New York area really qualifies as the “American” perspective.)
The whole idea of gun control is very touchy, especially in regions like the Midwest, the West and the South. I believe it has something to do with the whole mythology of the American revolution and the idea that our forefathers reached into their back closets, grabbed up their muskets and drove out those pesky English. So, this gets all mixed up into some ridiculous notion of patriotism. It’s as if the gun advocates believe that we might need those muskets again sometime soon. (Don’t get me wrong, I wish someone would knock Bush over the head with a musket right now.) But it just doesn’t seem to register to most American voters that this need to bear arms is no longer necessary.
As for the impact of the movie, the sad reality is that documentaries rarely get as much media attention as they deserve over here. So no matter how powerful the message is, Moore will probably only be preaching to the converted. The Bubba’s with the rifles in the back of their trucks (our current president being one of them) won’t go see a movie like this, if it even makes it to their town (and most documentaries and small budget independent films won’t.) The gun owners see the damage weapons do over and over again on tv news reports. But they blindly believe that it doesn’t have to do with them. Fatalities, accidents, raging rampages all happen to some other gun owner. It’s the guy next door being irresponsible.
Maybe it can only be equated to when Europeans hear talk of banning smoking in public places. Everyone knows smoking will kill you, and statistics show that the second hand smoke will kill the guy next to you too. Yet, it is denial and habit and “don’t tell me what to do” attitude that keeps those statistics from influencing what should be a no-brainer debate. I guess what I’m trying to say is when a harmful thing is so embedded in a national culture, it is really hard to get it out. Sad, but true.
Comment by marisa — Tue February 25, 2003 @ 23:28One of the best pieces of film in the last years. I wouldn’t go so far as calling this a real documentary, since Moore isn’t really being the objective filmer; he as important a part of the film -if not mo(o)ore- as the people interviewed.
Sometimes his approach is a bit too much ‘in your face’ but the messages are clear: the American government keeps its people in continuing a grip of fear. It shows the seemingly limitless power of the media and the corporate world behind it. To me, the implicit message (which imho is, that corporate America is ruling the country/world) is more haunting than the obvious “guns are bad for ya”.
A real thought-provoking piece of film.
Comment by Paco — Thu September 11, 2003 @ 15:22im from the US, and i geuss i will put my opinion out, this movie was one of the best fuggin movies i have ever seen, even tho it was a documentry. the approach and everything was pure genius. it made me think and consider. btw it wasnt clearly anti-gun, as he said canada is filled with hunters and most familys have a gun up there, but the message i got besides the rich and stuff and how we are controlled by fear (i am trying to break my bad habit of this) but the media is the source. kids can tell the difference between movies, music, games and reality. i mean how stupid do we think they are. (for the prez thats a whole different story) but when we watch the news and its always someone dies, its like thats real people really do kill other people all the time. i mean thats what we see and what is shown to us. but in canada they barely have negative news coverage and the murder rate is extremely low, coincidence? possibly. well that wasnt really an opinion but a theory. oh well this movie err documentary rocked!
Comment by tim — Thu October 23, 2003 @ 4:42Apparently new home video footage has just been found of the 2 Columbine killers, laughing whilst practicing shooting huge guns at trees in the woods. It was filmed just 2 weeks before the school shooting and some people from Columbine have said that it was obvious these 2 boys were very dangerous long before the shooting.
Comment by suzero — Thu October 23, 2003 @ 9:02There’s a film coming to IDFA 2003 – The Corporation – which has been described as ‘the new Bowling For Columbine’ and has been playing to sold-out crowds and standing ovations across Canada…
The provocative, and at times, chilling documentary is based on the book The Corporation: The Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power written by its directors Mark Achbar and Jennifer Abbott. The Montreal Gazette wrote: ‘If it leaves you unmoved, pass on calling the doctor: Go straight to the morgue, because you are already dead.
As well as its IDFA screening(s), an underground screening is being organised in Amsterdam. I’ll post details when I know more… along with some other cool film events for November.
Comment by pip — Thu October 23, 2003 @ 21:55IDFA film tickets are sold out fast, be quick.
Comment by reisneus — Fri October 24, 2003 @ 13:21True. And the only thing I hear people complaining about the festival every year is the crap reservations system/disorganistion/chaos which means having to spend hours queueing…
Would be great if you could buy tickets online.
Comment by pip — Fri October 24, 2003 @ 14:01I finally saw this movie and it was rivetting. He just doesn’t shy away from the difficult questions.
My favorite parts were definitely the American History recap by the South Park animators. And the genuine surprise of Kmart doing the right thing (regardless of their motivations.)
At the end of the movie, however, I just felt compelled to move to CANADA!!
Comment by marisa — Fri April 16, 2004 @ 15:57This was not a documentory. It was filled with partial truths, little facts, twisted to fit his mind. The bank for instance does not give the gun away right on the spot. They put the customer through a backround check first. But Moore ask to give to him for the movie just this time.
Comment by Jeff — Tue April 20, 2004 @ 22:36The part with Charlton Heston was filmed many months before Columbine!!
Reserch it all yourselvse you Sheep! Do not believe it because it is on a big screen!!!
“The bank for instance does not give the gun away right on the spot. They put the customer through a backround check first.”
Phew… I can’t tell you what a relief that is to hear Jeff… That makes it all OK then.
And as for the rest of your comments. Don’t let them Republicans brainwash you!
Baaaaa
Comment by Pip — Wed April 21, 2004 @ 10:47Jeff, Michael Moore asks Charleton Heston specific questions about the school shootings. It seems highly unlikely that they could have shot that scene before-hand. But I would love to hear your well researched proof showing how you know it was shot prior. Otherwise, you are expecting us to just believe you blindly which is exactly what you are criticizing about the movie.
Anyway, I’m not quite sure that Micheal Moore’s views are considered “mainstream” in this country. So I think it is hardly sheep-like with a proud NRA-member Vice President and a pro-gun Republican government in power to “question” a few ideas about American society.
You might want to try attacking the issues with some evidence to support your ideas, rather than attacking people on a personal level. And please don’t shoot me for saying so.
Comment by marisa — Wed April 21, 2004 @ 15:46