Rating: Summary: Makes you think Review: I must admit that although I don't agree with many of Michael Moore's opinions, Bowling for Columbine is a well made documentary that makes you think. I was actually surprised that Moore left many questions unanswered so that the viewer can form their own opinion on the subject of American violence. Of course there were times here and there where Mike's extreme liberalism came through and became annoying, but that was expected. This is coming from someone who has their own political opinions on different subjects (some on both sides of the fence), but becomes annoyed with extremists on either side of the fence who often throw logic aside just to argue a point. Michael Moore is one of those people and so is Rush Limbaugh. All that aside, this film was entertaining and thought-provoking. The violence rate in America is no joke and should be thought about by all Americans. I personally feel that the media does have a lot to do with it which was well conveyed in the movie. I don't necessarily agree though that the NRA is to blame nor the constitution which was made with all the best intentions for our country. Yes, restrictions should be higher on the purchasing of weapons, but taking away the right to bear arms would be just as wrong as taking away freedom of speech. (something I know Michael Moore would not appreciate) Sorry, I didn't mean to turn this review into my opinionated views on the subject matter, but I guess that just goes to show that Moore accomplished his goal of raising thought on the issues and for that, I commend him.
Rating: Summary: Meanspirited Review: The scene that did it for me in Michael Moore's well done film involved an interview with a police officer about someone who dressed a dog up as a hunter and was accidentally shot. Funny? Yes. Demeaning? Yes again. Moore makes numerous valid points throughout his film. But, too often, for my taste, he does it by ridiculing someone. He does it politely, but not without meanness. And that is why I was uncomfortable with watching the film. And that is why I am rating this film low.
Rating: Summary: Silly reviewers, insults are for the intellectually devoid Review: I wouldn't even be writing this review if it weren't for the childish name calling and defamation of a man who simply wants to know why children are being murdered in schools. I've read some of the reviews from those that think low of the film and am disgusted by the mindless fat jokes and claims that Moore is damaging American ideals in this film. Yes, it has an agenda, to find out why children aren't safe to be in school anymore. Never do any of the reviewers offer any substantial counter-claims to the things that Moore has presented. They simply call him Michael "Smoores" and tell him to put down that hogie and grab a gun if you wanna be a true American. They talk of Moore's character assassination of Heston, and then immediately call Moore a lying socialist. If you haven't seen this movie, please do. I promise it is NOT the "liberal drool" some conservative bullies would have you think in their thoughtless, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" alternate reality. Moore simply realizes that when children are dying at school, and when honest, hard working people lose their jobs over corporate greed(see "Roger and Me"), their is definitely something wrong. All he, and the rest of America, would like is an answer to those questions. P.S. Look for spelling mistakes in those other reviews. Funny stuff like "right to BARE arms."
Rating: Summary: sophomoric drivel Review: Maybe you can recall those heady days when you sat around your dorm rooms as freshmen and explored new,liberal ideas--like jumping on stupid white men for all the ills of the world. most of us outgrew it. michael moore can't. stupid white men are the cause of all the problems of the world--including providing guns to the world to protect themselves. moore also veers off into his usual blather about the poor black people of America. He shows segments from the TV show, "Cops", where officers wrestle down black suspects. He suggests that the the TV show deliberately goes after black suspects when the real truth might be that young black men commit the majority of serious crimes. Moore's attitude is so patronizing you become nauseated. The hardest segment to watch was when Moore interviews a black woman principal of a school where a shooting occurred. You hear the 911 tape, the woman's hysterical voice. moore then interviews her. when she breaks down, the camera moves in on Moore putting an arm around her shoulder, murmuring words of consolation. Gee, Mike, that was soooo spontaneous. then moore goes to Columbine HIgh School and jumps on the media for turning the tragedy into a feeding frenzy. He shows one TV pretty boy cursing because his hair gets blown awry by the wind. The reporter repeats his TV segment and we're supposed to condemn him for manipulating the audience--as if Moore hasn't done just that. I'd recommend this mocumentary for Hollywood wannabees--since the first thing established movie people do is jump on the Stupid White Man bandwagon. That's the easy way to solve all the problems of the world without thinking.
Rating: Summary: Thought Provoking Review: This is a powerful documentary which looks into the unsusually large number of gun deaths in the United States. It had me in tears. To see the extent to which fear grips the minds of Americans--fear of terrorists, fear of minorities, fear of the government, fear of being unpopular--the list goes on and on. Moore makes the point that this fear is what drives the violence in America. We're constantly bombarded with messages of fear from the media and the government. For a comparison, look at Canada. There are a large number of guns in Canada, but the gun violence rate is nowhere near the gun violence rate of America. Why is this?Some may say that there is a lot of gun violence in America because we have a violent history. Well, that theory doesn't hold any water. Germany and Japan have had a very violent history (think of the Holocaust and the Rape of Nanking), but the rate of gun violence in those countries is low compared with America's rate. Also you can't say it's violent movies or games. They watch and play those in other countries too. It's about time someone took on the NRA. Perhaps the saddest scene is the last one in which Charlton Heston struggles to defend his views on gun ownership. He just sticks his foot in his mouth and had to run away. I really applaud Moore for his ability to chase down and confront these gun nuts. You never know when they might snap and take a shot at him. Let's use some common sense when dealing with this issue. You really have to see this movie and think about this issue seriously.
Rating: Summary: This Is Not A Documentary Review: I'm afraid that this Oscar-winning "documentary" is a farce. A documentary is true - this film is not. It is scripted, it is spliced together, and it was obviously made to push an agenda. Please do some background research before you waste your time on this DVD - you'll find that Michael Moore made a fictional film to promote his own radical beliefs. Don't waste your time. Mr. Moore obviously doesn't have his "finger on the pulse of America."
Rating: Summary: Important Film For Our Times Review: I don't see how this film presented a one-sided view of the whole gun issue. If anything what was presented was how ridiculous the pro-gun culture is. Michael Moore has done more to present the hypocrisy of our times with this film than any of his other previous endeavors. His interview with Charleston Heston was particularly chilling. The old man who was a great actor seems to have gotten absolutely crazy over the years. This film isn't just about guns, but a critique of our American society that's not very flattering. We have a unique and very violent society based on fear and consumption. It's quite sad and as you can see by a few of the reviews of this film, people react to the film in different ways. Either you accept it as a legitimate critism of American society or you reject it as a one-sided "liberal" propaganda is up to you, however this documentary will have you thinking about the current issues that move people.
Rating: Summary: THE BLAME GAME Review: INSTEAD OF BLAMING KMART FOR SELLING BULLETS TO HTE KIDS WHO SHOT UP THEIR SCHOOL HOW ABOUT FOCUSING ON THIER PARENTS FOR NOT KEEPING THE GUNS AWAY FROM THIER CHILDREN IN THE FIRST PLACE AND GUN CONTROL IN GENRAL? MOORE NEEDS TO FOCUS ON THOSE PROBLEMS. AND IT WASN'T A REAL DOCUMENTRY IT WAS SCRIPTED.
Rating: Summary: amusing, but trite Review: I'm really tired of these one sided perspectives. You see this from both sides of these topics. Where did all of the reasonable people go? Not the movies.
Rating: Summary: NOT a Documentary. Not honest, either. Review: I am not able to recommend this DVD to anyone with an objective mind. Mr. Moore clearly had an agenda when he contemplated making this movie and continued with that agenda throughout. The out of context quotes, spliced together bits of tape and film of Heston and others, along with obvious bias, show that this movie was nothing more than Moore grinding his political axe. Was it entertaining? No. Was it educational? No. Was it thought provoking? No. Since Michael Moore is the darling of the liberal establishment, this movie has had some popularity with his peers, though none at the box office prior to the Oscars, and not very much since. I certainly hope no one has to actually pay and money to see this. You get more value from buying bubblegum.
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