Bowling for Columbine: A great bang for your movie buck
an article by John Loomis

I want to tell you about a great film. It is Bowling For Columbine by Michael Moore. "Bowling" is the latest offering in Mr. Moores's long line of thought-provoking movies, books, and TV shows. The focus of this film is to explore the shockingly high statistics of gun violence in the United States and to try to uncover the roots of this problem.

The title comes from the fact that the young men responsible for the tragedy went bowling before school on that fateful day. Including the bowling connection, every possible reason/ excuse is explored and contrasted with other industrial nations. Don't worry, even this topic might not seem like a super-fun way to spend your blockbuster dollar, Mr. Moore never lets this (or any of his other great docs) slip into nap time.

This film is a mind-blowing assault on your senses and pre-conceived notions. You won't know from one second to the next if you want to laugh or cry. Actual footage taken during the Columbine rampage is offered, as well as an hilarious stunt where the filmmaker applies for a bank account and receives a complimentary shotgun.

In the end, no answers for what happend on that tragic April morning nor the larger questions surrounding our nation's deadly relationship with firearems are found in this film. But it will make you think a little and laugh a lot. And how can that be bad? check it out: bowlingforcolumbine.com

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I think Moore demonstrates that banning gun ownership is not, in itself, a solution to gun violence. He openly admits that Canada, "our friendly neighbor to the north," is home to a large gun-owning populace. Yet, it has a ridiculously small number of gun-related deaths each year. The difference, and one of the main themes of the movie, is a culture of violence and fear.

One of my favorite scenes in "Bowling" is when Mike discovers that Canadians never lock their doors. They simply aren't affraid. By contrast, the mainstream American media bombards us with murders, fear, scapegoating, and paranoia.. . ...more.

This report was posted on August 7, 2003. The moderator is Leah.

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