Apr. 23, 2004 - 10:02 am

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Bowling for Columbine (2002)

i've always wanted to see this film since i heard that it was so good when it originally came out. i think it was Michael Moore's somewhat offensive display at the Oscars that was holding me back if anything. he definitely has the potential to get on my nerves from time to time. he's very vehement about his beliefs and very critical of others...something that i'm not always a fan of. anyway, luckily Jill had a copy of this that she was borrowing from a friend that she wanted me to see so we watched it over at my place.

this is a critical documentary film about the prevalence of guns in American society as well as general violence within our communities. there are insane amounts of tangents in the text of the film, but mostly Moore sticks to criticizing those who sell guns in outlandish ways (i.e. "open a bank account with us and get a free gun"), those who are seemingly obsessed with owning and firing guns such as the NRA, Charleton Heston, and the Michigan State Militia, and people in places of power like Dick Clark who are indirectly forcing welfare parents to work and thereby giving them no time to spend with their children (this seems to have played a role in the youngest instance of homicide in American history).

it's a well-made film and it's definitely got some challenges that people should think about and act upon if they feel they have the strength to do so. i think it's true though that often this film will end up "preaching to the converted." Moore is so stand-offish in his approach to the gun issue that he pretty much instantly alienates anyone who is actually semi-attracted to owning or using guns, let alone any extreme right-wing viewers. it's a risky way to approach the subject, but sometimes it's true that taking a risk is the only way to get things changed. i liked the film overall and i'd definitely recommend it to friends.