| | | Are we a nation of gun nuts or are we just nuts?
Features: DVD, Widescreen, Dolby Digital (5.1), English, French, Spanish, Subtitled, Commentary
He's America's favorite whistle-blower, the man in everyone's face. And now he's setting his sights on our love affair with guns and violence in this "thoughtful, inquisitive, imaginative and troubling" (The Hollywood Reporter) film.System Requirements:Running Time: 119 Min., Color. Directed By: Michael Moore. Copyright 2003 MGM Studios.Format: DVD MOVIE
"For anyone who cares about the future of America, it's required viewing." Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Daily News
"The most bold and socially important film to hit theaters this year." Phil Villarreal, Arizona daily News
Editor's Note
Filmmaker and leftist activist Michael Moore asks some serious questions as he probes the depths of America's trigger-happy gun culture in the insightful and amusing documentary, BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE. Guns in America are used to kill an average of more than 11,000 people per year. This death toll is obscenely out of balance with other first world countries, which generally average a total in double digits. Experts and analysts have pointed to America's bloody history as a reason, but how does that explain the lower murder rate in Germany? Violent entertainment has also been fingered, but how does this account for staggeringly low numbers in Japan, home of the most violent entertainment video games on the market.Moore's trademark comedic tone is razor-sharp as his quest leads him everywhere from Littleton Colorado's Columbine High School to the home of NRA President Charlton Heston. Moore, oddly enough a lifetime NRA member, makes his main target the news media, but also fires away at inefficient welfare programs, Dick Clark, and Kmart. The latter is even compelled to make a major policy change in their stores due to one of Moore's confrontational stunts. This exploration into America's obsession with guns is disarmingly humorous, but Moore also asks challenging questions and fearlessly seeks responsible parties, making the film an effective call for more social awareness as well.
| Features | Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1 | | Subtitles: English, Spanish, French | | Audio Commentary | | Interactive Menus | | Scene Selection |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: MGM |
| Release Date: 11/21/2008 |
| Running Time: 119 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 2002 | | Catalog ID: 1004115 | | UPC: 00027616882264 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English | | Available Subtitles: English, Spanish | | Video: Color |
Aspect Ratio | | 1.85:1 |
| Cast & Crew
| Awards |
Academy Awards (2002) |  | Winner, Best Documentary Feature |
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| | Professional Reviews | New York Times
"..[A] disturbing, infuriating and often very funny film....The camera collects quite a few odd, touching and unsettling moments..." 10/11/2002 p.E13Los Angeles Times
"...Moore's concern about issues is genuine..." 10/11/2002 p.C16 USA Today
"...If Moore is constantly grinding axes, he is always sharpening his irony, too..." 10/11/2002 p.6E Entertainment Weekly
"...Provocative stuff..." 11/01/2002 p.46 Sight and Sound
"...Brilliant....One must salute Moore's bravely radical thesis..." 11/01/2002 p.40 Total Film
"...BOWLING is a 12-course feast for thought. Listen to Moore for just a few minutes and you can't help but get fired up..." 12/01/2002 p.103 Chicago Sun-Times 9 of 10
Bowling for Columbine thinks we have way too many guns, don't need them, and are shooting each other at an unreasonable rate. Moore cannot single out a villain to blame for this fact, because it seems to emerge from a national desire to be armed. ("If you're not armed, you're not responsible," a member of the Michigan militia tells him.) At one point, he visits a bank that is giving away guns to people who open new accounts. He asks a banker if it isn't a little dangerous to have all these guns in a bank. Not at all. The bank, Moore learns, is a licensed gun dealership. - Roger Ebert
James Berardinelli's ReelViews 9 of 10
I can predict with a large degree of certainty that Bowling for Columbine will outrage viewers whose political leanings are conservative. In addition to portraying many gun owners in an unflattering light, Moore insinuates that the CIA was indirectly responsible for the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center (a view that is bound to be unpopular, regardless of how it is presented). The film is at times laugh-aloud, viciously funny (provided you aren't among Moore's targets). But, above all, no matter how much you love or despise the messenger and his means, there's no denying that the message bears consideration and rumination. Imperfect as it may be, Bowling for Columbine is riveting stuff. - James Berardinelli
San Francisco Examiner 9 of 10
Moore offers generous servings of food for thought throughout Bowling for Columbine. And while even people who share his views might dismiss some of what he serves as junk food -- or, worse, skewed statistics -- Moore provides an invaluable service by sparking debate and encouraging thought. Better still, he does all of this, and more, while remaining one of the most savagely hilarious social critics this side of Jonathan Swift. - Joe Leydon
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| Customer Reviews | ![]() | | Cinematography |  4 | | Plot |  3.5 | | Acting | 3.5 | | Overall Satisfaction | 3.5 |
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5 of 5 Very Well Done Saturday, January 13, 2007
Mari Briggs from Royal Oak, MI
As everyone, I dont agree with everything he says or does. But, Michael Moore sure can make us laugh and THINK. Worth a look. Was this review helpful?  
1 of 5 Seen it, laughed at it, sickened by it Monday, July 19, 2004
Lowell VE from Gaithersburg, MD
You can't always control what your kids friends bring home and a rental of this piece of garbage was one of those things for us. The lies and misdirection through editing in this "schlockumentary" are laughable if you know the truth, but then you realize there are a lot of gullible people out there... Moore's career is based on fooling some of the people all of the time and he continues here. He's a rancid hater of this country and the personal freedoms and responsibility on which it was founded. This film is baiting more of the left-wing whack-jobs with disinformation about those on the right. It's pitiful and sad except that some people will believe it. Too bad for them. Check the Internet for many fact-based debunkings of everything in this film. Was this review helpful?
1 of 5 Quintessential Moore: Total BS Tuesday, July 06, 2004
Lowell VE from Gaithersburg, Maryland
The only qualities demonstrated by this movie, like all other Moore work, are a total disdain for honest presentation and a flair for creative editing. It's both fabricated and distortive crap which is well documented with fact-based reviews many places on the web which I'll not repeat here. It is trash - don't waste money on it...
<http://www.dvdmoviecentral.com/ReviewsText/bowling_for_columbine.htm>
<http://www.hardylaw.net/Truth_About_Bowling.html>
<http://www.bowlingfortruth.com/>
<http://www.nationalreview.com/kopel/kopel040403.asp>
<http://www.cwob.com/movies/oscars2003/bfc.html>
The list goes on...
Moore is simply a liar with an agenda he's not ashamed to lie "liberally" to advance. Was this review helpful?
1 of 1 customers found this review helpful.
5 of 5 If you have "Freedom" stamped on your he Tuesday, February 10, 2004
Mike from Denver CO
Excellent film that every American should watch. This film questions the "culture of fear" that is the reality of life today. Michael Moore, explores the links between the violence in our society and the violence that our society projects towards other cultures and comes up with some worrying propositions. How the emotional response to fear for our security is used to manipulate us into support for using tax dollars for the development of expensive new weapons systems to fight who? while our children go without basic health care and decent schools. Extremely entertaining on an intellectual level. Was this review helpful?
1 of 2 customers found this review helpful.
5 of 5 Can't be any less than a 5 Thursday, December 11, 2003
Matt Simon from Albany, NY
I'm not sure how you could rate this film as anything less than a 5. Put aside the Oscar win. Put aside all the press it's gotten. When you see this movie, you will rethink your values. You will rethink what it means to be an American. Chances are, you will feel more compelled than ever before to rise up and voice what you believe in. After seeing this movie one time, you might not even have to see it ever again. The FACTS found in this movie will stay with you for as long as there is a Bush in the White House. Was this review helpful?
2 of 3 customers found this review helpful.
5 of 5 Contrary to popular myth... Friday, October 03, 2003
Dillon from Charleroi, PA
Contrary to myth, this film was based on verifiable facts. Believe it or not, MGM hired lawyers and other individuals to verify the validity of the content before releasing the film. Had this documentary contained false information about such interests as the NRA, MGM would have been promptly sued. Apparently the truth about our society is so disturbing to some people, they have decided that it is easier to just call the documentary a work of fiction. Some of those who have been offended by this truth have decided to invent and publish lies in order to discredit Moors’ documentary. Others pass along these lies without regard for their validity.
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I strongly advise every American to watch <u>Bowling for Columbine</u>. Apparently it is difficult for some viewers to accept what they see; but in the end, the viewer should learn something about this country, and hopefully something about himself.
Was this review helpful?
2 of 4 customers found this review helpful.
5 of 5 first reviewer is lying Friday, September 26, 2003
someone who actually saw it from Minneapolis, MN
The first reviewer said Michael Moore admitted he staged a bunch of the movie. He said no such thing. In the film, he repeatedly gives sources for his facts. He's clear when he is voicing an opinion, and the facts he bases it on. He wrote an article where he not only broke a bunch of he myths going around about him and the movie, he shows his sources, like the investigators' reports that show, contrary to what the wing nuts keep saying, the Columbine killers did indeed go to bowling class that morning: Was this review helpful?
2 of 2 customers found this review helpful.
4 of 5 It'll make you angry no matter what side you're on Tuesday, September 09, 2003
Tyvek Buddy from Madison, WI
Michael Moore obviously has a bias, and he weakens his own argument by skewing the facts the way he does in this film. However, there are lots of hilarious, sad, and angering moments that really make it worth watching.
Whether you are for against gun control, take "Bowling for Columbine" with a grain of salt. Was this review helpful?
5 of 10 customers found this review helpful.
1 of 5 documentary?? Thursday, August 14, 2003
John from chicago, il
How can it be a documentary if fiction is such a large part of it? Maybe I should have given it a 5 for acting. Was this review helpful?
4 of 8 customers found this review helpful.
1 of 5 Garbage!! Thursday, August 14, 2003
A Viewer from Reston, VA
If you think this is a documentary, you're sadly mistaken. It's more of an op-ed piece with much of the material being admittedly staged. Even where real footage is used, it's edited in such a way to remove any semblance of truth. Unless you saw it in the dollar theaters for giggles (like I mistakenly did), you're being duped America!! Was this review helpful?
2 of 5 customers found this review helpful.
1 of 5 Believe the hype, or believe reality Thursday, August 14, 2003
A Viewer from Flyover country, USA
This film has been widely hyped in the media, and obviously some of the buy.com reviewers have bought into that hype as well. The reality of what led up to or what happened at Columbine is categorically NOT what this film depicts. So, if you are interested in a documentary or any shred of reality, check it out from a local library free before wasting money on this coaster. However, if you want a warped perspective on life through the eyes of admitted anti-everything zealot Michael Moore, buy this DVD. Your worst paranoias will be validated as the principles upon which this great republic were founded get trashed. Was this review helpful?
4 of 7 customers found this review helpful.
4 of 5 Good entertainmnet, not the truth Thursday, August 14, 2003
A Viewer from Forest Hill. MD
Michael Moore is a expert at taking his personal opinions, and presenting them as a humorous "documentary." People who share Michael Moore's opinions find this movie "enlightening" or "shocking." People who do not share Michael Moore's opinions are shocked at the falsehoods and exaggerations. Even Michael Moore has admitted in a TV interview that the facts were not important, since this film is entertainment.
The bottom line is if you are pro-gun control, buy this movie. If you are not pro-gun control, don't buy it... You will end up throwing a shoe or a coke can through your TV screen because of all the lies. Was this review helpful?
1 of 5 customers found this review helpful.
5 of 5 Very Funny Saturday, August 02, 2003
A Viewer from New York
Some parts might be over the top, but something different than your typical Hollywood retread. Was this review helpful?
2 of 4 customers found this review helpful.
5 of 5 GREAT FILM!!!! Friday, July 11, 2003
A Viewer from WHITTIER, CA
MIKE HAS DONE IT AGAIN, THIS FILM WILL MAKE YOU ANGRY, LAUGH, CRY. BUT MOST OF ALL, IT WILL OPEN YOU EYES. MIKE IS A TRUE REVOLUTIONARY OF OUR TIME. Was this review helpful?
5 of 20 customers found this review helpful.
1 of 5 Warning! Tuesday, July 08, 2003
A Viewer from Troy, MI
This movie is fiction at its worst. Don't believe a word of it! Michael Moore has admitted that he staged many of his scenes and fabricated much of the dialog. It is as far from a documentary as there is. His Oscar should be revoked (and there is a movement to do so). Was this review helpful?
4 of 6 customers found this review helpful.
5 of 5 Hey You! Yeah you! Saturday, May 17, 2003
jivemonkey from Tomball, TEXAS
If there are reviews you read trashing this film, written by people who have yet to even see the film, totally ignore them. I saw this film in the theatre also, and it is brilliant. I am saddened that they keep pushing the release date back, but I only hope they are adding extras like the Oscar speech, the "backlash" to it, and other great extras. This movie should be seen by everyone, regardless of your stance on gun issues because it's much deeper than that. It will get you thinking. If people start thinking, they'll start talking and maybe we can talk some sense into our society. For crying out loud, even Oprah loved it...Oprah!!! Was this review helpful?
3 of 7 customers found this review helpful.
5 of 5 Excellent, Truthful, Thought-Provoking Movie! Friday, April 11, 2003
Bush & Co. from Washington, D.C.
Michael Moore definitely deserved the Oscar he won for this documentary! I can't wait until his new documentary is released next year about our lies and deception. Was this review helpful?
3 of 5 customers found this review helpful.
5 of 5 Simply one word: AMAZING Thursday, February 06, 2003
afo852 from San Diego
I actually went to the movie theater to see the movie (documentary) it is highly recommended. It's pretty much how violence has corrupted our "freedom" of independence in our country. PEOPLE WHAT ARE YOU GUYS WAITING FOR????? CLICK THE BUY BUTTON!!!!! Was this review helpful?
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