“Bowling For Columbine” is one of the most uniquely entertaining and captivating documentaries that I have ever seen in my life. It is also extremely unpredictable, and since I am fond of the unknown (mystery) that is a plus in my book. What makes it unique is that it is laugh-out-loud funny one moment, and unexpectedly heartbreaking the next, as during the tragic part of the film where the security camera tapes the Columbine High School massacre. Moore’s simple personal appearance, along with a tranquil tone of voice never made me feel vulnerable in any way, even though the subject matter of the documentary is “tragedy”.
The main issue that Michael Moore attempts to convey is that there is a big problem in the United States, and that is violence. The point of the documentary is to determine why killing (with guns), especially that of children killing children, is out of control in this country. Moore has traveled the country to conduct a qualitative(1) kind of research, (with quantitative(2) research already done) and interview those who make up the American Society, in order to get answers to the questions that are asked in our homes, stores and schools. What has become of United States? Who are Americans really? What makes Americans so violent in comparison to other countries?
In the beginning of the documentary, a carton is shown that gives a brief summary
of the American history in which guns are portrayed as a tool being used every step of the
way in order to feel safe. The cartoon is shot in a “South Park” style, with the characters
(2) Qualitative research method is one that is descriptive, it tells a story.
(2) Quantitative research method is one that uses statistics, numbers and math.
given high pitch voices, and sometimes even higher to get the message across, and emphasize certain points. For example, when an American says, “I love my gun, looove my gun!”. The cartoon is hilarious, however, it is used not just to amuse but also to show that the Americans are scared and they use guns for safety and protection. The narrator is a talking bullet, which also makes us think “Guns”.
The beginning of the documentary, in my opinion, is very important. Michael Moore goes into a bank, which offers a free gun when a new account is opened. Therefore, very easily the message of easy access to guns is understood. Along the way, however, Moore makes an interesting discovery, that there are more guns per household in Canada than in United States, yet the death toll in Canada is much lower. I found it disturbing that Canadians never lock the doors in their homes, due to the fact that little violence still exists in their country, just not that much. Maybe that’s is because I was raised to fear outsiders, and taught to always lock the house door, and to have it locked at all times.
Charles Heston is the leader of the N.R.A. (National Rifle Association), and in this film he is portrayed as an awful individual for the American Society. Moore points out that after something bad happens with a gun, like a school shooting, Heston should maybe try to hold a rally next to that location to try to convince people that it is not guns that kill people, but people who kill people. Moore than asks Heston, “Do you have a loaded gun in your house?” off coarse the answer was, “Yes I do”. Once again Moore asks questions in
order to prove and get the message across, that guns are a big national problem. Subsequently, Michael Moore uses an example, of a six-year-old boy who shot his classmate by a gun. Heston is then shown a picture of a cute little girl who got shot by that boy, and Heston not only refused to look at it, he left the interview room and disappeared from sight into another part of his gorgeous house. Using a camera to set the mood for the viewers,
there’s this chase that takes place to emphasize that he is in fact a bad guy. Moore than decides to leave the picture of that little girl next to the house, which symbolizes the issue - its Heston’s fault that this incident of deviance (3) has occurred in the first place.
The controversies that cover the entire documentary are very fascinating and attention grabbing, and I don’t think that it was bias in any way. In my opinion, United States of America is extremely colorful, due to the fact that it’s made up of people of different races, religions, cultures and customs. Everyone in America is different, and we “are” made to be different, look different, and have different religions and opinions. Maybe that’s why America is such a violent country, but maybe not. In my opinion, this documentary does convey an accurate portrayal of United States, because I know from personal experience that guns are easy to obtain, and I know of some people who got shot by guns. On the other hand, if there were no guns, people would use fists, sticks and knives. However, I’m not an expert, but it’s easier to kill a person with a gun. Therefore, I do think that there is a big problem with access to guns in the United States, and I agree with Michael Moore. I believe that everyone should recognize the problem after watching this documentary, and as Chris Rock suggests in one of his comedy routines, make every bullet cost $5,000! Michael Moore has managed to touch my heart and penetrate into my soul with humor and irony, while tying these two together in a very serious debate of the United States of America.