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Bowling for Columbine

Name: Bowling for Columbine
Genre: History, Documentary
Released: October 11, 2002
Duration: 120 min
Rating: 72

2002

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 32 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 113 Ratings

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7.1

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7.1	Your Score
7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 113 Ratings

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BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE

Movie Details & Credits

United Artists | Release Date: October 11, 2002 | TV-MA

Summary: Famed documentarian Michael Moore returns with his first feature film in five years, as he tackles the issue of America's unique obsession with firearms.

Director: Michael Moore

Genre(s): History, Documentary

Rating: TV-MA

Runtime: 120 min

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Awards & Rankings

81	#81 Best Movie of 2002
75	#75 Most Discussed Movie of 2002
73	#73 Most Shared Movie of 2002

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

San Francisco Chronicle Jonathan Curiel

Documentary reaches an exalted level of filmmaking. It explains the very fabric of American society. Read full review

Variety Lisa Nesselson

The sparks fly thanks to Moore's patented blend of curveball research, expedient juxtaposition, genuine satire and bottomless chutzpah. Read full review

Miami Herald Rene Rodriguez

That broad range of subject matter is indicative of the messy, meandering structure of the movie. But if Moore fails to tie this unwieldy movie into a lucid thesis, at least every tangent he chases down has its own payoff. Read full review

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

Moore turns the camera on himself too often for comfort, but he provides an eye-opening array of facts and revelations. Read full review

Dana Stevens

Disturbing, infuriating and often very funny film. Read full review

Desson Thomson

Moore provides a rather rambling discourse of causality, which includes racism, white flight and Africanized bees. Read full review

L.A. Weekly John Powers

It seems to have been made to delight European intellectuals and anyone else who believes that America is a land of bloodthirsty yet comical barbarians. Read full review

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User Reviews

TerryB.

Dec 18, 2007

I don't know if other people watched the same movie that I watched. In the movie, Moore is just telling the truth. Now I know that the truth hurts some people, but lets be serious...our governments top priorities are on bombing the hell outta some country on the other side of this I don't know if other people watched the same movie that I watched. In the movie, Moore is just telling the truth. Now I know that the truth hurts some people, but lets be serious...our governments top priorities are on bombing the hell outta some country on the other side of this planet when there are starving families that barely get by from day to day. The government should concentrate on healthcare and childrens' education. Moore is just opening our eyes to how messed up our governments priorities are and how it's putting fear into every american in this country. How could you watch the president of the NRA show no sympathy whatsoever for the 6 year old girl that was shot by a gun at school and not get pissed at him for that?!? Maybe I actually have a heart with a concience, but some people need to open their eyes to what is going on in this country. And not all people of america are gun happy assholes...there are many great people in america and they just don't see those people. It's the government and gun-loving idiot who are screwing many people over.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful

AD_Phoenix

Apr 21, 2014

As relevant today as it was 12 years ago, Bowling For Columbine features Michael Moore addressing the subjects of firearms, race, fear and prejudice in a totally engaging documentary that never falls short and continues to surprise and educate even up to its bittersweet end. ParticipatoryAs relevant today as it was 12 years ago, Bowling For Columbine features Michael Moore addressing the subjects of firearms, race, fear and prejudice in a totally engaging documentary that never falls short and continues to surprise and educate even up to its bittersweet end. Participatory documentary at its finest.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

The3AcademySins

Sep 23, 2018

Hands down Michael Moore's best film. Dark, funny, haunting, and informative all at once. Michael Moore is a master of rhetoric, and this documentary does more than shed light on a subject, it forms an opinion and demands action of it's viewers. Inflammatory, incendiary, and thoughtHands down Michael Moore's best film. Dark, funny, haunting, and informative all at once. Michael Moore is a master of rhetoric, and this documentary does more than shed light on a subject, it forms an opinion and demands action of it's viewers. Inflammatory, incendiary, and thought provoking, this documentary is a must see!… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

amurabim.

Aug 31, 2005

Hilarious, funny, entertaining, thoughtful, universal & extremely controversial but the best documentary ever.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

BKM

Dec 25, 2012

Is it unbiased, fair and logical? Absolutely not. But that's not what Moore is aiming for (no pun intended). Bowling for Columbine is an unapologetic pro-gun control polemic infused with scathing humor and pointed attacks on everyone from the national media to corporate America. The filmIs it unbiased, fair and logical? Absolutely not. But that's not what Moore is aiming for (no pun intended). Bowling for Columbine is an unapologetic pro-gun control polemic infused with scathing humor and pointed attacks on everyone from the national media to corporate America. The film doesn't come close to providing any real answers to the problem of gun violence, but it does strike a chord when it turns its attention to the culture of fear that is ingrained in our collective psyche. Just don't take it as gospel.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

GingerO.

Feb 15, 2006

Whether we like Michael Moore or not, I believe it is important to understand and take into account that his documentary

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Riren

Jan 31, 2007

Bowling For Columbine is an example of a sad and increasingly popular trend in documentary: to no longer inform, but to program. Like most sensationalist works, it goes for the emotional reaction instead of the logical. It's very good at stirring up a cloud of feelings whenever Bowling For Columbine is an example of a sad and increasingly popular trend in documentary: to no longer inform, but to program. Like most sensationalist works, it goes for the emotional reaction instead of the logical. It's very good at stirring up a cloud of feelings whenever it's logic is weak and might be criticized by a thinking audience. It preys on factual confusion and cynicism to paint an anti-patriotic picture, something done much more thoroughly and intelligently in other mediums such as the books of Noam Chomsky. But where you could argue with Chomsky's writing, Moore's theatrics are unrelenting - rather than let you disagree, he will coyly pretend he wasn't making that point, throw something at you so that you are too uncomfortable to respond, and change the subject so that you won't have the chance to think things through. Moore has made a great contribution to turning documentary into the next great form of propaganda. The only thing he has to be proud of is how many millions of dollars he has duped audiences out of in doing it. Please, if you want to educate yourself on the great problems facing modern society, read a book. Leave this documentary to the liberals who, like a quire, relish in being preached at my their own congregation.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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