Post by Collie on Dec 8, 2003 16:30:18 GMT
Has anyone else watched this 'documentary' by Michael 'I'm the speaker of the truth and not just an attention seeker, honest' Moore?
Watched it at the weekend on TV. Very thought provoking stuff.
It's difficult to know what to make of it. It claims to be a documentary of some description, largely about the crazed gun-attacks where some kids went mental at a school in Columbine (in the USA) and shot dozens of their classmates, teachers etc, but also goes on to vilify America's obsession with violence and guns, and investigates the reasons for why America has so many gun related deaths compared to the rest of the western world.
At first I found it a harrowing tale, but within a few minutes of being shown a series of clever sequences, my opinions towards the documentary changed to one of cynicism.
Unfortunately 'Bowling for Columbine' presented in such an obvious, one sided, propoganda-fuelled manner with intelligent editing, that it is difficult to take it seriously (and I'm sure you don't have to have studied Media/Film studies to recognise that). Moore has taken the bits he wants to make his 'story' convincing (including some facts he apparently falsified? for the film) and made no effort to make any kind of balanced arguement. Actually, I'm not sure there is an argument to be made. By the end of the 'documentary' you are left with no answers, just a bunch of sequences designed to make you feel guilty and saddened by the 'facts' about America's gun deaths. The Government, Media etc all get the finger pointed to them, with dubious comparisons with other nations to make things look even worse towards America.
I have been scratching my head in confusion why so many Brits are so anti-american, especially after the rising number of terrorist attacks around the world aimed at America and it's allies. Having watched 'Bowling for Columbine' I have, as Moore has intended, began having doubts about America. But fortunately, I'm not so stupid as to take it without a pinch of salt. How this documentary can have won an oscar when it is a mockery of real documentaries, being neither fair, nor balanced throughout it's 2 odd hours of motion picture is astounding. But the oscars are nonsense anyway, the winners are seldom truly deserving in their accolades.
The only thing I can agree on without a second thought, is that gun-related incidents are shocking, and in America's case, there's far too many of them. And unlike the gun-totting NRA and gun fans in particular, I don't believe having more guns will help matters.
Any thoughts on this 'documentary'?
Personally I've never been a great fan of the fat man. I remember seeing 'Michael Moore's TV Nation' many years ago and he covered the British TV License, making out it was a mockery to make the public pay, and then asking bemused American's to comment about it.. them of course thinking it was stupid. I thought he had a point.... and then I grew up, saw both sides of the argument (something he never does) and think there are definite advantages to it.
Watched it at the weekend on TV. Very thought provoking stuff.
It's difficult to know what to make of it. It claims to be a documentary of some description, largely about the crazed gun-attacks where some kids went mental at a school in Columbine (in the USA) and shot dozens of their classmates, teachers etc, but also goes on to vilify America's obsession with violence and guns, and investigates the reasons for why America has so many gun related deaths compared to the rest of the western world.
At first I found it a harrowing tale, but within a few minutes of being shown a series of clever sequences, my opinions towards the documentary changed to one of cynicism.
Unfortunately 'Bowling for Columbine' presented in such an obvious, one sided, propoganda-fuelled manner with intelligent editing, that it is difficult to take it seriously (and I'm sure you don't have to have studied Media/Film studies to recognise that). Moore has taken the bits he wants to make his 'story' convincing (including some facts he apparently falsified? for the film) and made no effort to make any kind of balanced arguement. Actually, I'm not sure there is an argument to be made. By the end of the 'documentary' you are left with no answers, just a bunch of sequences designed to make you feel guilty and saddened by the 'facts' about America's gun deaths. The Government, Media etc all get the finger pointed to them, with dubious comparisons with other nations to make things look even worse towards America.
I have been scratching my head in confusion why so many Brits are so anti-american, especially after the rising number of terrorist attacks around the world aimed at America and it's allies. Having watched 'Bowling for Columbine' I have, as Moore has intended, began having doubts about America. But fortunately, I'm not so stupid as to take it without a pinch of salt. How this documentary can have won an oscar when it is a mockery of real documentaries, being neither fair, nor balanced throughout it's 2 odd hours of motion picture is astounding. But the oscars are nonsense anyway, the winners are seldom truly deserving in their accolades.
The only thing I can agree on without a second thought, is that gun-related incidents are shocking, and in America's case, there's far too many of them. And unlike the gun-totting NRA and gun fans in particular, I don't believe having more guns will help matters.
Any thoughts on this 'documentary'?
Personally I've never been a great fan of the fat man. I remember seeing 'Michael Moore's TV Nation' many years ago and he covered the British TV License, making out it was a mockery to make the public pay, and then asking bemused American's to comment about it.. them of course thinking it was stupid. I thought he had a point.... and then I grew up, saw both sides of the argument (something he never does) and think there are definite advantages to it.