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| Bowling for Columbine
DVD Review |
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Order this DVD from Amazon.com
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Bowling
for Columbine
(Special
Edition)
(MGM Home Entertainment)
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| DVD
Release Date:
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August
19, 2003
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Length:
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99 mins.
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| Rated:
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R
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| Format:
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Widescreen (1.85:1)
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Audio:
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English
Dolby Digital 5.1
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| Subtitles:
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English, Spanish, Closed-Captioned
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| Extras:
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Personal
Introduction by Michael Moore, Audio Commentary with Interns and
Receptionists, Original Theatrical Trailer, Exclusive Michael
Moore Interview on His Oscar Win & Acceptance Speech,
"Return to Denver/Littleton" Featurette, Interview
with Michael Moore by Former Press Secretary Joe Lockhart,
Teacher's Guide (DVD-ROM), Segment from "The Awful Truth
II: Corporate Cops", Michael Moore's "Action
Guide" (DVD-ROM), Film Festival Scrap Book, "The
Charlie Rose Show" with Michael Moore, Marilyn Manson's
"Fight Song" Music Video, Photo Gallery
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Bowling for Columbine is, at the very
least, a landmark film not only in the documentary genre, but in the
entire film industry as well. This is a film that should be watched by
everyone. It should be placed into every school's curriculum. It is
brings a frighteningly clear understanding of why gun crimes are so
high in the United States.
In case you've been hiding under a rock and are unaware of what
Bowling for Columbine is about, it is Michael Moore's Oscar winning
documentary dealing with the United State's alarming lackadaisical gun
laws. To support this topic, Moore uses many incidents that have
occurred in the U.S., particularly the Columbine shooting. Divulging
more into the film would probably result in too long of a review, so I
should stray from that and just state that Moore has an abundance of
facts that should convince anyone (even the gun-nuts) that there is a
serious problem in the U.S. concerning gun crimes.
This is one of those movies that all the comments made by critics are
true. It is an important film. It is hilarious. Shocking. Riveting.
Terrific. I can continue with the accolades, but I think you get the
point. There is so much in this film that that it is almost
overwhelming. This isn't a complaint, but just a friendly warning that
there is a lot to absorb. And when the movie is done, you may have
that eye-opening experience that leaves you questioning the mentality
of some Americans (possibly more so than before).
The special features are not too bad. A little disappointing actually.
There are a few interviews with Moore about the film. There is a
15-minute blurb by Moore himself on his Oscar speech. It is too bad
though, that the clip itself isn't on the disc. The Academy has some
rights over where their property is distributed. There is a teacher's
guide on DVD-ROM, a clip from Moore's short-lived TV show, "The
Awful Truth", and a few other minor features. It also contains a
Marilyn Manson video, which is in some ways ironic to have on the DVD.
The one feature that I would like to make note of, is the audio
commentary. I don't normally rip into something with severe criticism
when I review a movie. Usually, I'll try and be polite about it. But I
just can't do that here. This is an important film that needs to be
addressed with a level of seriousness. However, the audio commentary
supplied by a group interns and receptionists is so unbelievably
offensive, I cannot understand why Moore allowed this on his DVD. It
is absolutely disgusting.
One would think that with the material in the film, Moore himself
would have given an audio commentary, giving us more to learn about
it. Instead, we are subjected to the painful jabbering of a group of
idiots. Complete and utter morons. Just like you're President, eh?
Nothing of interest is given. There isn't even a sensible statement
from any one of them. And these are young people, probably fresh out
of college or university. One would think they would at least try to
be pretentious and make some statement of value about the content of
the film and the implications it should have on American society. But
alas, this group would rather talk about how they used to have Trey
Parker and Matt Stone posters on their wall. Or how Charlton Heston
used to be 'the bomb' when he was younger. And these aren't just
random quips. These types of juvenile comments are all the way
throughout the commentary.
What probably put me over the edge of putrid disgust was during Louis
Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" segment in the film.
Instead of being quiet through one of the most poignant parts of the
movie, one of the yahoos told the others to shut up and wait for the
text to appear of the magnificent statistic she found.
One final tidbit is that these twits decided to criticize a couple of
14 year old Canadian boys for trying to be cool when they really
"come off like idiots." I'd rather be an idiot at 14 than in
my twenties or thirties (as you commentators maybe). Knowing that
these are a group of young people, I find it very disturbing that the
seriousness of the film seems to be lost on them. That is the
impression they give. It is as if it was just a job for them to get
'credits' in the film industry, instead of acknowledging that the film
they had a part in making is highly significant. At no point do they
address the serious nature of the film. It seems to be lost on them
and they are the young generation that should be waking up to this
problem in the U.S. and doing something about it. Was Moore's film
lost on these people? It appears they sloughed it off as a piece of
entertainment. Perhaps that is why I find the commentary offensive.
They were given a chance to express their thoughts and feelings about
the issue, but failed to do so.
A note to Michael Moore: a flawless film with many DVD special
features. But please, don't try that experiment of having interns
audio commentate. You are the genius. We would much rather hear your
insights into your work.
| The Movie: |
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10/10 |
| The
Extras (Including Commentary): |
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7.5/10 |
| The Extras (Excluding
Commentary):
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10/10 |
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Eli Dingle - Contributor
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