Bowling for Columbine (2002)

The Michael Moore documentary "Bowling for Columbine" is about how the United States gun controls laws are too lax. The main focus is The Columbine Shooting which occurred April 20, 1999, and how easy is was for the two shooters (Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold) to obtain arms, even being under the age of 18. The documentary begins where Moore goes to a bank to buy a gun, and shows how easy it was. In a matter of minutes, he was holding his own rifle. Then the opening credits begin with archive footage of teenagers bowling. It was a myth for a certain number of years, that the Columbine boys went bowling before going on a suicide mission at their high school, though it was later found out to be false. Moore interviews several people on their opinions of gun laws in the United States. These people include, victims of Columbine, Timothy McVeighs old roommate James Nichols (pro gun red neck), Littleton, Colorado citizens, families in the military, Marilyn Manson, Dick Clark, and finally Charleton Heston (Then president of the National Gun/Rifle Association). Inbetween interviews, Michael Moore talks about gun related murders in the US per year on average, along with other outrageous statistics. He also puts in his own opinions as if they are facts, to further convey the message that the US is a gun-loving country who are unaware of the dangers we pose to ourselves and others. He adds archival footage of people being killed at gun point, old commercials for toy guns, 911 tapes from Columbine High School the day of the massacre, and violent news footage. He searches for other answers on "why" Harris and Klebold committed murder that day. He speculates, is it the violence in music, video games and tv? Is it because family values aren't well in tact? He finally comes to his own conclusion it's because this country lacks strict gun control laws. Though I do not completely agree with that conclusion being the main reason why School Shootings happen in general, his point comes across with the footage and interviews, exposing the thoughts of different groups in America. Finally, he decides to visit Charleton Heston at his home, to see if he can squeeze an apology from him. Charleton Heston is shown a picture of a 6 year old victim named Kayla Rowland who was shot by another 6 year old boy who found a gun at his moms boyfriends house. Without any apology, Charleton Heston walks away from Moore feeling insulted. Although Moore has a tendency to be an annoying whistle blower who may exaggerate the truth, his heart is in the right place in changing the US for the better. Moving and insightful documentary.