Michael Moore has the power to turn people against each other in record time if you happen to disagree on his merits as a documentary filmmaker but with Bowling For Columbine I truly believe he defined a time period of American history better than any other cinematic resource. He asks some very difficult questions here that ultimately can't be answered definitively but as a conversation starter this is perfection.
The saddest thing about it though is that 10 years later nothing has really changed. People are still being killed by guns at record paces and no serious effort is currently underway to change that. And that may be the saddest fact of all.

Film 30/100 of the June Challenge

Although not the same firecracker that Fahrenheit 9/11 was, this film acts as a fiery prelude to Moore's attack on America. But Bowling for Columbine is not an attack really centered on the government. It harasses the media for the puppetry that occurs behind the curtain. I found that this film hit harder than Fahrenheit 9/11 but I noticed that the execution was muddled and messy. What was the main point? Moore seemed to just get a bunch of ideas revolving gun control and mesh it together. I didn't understand what Moore was trying to tell me. But I didn't really care. This documentary was amazingly told and once again Moore's provocative direction really sells the film's "main point" and drives it into your skull by the end of the film while making it really entertaining, funny, and simultaneously shocking.

The December Project: Film #6

The film for which Michael Moore earned Academy anointment, Bowling for Columbine begins as an analysis of the factors that led to the tragic 1999 high school massacre in the titular town before expanding outward to explore the nature of America’s gun culture and the nation’s frightening level of violent crimes in comparison to others, particularly Canada. Moore is a skilled debater, gradually constructing a tightly-woven argument that brings some very relevant and important points to bear, aided in so small measure by his awkwardly confrontational style of humour. The obvious construction behind several of his scenes does a disservice to the believability of the film, breaching the trust inherent within documentary spectatorship and thus undermining to an extent his own viewpoint. Nonetheless, Bowling for Columbine effectively and efficiently critiques the horrific gung-ho attitudes surrounding the Second Amendment, decrying and dissecting the violence inherent within a fractured, frightened society.

An angry documentary that still feels relevant this far on. Which is a shame indeed.

Politically unbiased here. Just evaluating its effectiveness as an argument and quality as a movie.
Michael Moore bites the hand that feeds him. Bowling for Columbine is no exception. His immaturity and obnoxious behavior aren't amusing in the slightest, and serve only to detract from his credibility as a documentarian and as a human being. Indeed, I could not help but to feel superior.
Although it contains interesting arguments and is generally well-constructed, Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine is more of a personalized attack on American values than the intellectual jaunt I had hoped for. Honestly, someone get this kid a leash.

A view of some of America's reasons to stimulate gun use.

Film 30/100 of the June Challenge

Although not the same firecracker that Fahrenheit 9/11 was, this film acts as a fiery prelude to Moore's attack on America. But Bowling for Columbine is not an attack really centered on the government. It harasses the media for the puppetry that occurs behind the curtain. I found that this film hit harder than Fahrenheit 9/11 but I noticed that the execution was muddled and messy. What was the main point? Moore seemed to just get a bunch of ideas revolving gun control and mesh it together. I didn't understand what Moore was trying to tell me. But I didn't really care. This documentary was amazingly told and once again Moore's provocative direction really sells the film's "main point" and drives it into your skull by the end of the film while making it really entertaining, funny, and simultaneously shocking.

Stuck this on in the background with a couple of mates. Some good discussion arose about guns and shit. Michael Moore does that pop documentary well and this is probably his best one.

Very thought provoking and entertaining.

I think it's safe to say I agree with all of Michael Moore's opinions on this particular subject (and, really, most other subjects as well), but I do not agree with the method he uses to convey these opinions... for what I consider to be facts become opinions with the amount of tweaking and altering Moore did in the name of... well, entertainment I guess. With this documentary he did bring these issues to the forefront of American discussion, which I do appreciate, but I wonder how much of this was preaching to the choir and how much of it, with the tweaks and such, was flaming the opposing fire.

I did not mean for that last bit to rhyme, I swear.

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The most successful documentary ever made, and for good reason. Michael Moore tackles content in this film that others would not dare go near. Also worthy to note how much of the content is still very relevant today (especially gun laws / regulations).

An important, and thought provoking piece of filmmaking. Michael Moore dares to ask the questions that most prefer to be forgotten. The movie explores the "gun culture" of the US, as Moore seeks an explanation as to why gun crime is out of control in America.