Amok - Columbine School Massacre

Based on actual events, April Showers draws us into the center of a tornado funnel cloud of events, by offering us a rather unique perspective...that of one of the survivors of violence unhinged.

Mass shootings at U. S. schools, like it or not, form a malignant presence on our cultural landscape. This film, if nothing else, accentuates the following inescapable truth: A shared episode of on campus mindless violence will divide the lives of all those present into "Before and After".

April Showers, obviously, is a labor of love. It was produced, written and directed by survivors. This simple reality makes the film incomparably original in a number of ways, but is simultaneously the source of April's one big flaw.

Let's focus on the positive elements first. Unlike any other movie I have seen about school shootings, almost all the violence is off-camera. No endless loop slow-mo's of exploding blood packets here! Also, never before have I seen a portrayal of those left behind in the wake of a tragedy like this, in such total shock as to be not only speechless, but practically paralyzed, days after the event. These excruciatingly awkward bouts of on-screen silence contribute to making April painful to watch at times. Sometimes very In-Your-Face aggressive about driving home a point, but just when you're ready to throw in the towel and say, "Enough already!" the Director manages to back off. You must be patient with this movie.

About halfway through, I was almost ready to give up on it. When all was said and done, it was an extremely satisfying experience. 2 hours after viewing, I decided it was most definitely a good movie. It could have been a really great one! The big flaw I mentioned earlier: April needed more character development before pulling the proverbial rug out from under the viewer's feet. The film provided a lot more development later on, though. Perhaps the Director's intention was to add to our sense of bewilderment and confusion, but it was almost a deal-breaker for me.

One other disappointment: Tom Arnold and Illeana Douglas had less than 10 minutes on-screen time between the 2 of them!

7.5*, rounded down to 7*.

ENJOY! / DISFRUTELA!

This movies plays out like one long drawn out sad scene. You never have time to feel anything for the characters because they are too busy being consumed by grief FOR HOURS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. The acting is one step above your average Doritos commercial and the cinematography is film school at best. As for the sound track I think this was the only movies I have ever watched that had one continuous crappy sad song playing throughout. It was like being stuck at a wake with a bunch of kids who just lost their tickets to a Jonus Brothers concert. If you see this DVD at any time RUN RUN or grab it and flush it down the toilet.

Saw this film at the premiere in L.A. It was much more than I was expecting. It is a very emotional story and it is realistically done. Its treatment of school violence is very important for the youth of America and, for that matter, the world's youth to see. I hope the U.S. rating of "R" can be changed or it will prevent young people from seeing it or could stop some theaters from screening it. It definitely should be seen by everyone, but especially teenagers.

The fact that it centers around the victims and the survivors of the tragedy and not the mind or motives of the perpetrator, makes it even more engrossing. I cannot think of another film on this subject that treats school violence in this moving and most accessible manner.

This shouldn't be a 'bad' movie.

There was nice production value for a no name project. The acting was what I expected from an indie project of said nice production value; a little bit above high school drama club, but just a shade below B-list actors. The concept of gaining insight into the aftermath of school shooting intrigued me; especially if that insight is coming from a survivor. The story was...a melodramatic Lifetime movie at best, but that's not necessarily a negative thing, considering this is a debut project.

Like I said, this shouldn't be a 'bad' movie.

Where does it go wrong?

Religious subtext.

Why make a movie that's meant to give people insight if you're going to exclude half your audience with blatant Christian overtones?

What is the theme here? That one can only comprehend tragedy through piety? There's no reason this film should take any standpoint that isn't subjective; but then again, within reason, there should have been an objective viewpoint. And that's why this movie with a lot of promise behind it will remain encased in a small clique of individuals who are either tied to the project or agree exactly in line with its ideology and simplistic lens, rather than reach out to the masses as it should.

Andrew Robinson's "April Showers" is like Oliver Stone's "World Trade Center." We relive a day that stunned the world. We look for triumph over tragedy at the most intimate level.

It is an intense film. The MPAA found its content disturbing. I disagree. What they meant was that it unlocks the deepest feelings of innocence lost.

The softest targets, we all are. Protectors unprotected. The hero inside ignored. The survivor looking over the dead. The dead looking over those still standing.

The history of the world in fewer days than God took to create it.

And who is left to create charity, hope, and faith?

The answer comes from a director with a sure hand, in real life a young playwright at Columbine High School 10 years ago whose next leading lady was to be a student named Rachel Joy Scott.