015 4 I'm gonna say up front that for the purposes of this review I'm interested in the movie itself rather than the actual DVD , though I will say that you probably ought to wait around for the set with Volume 2 as well , which should be coming out late this year . ( No real specifics are available about it , that I'm aware of , though it is believed that it'll have the extended and colorized scenes from the Japanese cut , which the first DVD release doesn't have , on top of being a complete movie , rather than just half of one . )
When I first went to see this film way back in October I was not particularly excited and a tad ambivalent . I'd seen and loved Reservoir Dogs , but I hadn't seen Jackie Brown or Pulp Fiction , and I didn't really know much of anything about Kill Bill . But my friends wanted to go and I'd heard some good reviews so I checked it out . I was , to put it lightly , highly impressed . It is , as people often describe Tarantino's work , a movie about and based on other movies , rather than on reality . But that's alright , cause I find movies to be much more entertaining than reality , and this is my favorite movie of 2003 , bar none . ( Which is particularly impressive , considering that it's only half a movie )
One of the most common criticisms of this film is that it is too derivative . My response to this is twofold . 1 . It's not really particularly derivative as far as genre film-making goes . Action movies are the probably the most clichéd genre of film , with the possible exception of the horror movie . 2 . I don't really care either way , as I'm not really looking for anything original when I see an action movie . I'm looking for nicely choreographed violence , and anyone looking for anything else shouldn't go see action movies . And that , obviously , goes for anyone considering seeing this , too . ( That is , until it is released with Volume 2 , which isn't action-oriented , and would completely change the dynamics of the film )
All that said , this isn't as action-oriented as most reviewers make it out to be . It is , however , almost utterly visually and atmospherically oriented , which is sorta the same thing , or at least has much the same effect . Thus , character development is held to a minimum , and the dialogue is not up to Tarantino's standards , but the visuals never cease impress and the soundtrack is completely perfect . It mixes things up well from a visual standpoint , moving from simple , unadorned hospitals to an anime style sequence to intentionally cheesy and phony miniature sets to some exquisite Japanese visuals , particularly the snowy garden at the end . ( The eerie , red sunset alongside the plane is particularly noteworthy as well ) It combines the simple with the beautiful with the cheesy with the blood-splattered , and they all work .
The film is divided into 5 chapters , which each play as a sort of vignette , ( though they involve the same characters , obviously ) which eventually comes together when you see it all . The problem is , you don't see it all until you've seen Volume 2 , which is compounded by the fact that this volume contains the scenes which are most tangential in the film . Thus , it is a movie of great scenes , not all of which may be terribly relevant to the rest of the story , but all of which entertain me , which is far more important , to me anyway . And , although it doesn't necessarily come to much from a plot standpoint , it all fits together wonderfully stylistically and atmospherically . Furthermore , all the extra scenes work to create a more complete universe , one which extends beyond the scope of the actual movie . It's a difficult effect to describe , but I really like it . ( It's another thing that you won't fully be able to appreciate until you see Volume 2 ) But there's no getting around the fact that Volume 1 alone fails to create a complete , satisfying story . This doesn't really bother me , but it is a valid criticism .
In keeping with the surreal , alternate universe sorta feel of the movie the action is wildly stylized and extremely balletic . More significantly , it is simply stunning . The main fight in the House of Blue Leaves is simply my favorite action scene in film . It's beautifully paced and has a smooth , flowing beauty to the choreography which provides a powerful contrast to the absurdly exaggerated gore and carnage of the scene . The final fight with O-Ren is quite excellent as well . It's much slower and more deliberate , but has an undeniable intensity to it . ( The music for that scene is absolutely perfect , and completely makes the scene . It fits the mood exactly and is perfectly timed ) The other fights are first rate as well .
I've referred to how excellent I found the music of this film a number of times , but it requires further examination . It is schizophrenic , perhaps even more so than the visuals , and manipulates the mood of the film in much the same way . The cheesy yet effective Nancy Sinatra song from opening credits sets the tone nicely , and the Morricone-esque music from the anime sequence provides a great contrast to the Asian visual theme . ( The brief piece that is played as they pan up the assassin's sword is particularly powerful . ) But I'll cut off the specifics , and suffice to say that I could easily have listed half a dozen more scenes where I find the music to be particularly effective . Some have complained that the soundtrack was overbearing , and I understand how someone could feel that way , but I personally loved . It is a bit over the top , I guess , but over the top is what this film requires .
Well I've rambled on long enough I suppose , though I don't think I've quite shown how much I love this movie . Just go check it out if you haven't already , and then go catch the equally excellent second half before it leaves theaters .
001 4 Oh , the joy of being a movie geek . This year has been a tremendous blessing for all of the human race , or just us film fanatics , as the movie gods have listened to all our prayers to deliver cinematic goodness . One of these that came as a major grace is called Kill Bill : Volume One , the latest offering from the dark , perverted but brilliant mind of Quentin Tarantino . Last seen under the spotlight in 1997 with Jackie Brown , we have been painfully awaiting his next move throughout a six-year-span . Well , time finally came upon us and the wait is definitely worth it .
Appropriately entitled Kill Bill , Tarantino tells a simple revenge story , albeit through his usual non-linear storytelling structure , about a lanky blonde woman ( played by the invigorating Uma Thurman ) only known as The Bride a.k.a . Black Mamba who wakes up from a coma to exact revenge on her former assassin group called The Deadly Viper Assassination Squad lead by Bill ( David Carradine ) , who aren't really happy of her decision to quit and marry someone in El Paso , Texas . Hence , bloody carnage ensues as Bill and the gang made of eclectic members-Budd , Vernita Green , Elle Driver and Oren-Ishii-massacres The Bride's family and guests on her wedding day , including her unborn baby . Bill saves her for last and shoots her head ( on what could be one of the most startling introductions in a movie ) . Thinking that she's dead , they leave her cold in her blood-splattered wedding dress , which is a terrible mistake on their part , as The Bride gets up from her hospital bed after four years with furious determination and will to destroy every single one of the perpetrators , saving the best for last , which is , of course , Bill , proving that as far as justice goes , it can easily get very poetic .
However , this is only half of the story , as Miramix , the film distributor , and Tarantino himself decided to cut the three-hour long movie in half and released them four months apart . That being said , I am very sure that Volume Two will be as equally brutal and vigorously entertaining to what I've seen four times in the theaters ( Yes , four times ! It's that good ! )
Kill Bill : Volume One is perhaps the most violent American movie ever ( and I've seen a lot of movies ) . It can be easily be used as an example of how the morals of the Western world have dramatically fallen in the 21st century . But it's most important to know that this movie was made as an ode to those rare , odd , cheesy and absurd kung-fu , Western , exploitation , slasher and grindhouse movies we usually see gathering dust in the cult section of a video store or occasionally seen playing on television at 3 in the morning . Kill Bill : Volume One on the surface looks like a very empty fluff made to only shock the already seemingly desensitized viewers , but underneath , it is really a very intelligent piece of art . Intelligent in a sense that it knows the rules of the cinema : it knows it audiences are and doesn't give a damn thing or two to those who don't want to get involved . For instance , The Bride wears a yellow jumpsuit during the last hour of the movie . To the uninitiated , it's just a striking sexy vintage number . To those in the know , it's a replica of Bruce Lee's tracking jumpsuit from his 1979 movie Game of Death . And this is just only a fraction of Tarantino's endless references , in-jokes and homages to old and obscure cinema . From Brian DePalma to Godzilla , from giallo films to Japanese animations , God knows what else are there he injected . I say this movie is an entire pop culture of pop culture .
Even without this quality , it's still deliciously entertaining , boldly creative and visually arresting , it's safe to say that this is an instant classic . No , this is not an Oscar-winning movie , let alone be nominated . But not everything has to have a deep storyline with complex characters to be a great film . This movie has no substance and as empty as a dead shell . But it's an amazingly great film , nonetheless . The fact of the matter is that Tarantino made this with great respect , love and passion of the medium , that he practically utilizes everything to its full advantage from complicated camera shots ( the long tracking shot of The Bride going to the washroom is incredible ) , beautiful cinematography ( the claustrophobic and filthy Hospital environment , the beautifully exotic and bright Japanese backdrop ) , the amazing eclectic selections of music ( from Nancy Sinatra's Bang , Bang to The Green Hornet theme song ) and the excellently choreographed fight scenes as if we're watching an amazing , exhausting ballet dance with swords . Oh yeah , and the beautiful gushing of the blood and gore like water coming down from Niagara Falls .
Kill Bill : Volume One is an extravagant , highly-stylized , ultra-energized , uber-violent piece of celluloid . It's made up of a world were grativity is without law , violence is sheer poetry , pissed-off Caucasian women likes to play with samura swords , and even assassins have feelings . It's a world where obscure 1970 ' s disco music goes perfectly seamless along with the motion of decapitation and maiming .
Oh what fun !
Aside from that movie that left me with tears featuring hobbits and wizards and that fetus-looking boy-fish who seems to say the word Precciooooooussssss . . . . a lot , this year belongs to Kill Bill : Volume One ( and I cannot wait for Volume 2 ! )
Thank you , Tarantino for your sick and twisted mind .
002 4 Kill Bill vol . 1 , the 4th feature from Quentin Tarantino , delivers in most every way that we would expect from Tarantino . It is sylish as hell ; the cinematography especially struck me as being more impressive than in his previous films . The final scene particularly illustrates this , with the frenetic action being conveyed through silhoutte lighting , b & w vs . color and creative shifts between them , impressive camera shots such as the rising shot right before the battle royale , and the pure cinematic epicity of the setting of the final battle between Uma Thurman and Lucy Liu . Tarantino's brilliantly dark humor is littered throughout the film as well ; Buck describing how to have sex with Uma Thurman's supposedly comatose form may be offensive and appaling to some , but as it is delivered ( and to all Tarantino fans ) , it is utterly hilarious ( little details such as bucks P - - - - Wagon , the Kaboom ! cereal box , and the water fountain that serves as the only noise through much of the climatic battle also stand out ) . I was also very impressed with ( though initially apprehensive of ) the anime segment that served as a segue into the Japanese setting , it added a surprising amount of emotion , and set the feel perfectly for the rest of the film . Nearly everything is done right , beyond right . The soundtrack is amazing , as is to be expected for a Tarantino film . He has impeccable taste in music , and seems to innately know what will enhance the film ; in some places it is even cheesy ( the 1,2,3,4s in the Japanese club ) but we know that this is all intended , as is the Feature Presentation card at the beginning ; Tarantino is someone who is obviosuly in love with film , and this film is almost an expression of love for all the cool films he watched growing up . I have heard Uma Thurman quoted as saying that this film is pure , epic , Tarantino fantasy and this is a perfect description of it . There is little to no depth , it is not a film that will stun you with its character development , or method acting , but it doesnt pretend to , or even want to . It simply revels in being the epitomy of cool , it is an action film that is done in almost all ways , perfectly . Tarantino's gift is found in knowing what will look utterly amazing on film ( again , I found myself stunned simply by the appearance of the final , snow-covered courtyard ) , in being able to write with a great amount of wit and intelligence , and being able to put the two together with a large amount of what must be called genius . Kill Bill isn't Tarantino's best film ( an honor reserved for the utterly brilliant Pulp Fiction , [ or is it Reservoir Dogs , it seems to depend on which film ive watched most recently ] ) , nor will it win the Best Picture Academy Award ( which it doesnt deserve anyway ) , but it is a damn good time . Uma Thurman makes a triumphant return to film , and shocks most everyone in being able to pull off her role as the Bride perfectly ; after seeing the film I cannot imagine anyone who could be more convincing . The question remains , can a film be given 5 stars based on style alone ? The answer , surprisingly , is yes . I give out 5 stars very , very infequently , to only the very best of films , and while this is by no means the BEST action film ever made , it is certainly a damn good one . repeat viewing may lessen the spectale somewhat , but this reviewer was very impressed ( and still is , after 3 viewings ) with what he just saw . Very Highly Recommended .
003 4 Don't get me wrong : I liked the movie a lot . But this is a skimpy DVD and knowing how Miramax works , just the first of several editions . If you hold off buying this one and put the money aside , I'm sure you'll have opportunities to buy Vol . 1 and Vol . 2 together for a lower price - or the rumored Kill Bill : Director's Cut that will show it as one 3 - hour movie . Those later editions will likely have all the extras - this one doesn't look like it has much . As someone who's been burned by Miramax's DVD practices before , I just want to offer you a warning . Be patient - and you'll be rewarded later .
004 4 Quentin Tarantino's films have always been propelled by great writing . The dialogue between characters is always unique and is impossible to beat . Few movies have come close to duplicating the likes of the writing in Pulp Fiction or Reservoir Dogs . In Kill Bill , Tarantino's genius definitely shows . It's the story of The Bride , whose wedding was massacred by her former business partners . Now , after waking up from a 4 - year coma , she is out to get bloody revenge . Of the two volumes , Volume 1 is mostly dedicated to paying homage to older asian martial arts films and the like . It's filled with blood , gore , over-the-top violence , frequent dismemberment , and some decapitations . The film's violence turned away many people to watching it , as some of it is very disturbing . The character study and plot are less explored in volume , because Quentin has saved that for Volume 2 . Having seen Volume 2 , I can say that it is a better film than the first , but Volume 1 stil appeals to many people , and is still very entertaining to watch if one isn't bothered by excessive violence . 5 stars , Very entertaining .
Sidenote : Before making your judgement on Kill Bill as a whole , make sure that you watch both volumes . Volume 2 really focuses more on the story and less on the violence .
005 4 I did not see this movie on the big screen . I waited , mainly because I was not as impressed with Jackie Brown as I had been with Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction . Now I wish that I had seen it in brilliant shaw-scope for the simple reason that the whole movie was so visually appealing that my meager 36 screen could not seem to hold it . The blood and gore actually acts as a comic relief to the no-stop , over-the-top action when criminal laws are not the only laws being broken ( the law of gravity is totally disregarded ) . The final battle , one-on-one , with Lucy Liu in the snow covered Japanese garden alone MADE this movie for me . Only Quentin Tarantino could revive an obscure disco hit like Santa Esmerelda's cover of Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood and give it a purpose . It made me wonder why I don't still have it in my music collection . It had been a guilty pleasure of mine for a long time and will return when I buy the Kill Bill soundtrack .
Bravo , Mr . Tarantino .
Can I send you the bill for removing the blood stains from the floor in front of my TV .
006 4 As my girlfriends and I walked into the movie cinema on the weekend that Kill Bill was released , we were either going to watch Tarentino's movie or a Denzel flick .
We picked Kill Bill , and what we saw was one of the most gorrish , violent , and bloody movies in our lives . . . And we loved every scene .
Lucy Liu was the beast in her scene . Her entourage rocked ! Uma Thurman was the best person for the character she portrays . At the end of the movie , we were left wanting more and when we saw that closing scene , we left the theater mad as the devil because we just knew that we wouldn't be able to wait for Vol . 2 with ease .
Folks , get the movie . This one is a heavyweight .
007 4 1 . If you're a serious movie fan then you've probably spent some time hanging out with friends talking about waht you'd do if you made a movie . Alot of people , myself included , talk about putting in icons from movies that we saw when we were younger but don't get alot of work anymore . You'd suspect that alot of filmmakers have converstions like this before they break into Hollywood . . . . but for some reason they never follow up on those ideas . They've apparently forgotten what it's like to be a movie geek . Not Q.T . In Pulp Fiction he got Travolta . In Jackie Brown it was Pam Grier . And here in Kill Bill he got Carradine . All 70s icons . You just know that Tarentino was sitting around at one point with some friends talking about how he'd get Carradine in his movie no matter how old he was . Q.T . keeps it real .
2 . Game of Death costume . Again , as with No .1 it's the ultimate geek fantasy to pay homage to some of your favorite films in your own film . The biker suit that the Bride wears during the House of Blue Leaves fight is a replica of Bruce Lee's suit in the movie , Game of Death .
3 . Hatori Honzo . Sonny Chiba played a character named Hatori Honzo in a Japanese TV series called Shadow Riders . The thing with this show , however , is that each season contained the same characters but a completely different story that had no relation to the previous one . Q.T . decided to carry on the legacy of Hatori Honzo in his own movie by getting none other than Sonny Chiba himself to play Honzo . A true testament to Tarentino's dedication to classic filmmaking .
4 . Gordon Liu . What can I say . If you've ever seen Shaolin Master Killer . . . . then you were no doubt freaking out at the presence of Gordon Liu in BOTH Kill Bill volumes .
5 . The Fights ! Yeah we all know how incredible and intense the House of Blue Leaves fight is . My favorite shot being the silhouetted fighting in front of the blue backdrop similar to scenes in Samurai Fiction . But how about the brutal and realistic fight between the Bride and Vernetta Green ? Since when have you seen two women fight in a movie and end up ACTUALLY SWEATING AND BLEEDING afterwards ? Awesome .
Of course , there are many more reasons to love this movie . . . . these are simple reminders as to why everyone should own this film .
008 4 It's become pretty well known through publicity that this is Tarantino's fourth film , so how does it rank up against his others ? Well , as much as I love Reservoir Dogs , it hasn't dated too well . Especially when compared to Pulp Fiction which basically became a classic the year it was released . He followed with Jackie Brown which was ( in my eyes ) a great movie , but others disagreed . After a six year hiatus from directing , America finds out that Tarantino's next movie is going to be a revenge flick centered around a woman who was left for dead on her wedding day ( even though it turned out to be dress rehearsal ) . I wasn't exactly thrilled about the idea of the man doing a straight-action movie , but all doubts were thrown out the window during the first frame of Kill Bill . The Bride lays there helpless ; crying ; bloodied up . The audience doesn't know exactly what happened here , but it becomes obvious when we hear Bill ask her , Do you find me sadistic ? The Bride's shot in the head and the credits immediately pop up with that haunting song on the soundtrack .
The 4th Film By Quentin Tarantino .
It was then that I realized that Tarantino had not sold out . Not even one minute into the movie yet and it's already flooded with the style of filmmaking he's known for .
I absolutely adored this movie . It's the most exciting action saga to come out of Hollywood for quite a while . Some might call it trash , but it's smart trash . Technically , the film is a marvel to behold . Tarantino loves what he does and it shows in every frame of the movie . He does plagarize a few things here and there , but the cues work so well that someone who appreciates the art of filmmaking won't mind at all .
The script is terrific , though some argued that Tarantino was a bit stingy with his infamous dialogue in this particular volume . I'll agree with this to a point . The dialogue in his movies is simply cool and one of the main reasons I enjoy his stuff so much , but the lack of it in Kill Bill doesn't hurt the film one bit . Here , it's mostly about the craft of making a movie that excites the audience but doesn't cater to the lowest common demoniator by dumbing the material down . In fewer words : lack of extensive dialogue doesn't hurt the film .
The characters are a hoot to watch . Thurman plays the Bride straight-faced ; the only way to do it . You don't even see David Carradine as Bill in this one too much , but in Volume 2 , he's a wonder to behold . A true scene-stealer . Doubt the Academy has the balls to nominate him for a film like this , though . Lucy Liu is the somber , yet deadly , O-Ren Ishii . The character is fleshed out in a gloriously violent anime segment and isn't tossed off as just another bad guy . The character of Go-Go Yubari , however , is just one of O-Ren's cronies . But , for want of a better word , she simply rocks . Definitely my favorite secondary character of the series . Sonny Chiba also makes a funny cameo as Hattori Hanzo , creator of the Bride's steel .
So , is this Tarantino's best movie yet ? In my opinion : yes . If you love movies , see Kill Bill . Both volumes . As much as I loved Volume 1 , I think Volume 2 is even better !
009 4 What a great film , don't know what took so long for me to review it ! Tarantino brings everything that Asian cinema has to offer in this film . The classics such as gallons of blood and just flat out martial arts action . You get the best of it all in this film . Nothing like a revenge story to really get the story going . What was so interesting about this film was the many ways the story is told . One minute being live-action and at one point being Anime .
The actors and actresses for this film were the perfect choices for who they played . I'm a David Caradine fan from the Kung Fu days and he is still a very impressive actor . To Sonny Chiba in this film was also the right decision to make . In my opinion , probably the best martial-arts movie star besides Bruce Lee , a true legend in my eyes .
The storyline is fun , although unrealistic in this day and age . You know she would be in jail for killing all of those people , not to mention she leaves good evidence that she is the one who did all the killings . But who cares ? That's what the story is all about , she is wanting everyone to know who is responible . It's her revenge ! If you love martial arts movies , especially those classics from the 70 ' s , you have found heaven in this movie !
010 4 Kill Bill rocks . QT's dark sense of humor kept me rolling on the floor and the cinematic displays are awe-inspiring . It works this way : if you like Quentin Terrantino , you'll like Kill Bill . If you don't , you won't .
I would recommend , regardless of my high opinion of this movie , that if you can hold out for the purchase , then do so . Since Kill Bill volumes one and two are actually one movie ( not a movie and a sequel ) , I've a strong feeling that after volume 2 is released , you'll be able to purchase the whole movie as a set . So hang in there if you can - volume two ought to be out on DVD right quick .
011 4 This is an incredible movie - smart , witty , sexy , sharp , and beautiful all at the same time . There are some gripes about this story not having a story , which is totally not true . The plot revolves around The Bride ( a superb Uma Thurman ) , who was shot and left for dead during her wedding . Kill Bill tracks her revenge on two of the five assassins : Vernita Green ( Vivica Fox ) and O-Ren Ishii ( Lucy Liu , who totally redeems herself for her two mindless Charlie's Angels movies ) . This is a pure revenge film , but a wonderful and visually fantastic set-up for Volume 2 , which develops the story even more and fleshes out its characters .
Still , even if Volume 1 just shows Uma Thurman getting her revenge on her assassins , it's a great film . Quentin Tarantino , a master of technique , uses his knowledge of 1970s Shaw Brothers Hong Kong kung-fu movies to create a beautiful work of art . It isn't meant to be realistic ; it's meant to be extraordinary . The fight scenes are over-the-top and the fruit-punch blood spurts like geysers but this movie isn't really violent , per say . It's so unrealistic ( in a good way ) that it's ironic , satirical , and funny . Tarantino's style pokes fun at , celebrates , and transcends the kung-fu movies . His writing is also often quirky , colorful , funny , and sometimes dead serious . It's a lovely combination .
If you want more examples of Tarantino's total dedication to his work , look at where he chooses to set his scenes and what kind of music he picks . Just because the movie is violent doesn't mean that Tarantino doesn't have a sense of beauty . He knows what he's doing , and one only needs to look at his use of an elegant , quiet , snow-covered garden for O-Ren Ishii and the Bride's final fight . There is also an incredibly moving and exciting anime sequence in the movie . Also , the use of the MUSIC is absolutely incredible , and one of my favorite aspects of this movie . I can't say enough good things about it . In one scene where O-Ren is being driven to the restaurant , the trumpets in the background music perfectly match the light that passes on O-Ren's face . Everything is timed so perfectly . Music is so important to this movie ; you'll feel your adrenaline go right up just hearing it . It's really that good .
There is great acting in this movie . . . I can't think of a single character that didn't intrigue me . To single a few of them out , though : Uma Thurman gives an amazing performance . I loved how she could alternate from being funny , sexy , serious , charming , and deadly so easily . . . She kicks major butt in this movie , but she isn't exactly just a stereotypical , generic , tough action girl . There's a real brain and a real heart behind her character . Also , Lucy Liu ( O-Ren Ishii ) is so good in this movie , I personally think Tarantino should make another movie just about her . She is a character so rich and so complex , it would be a travesty to just call her only a villain or The Bride's adversary . And besides , some of the best scenes in Kill Bill featured O-Ren Ishii and her posse . My personal favorite character in Kill Bill has got to be Gogo Yubari ( Chiaki Kuriyama ) , O-Ren's teenage bodyguard . Kuriyama plays Gogo with fun menace . . . I loved the fact that she was young , beautiful , and crazy . Just watch her in the few scenes she has . . . she just oozes coolness . It's that combination of the school-girl outfit , smallish stature , youngish face , long straight black hair , and beautiful deadly eyes that is just awesome . Suffice to say , I also think Tarantino should make another movie about Gogo , too . Heck . . . most of the main characters are so awesome and complex that Tarantino could make another movie out of any of them . It's a testament to the strength of Tarantino's writing .
Kill Bill is one entertaining , beautiful , smart , exciting visual bonanza . Don't pay too much attention to the people who gripe about the lack of story and excessive violence . Whatever it may be , Tarantino has presented pure storytelling at its finest . 10 / 10
012 4 I basically forgot about Quentin Tarentino for a number of years . After watching the fantastic Reservoir Dogs years ago , followed by the even better Pulp Fiction a couple of years later , Tarentino seemed to drop off the radar . Occasionally , you would see his mug turn up on one of those television talk shows , or hear about him doing an interview somewhere , but his career as a director seemed to have hit the skids . Then he did Jackie Brown , a film that certainly embodied many of the Tarentino stylistic elements ( wrapped around a still foxy Pam Grier ) , but failed to compare favorably with his two earlier efforts . Fans of the man sat back and waited patiently for his next project , which turned out to be the hyperkinetic Kill Bill Vol . 1 . This film reaffirms one essential fact about Quentin Tarentino : he's one of us . What I mean by that is that he's a fanboy of the sort of cheap , cheesy cinema pumped out of diverse locations such as Asia and Italy . The Spaghetti western is what I'm talking about , and chop socky potboilers from the great old days of Hong Kong . His knowledge of these usually ignored films is incredible ; I've seen my fair share of low budget cult classics , and many of the references in Kill Bill soared right over my head . But I know enough to see where he gets his inspiration , and it's nice to see someone paying homage .
Why even discuss the plot of a film so overanalyzed since its release ? Because I like to write to excess , so here goes . The Bride ( Uma Thurman ) survived an assassination attempt carried out by her former partners in crime , specifically members of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad , and has just woke up from a lengthy coma . Her last memory is , unfortunately , the sort of memory that would give the rest of us a coronary ; she remembers the enigmatic leader of the group , Bill ( David Carradine ) , putting a bullet into her head . Now she's wide awake , having lost her unborn child , and ready to get back out on the street to seek revenge against her former associates . Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned , they say , and boy are they right ! The Bride works hard to restore her body and mind to pre-injury levels , and makes a list of five people who must go down for the agony she has endured . Victim number one is Vernita Green ( Vivica Fox ) , who perishes after an ultracool knock down drag out fight in Green's suburban home , a fight that pauses long enough for Green's little kid to go up to her room after arriving home from school ( ! ) . The next killer to go down will be O-Ren Ishi ( Lucy Liu ) , a scary thug who now runs her own organized crime racket in Japan .
Before taking down Green and Ishi , Thurman's character heads to the Far East in search of the elusive Hattori Hanzo ( Sonny Chiba ) , a sword craftsman extraordinaire and the man who trained Bill himself in combat techniques . But there's a big problem : Hanzo has had a change of heart and isn't interested in making weapons anymore . The Bride must convince him that what she's doing is right , which she does , and the craftsman makes his best sword for her so she can carry out her revenge plots . Hanzo's clout carries such weight in the underworld that O-Ren Ishi visibly pales when she learns what The Bride has accomplished . That's all in the future , however , as Thurman's character must battle her way through a veritable army of dangerous goons to get to O-Ren Ishi . The sinister Gogo Yubari ( Chiaki Kuriyama ) , a willowy teenager who is a whiz with painful looking weaponry , is Ishi's personal bodyguard . So are the Crazy 88s , the yakuza goons that form the central pillar of Ishi's organized crime network . In a finale that one must see to believe , The Bride wreaks havoc - - no , apocalyptic carnage - - on O-Ren's criminal empire . Gore , blood , limbs , and assorted other body parts soar through the air as Uma goes on a one woman killing spree of epic proportions .
I could go on and on about the various details of the movie , such as the animated sequence telling the story of O-Ren Ishi's transformation into a professional assassin , but I won't go into more particulars . Kill Bill is a film best experienced for oneself . I think it's wonderful that people - - most of whom would never watch the sort of films Tarentino lovingly cribbed from for this masterpiece - - went to see his movie in the theaters . Now do you understand why we obsess over cult cinema ? Even if you don't understand the references in the film , you can still get a kick out of the over the top performances , the scorching soundtrack , and that ultracheesy atmosphere Tarentino throws around all over the place . I loved the sound effect we hear whenever The Bride homes in on one of her targets , a sort of loud siren effect that must have had viewers scratching their heads in bewilderment . My favorite part of the film was none of these things , though . I have to say Lucy Liu was the best part of Kill Bill Vol .1 . For such a lovely looking woman , she's downright chilling as O-Ren Ishi . I thought she did a phenomenal job with her role .
The only extras I saw on the disc I rented was a music video and a behind the scenes feature . I wouldn't even consider buying this disc right now because you just know they'll release a double disc set of both films , probably with a third disc chock full of extras . Incredibly , I have not seen Kill Bill Vol .2 yet . I know , I know - - I'll bump it up on my rental list as soon as possible . I don't know if the second installment is as good as this one , but hopefully it is just as entertaining .
013 4 Revenge is a dish best served cold .
Quentin Tarantino's fourth film and the first one since 1997 ' s Jackie Brown takes the theme of revenge like Hamlet on steroids . It has not been an easy road for this generation's It director . Tarantino once worked at a video rental store before writing the script for Reservoir Dogs that he later directed . It was his directorial effort in 1994 ' s Pulp Fiction that catapulted Tarantino , as well as the independent film company Miramax , into the Hollywood mainstream . Unfortunately his next film , Jackie Brown , which , by the way , was not written by him , was not widely accepted and then Quentin Tarantino dropped off the scene for nearly six years . In that time period he took time off to act in some films but , for the most part , the idea for Kill Bill had been bouncing around in his skull . Now that idea has burst out of that skull in all its blood spewing , gut splattering glory reuniting Pulp Fiction star , Uma Thurman , with the acclaimed cult director in a film series that pays homage to the 70 ' s karate films that many us grew up with .
The story centers on a former member of a group of assassins who seeks revenge for the actions done on to her by her former colleagues . A woman known only as The Bride has waken up from a four year comma after her former boss Bill left her for dead on the day of her wedding killing her fiancé , the wedding party and her unborn child . Unfortunately for the skilled assassin , he made one big mistake : he failed to kill her . Now that she has awakened from her living slumber , The Bride will travel the world picking off her attempted killers one by one including the mysterious Bill . First up on her list is O-Ren Ishi , aka Cottonmouth , and her group of Japanese underground assassins . They better watch out because here comes the bride ! The story for Kill Bill ( Volume I ) is probably one of the best scripts of the year despite being only half of the true plot . In a wonderful bit of technique , Tarantino starts the film off in the middle of story then backtracks to the events that start the chain reaction of revenge . He then flashes backwards and forwards in several instances that offer the best insight into the characters the audience is about to encounter . This gives better meaning to most of the fight sequences that take place in the course of the two hour feature .
A relative bunch of low-profile actors and actresses make up one of the better casts of the year for this film . Uma Thurman , who starred in Quentin Tarantino's breakout film , Pulp Fiction , once again works her magic for the talented director in probably her best film performance . Thurman gives a witty and exhilarating go around with her role as The Bride seeking revenge against her former colleagues . She presents a style to the character that makes you clamor for her all the way to the shocking break point . Lucy Liu has another kick-ass character performance as O-Ren Ishi , the leader of a group of Japanese assassins . The only problem with this role is that it makes Liu feel type-casted into this sort of character . Not that she bad at it , she's extremely effective in her performance , but you get the feeling that eventually she may get bored with these roles but if it works for her then ignore this comment . Vivica A . Fox doesn't really get to show much acting ability as her character is killed off in the first fifteen minutes of the film but what she does show is her amazing fighting moves , which is the only evidence needed to prove her worth in the film . This is only a small portion of the full cast , the rest of which will appear in Kill Bill ( Volume II ) coming February 20th .
Overall , Kill Bill ( Volume I ) is a wonderful kick-off point for Quentin Tarantino's best work since Pulp Fiction , despite only being half of the entire feature . Though that being said , there are a couple of things to pick at including the well-choreographed action sequences . It wasn't exactly the sequences themselves but the rather large amount of blood and gut spilling that occurred during them that had more then one person squirming in their seats . Granted having your arm or leg cut off results in a large amount of blood loss but does that blood spew out like a fountain ? The campy style of violence that occurs in Kill Bill ( Volume I ) may seem disturbing as the feature starts off but by the end , it doesn't seem so unnatural , which says something our culture's customization to violence and bloodshed in films . The pacing of the feature seemed well balanced but definitely dragged near the end as the film wrapped in a spin-chilling conclusion for the time being . But other then those small squabbles , Quentin Tarantino gives an eerie insight into what the concept of revenge does to the human psyche and what it could potential lead people to do if not controlled . It is said in the film , revenge is like a forest . Men ( and women ) can easily be lost in it and lose track of where they started or where they were going , so caution must be taken when start off on this path . The famous cult director starts off with accelerating beginning ; let's hope he can deliver on what the chilling twist promises .
014 4 or hate it . When it comes to Quentin Tarantino , there is no middle ground . Personally , I loved it ( as well as Volume 2 , a wacky yet mature conclusion to the homage-fest that was Volume 1 ) . Everything from the cinematography to the way Tarantino strategically places music throughout his films , Quentin gets better with each outing . The House of Blue Leaves sequence alone will be studied in film schools for years to come . The PERFECT action sequence from a director who has never done an action sequence before . The pacing , the music , the use of color ( from black and white to the silhouetted fight ) , the hilarity of limbs flying everywhere . Tarantino is the man . No one can question his ability to get the most out of his actors . Where can I start ? Travolta and Jackson in Pulp Fiction . Grier and Forster in Jackie Brown . And virtually everyone ( especially Thurman and Carradine ) in Kill Bill .
And a little ditty from Tom Moore , taken from an earlier review :
This film features a couple of vengeful females trying to be tough like men.Its a predictable overused theme in many films today and americans are growing bored with it.Watching men do fight scenes is far more entertaining , especially remembering that men invented Kung Fu and sword fighting.Men invented physical toughness too .
Boy , I don't know if I even want to touch that one . Feeling a little insecure there , Tom ? Have to defend the notion that men are better at being big and bad to boost your feelings of masculinity ? Personally , I enjoyed watching Uma kick some ace . Here's one American who's not tired of seeing some women kick tail ( as long as it's done the right way ; i.e . NOT Charlie's Angels ) .
016 4 This movie has many points going against it . Uma is not all that believable as the world deadliest woman assasin . The stunts are adequate , but not spectacular . Quentin steals ideas from really bad movies . The movie is homage to various kung fu , karate , shogun , spaghetti westerns , Japanese revenge movies . The action sequences are over the top . Quentin throws in cutsey touches . For example , the cutsey flashback scene when we learn The Bride's real name .
However , the movie works for me . Uma plays the Bride like a female Clint Eastwood : strong and quiet . The character may not be believable , but she is sympathetic and entertaining . The plot works and how Quentin tells the story keeps the story interesting through both volumes . Both volumes viewed as one movie is a masterpiece . How Quentin ties the movie together is amazing . He uses the different cinematic styles to reveal plot points and character development . The characters are complex and their relationships are interesting . It is hard to give the movie justice in just a few words . There is poetry here in how Quentin tells his story and he fully entertains at all times .
017 4 I liked this movie a lot ( although vol .2 is even better ) but I haven't purchased it . Why ? There is a big special edition in the works with vol . 1 and 2 combined , commentary by Tarantino , deleted scenes , etc .
If you can't wait , this is a decent price , but I suggest holding out for the definitive version .
018 4 Revenge is never a straight line . It is a forest . And like a forest it is easy to lose your way , to get lost , to forget where you came in . This phrase , said by a secondary character , expresses quite well the essence of this film . Quite simply , Kill Bill is a revenge movie .
The plot is not overly complicated , although it is somehow strange . A former assassin ( played by Uma Thurman ) is almost killed during a rehearsal of her wedding . It seems that her former lover and boss , Bill ( David Carradine ) , and the members of his Deadly Viper Assassination Squad here holding a mean grudge . They attacked the wedding party , and viciously but cleanly shot everybody everybody dead . That is , except for The Bride , who they hit repeatedly before Bill shot her in the head , despite the fact that she was pregnant . They left her for dead , but instead she fell in a profound comma .
The bride woke up years later , remembering exactly what had happened , and all that she had lost . Of course , she knows exactly who is to blame for everything : Bill . And so she begins to wreck her vengeance on those who destroyed the future she wanted , with a husband and her baby . The bride will begin by killing everybody in Bill's death squad , and will ultimately reach Bill himself .
What else is to be said about this movie ? . Well , Kill Bill is a bit over the top sometimes , and it cannot be denied that it has lots of blood and violence . Strangely enough , that didn't make me dislike the movie , because the special effects that turned many scenes into blood-baths weren't overly realistic , and the dialogue in those scenes emphasized the fact that not everything should be taken seriously . The director , Quentin Tarantino , probably made this film as an homage to martial arts films , and added his eccentric touch to it . The excellent results are evident in Kill Bill , for all to see .
Lasty but not least , I would like the point out that the audio and the subtitles in this dvd are available in many languagues , including Chinese and Japanese , so if you are trying to learn them watching Kill Bill could be a good way of practicing without having to make too much effort .
On the whole , I can say that I really liked this movie . It was not the kind of film I usually watch , but I ended up enjoying it a lot . A word of advice , though . . . If you can , rent Kill Bill and Kill Bill 2 at the same time , or you will end up running to your video store after watching the first movie , in order to watch the second one immediately : )
Belen Alcat
019 4 EVerything about this movie is what you'd expect from Quentin . It is comparable to his classic Reservoir Dogs in innovation , style and his innate ability to pick up on popular culture conciousness and take it to the next level . If this homage to 1970s , King Fu doesn't get to you then you just don't like Quentin . The end fight scene is better than any I've seen in action / fantasy , Kung Fu with swords based in the Orient .
020 4 I had never really given Tarantino a shot until this movie which is a sin in most obsessed-Tarantino fans ' eyes but I have to say after watching this one I went back and completed my Tarantino education .
Kill Bill Vol . 1 is the first half of what is really one long movie cut in two . It centers on the story of The Bride , an assassin who is gunned down by her former boss and lover . Unfortunately for him and his Deadly Viper Assassination Squad she survives and goes on a revenge-seeking , blood squirting , samauri sword fighting rampage that leaves barely any one alive .
Uma Thurman gives a great performance as The Bride and is not a just a pretty girl kicking some major ass but also an emotional woman who has lost her baby determined to do justice . Lucy Lui , Darrel Hannah and David Carradine also give great performances .
This is not a movie for the faint of heart , that is for sure . There are limbs flying , blood squirting and gruesome killings that would make most people squirmish . But these scenes are done artfully with full attribute to the samaurai movies that inspired them . It makes the viewer appreciate Tarantino's filmaking abilities to the fullest .
When this movie is over it will definitely leave you ready to see Vol . 2 . Don't worry , it comes out on DVD on August 6 .
021 4 Strange how Quentin's superb film-play style has improved , but the substance and dialogue he's known for has degraded . This is a classic case of style over substance , and I truly think even the biggest fans of this movie will first talk about how great the scenes looked and how the camera work was dashing . No one can doubt this movie has pinache ! But when it comes to interesting plot and well-written dialogue , this movie comes up short . Seems there's a big hate it or love it thing going on with this film . But I didn't hate it , but I surely didn't love it . I'm giving it 3 stars because at first I was genuinely interested in what was happening , and I really DID love the style and variations in visuals . But when the movie was about half over , I realized we weren't going to get any more depth , and the movie turned into just one big mess of fights after fights . And I thought the Matrix : Reloaded fights were boring ! Once Uma confronted another enemy , I groaned : Not again ! Fight , punch , kick , slice , move and swirl , exaggerated blood gushing , and . . . repeat ! Well , glad I watched it , and I'll watch the 2nd Volume ( I hear it's better ) , but it's not good enough to watch again .
022 4 WARNING : This review contains spoilers !
Note : In my summary of the plot I have put the film's story into chronological order so that events unfold sequentially . This is not the order in which the events of the film are actually shown .
Quentin Tarantino ( director of Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction ) has often been called one of the most violence-obsessed filmmakers in America , a title that he would occasionally protest . Now we can see why he would have objected to it , he simply hadn't earned that honor yet . But let it be known to all that Quentin Tarantino , or Q.T . as he sometimes refers to himself , is now an official auteur of the action film . His bloody kung fu saga , Kill Bill , is proof of this . Here he pays homage to his favorite exploitation films of the ` 70s and ` 80s * with the giddy enthusiasm of a teenaged fanboy .
Kill Bill Vol . 1 tells the story of The Bride , a former assassin with the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad ( DiVAS ) , who is brutally attacked and left for dead during her wedding rehearsal by her ex boss / lover Bill . The Bride loses everything and everyone she cares about including her husband-to-be , her friends and her unborn child . After being shot in the head by Bill himself , The Bride sinks into a coma and awakens four whole years later . While she was comatose a hospital nurse sold her body to perverts who would have sex with her . On the day of her resurrection she kills the nurse and the creep who paid to have his way with her , thus beginning a cycle of cold bloody revenge . Her targets : Bill and every one of the Deadly Vipers . Her goal : Kill ` em all . Her mission begins with a trip to Japan where she asks the legendary sword maker , Hattori Hanzo , to give her Japanese steel . He refuses saying that he no longer makes instruments of death but when she explains that only his swords are up to the task of killing Bill , who was once Hanzo's student therefore making him partially responsible for Bill's wicked deeds , then he agrees to make her his finest sword , a katana with no equal . He also warns her that before her journey for revenge can begin that she must be sure that she will not falter no matter what . The Bride then leaves with her new weapon and prepares for an epic battle with O-Ren Ishii , a half Japanese , half Chinese , Asian American who's become the leader of a powerful yakuza crime syndicate .
When O-Ren was just a young girl she witnessed the horrible murders of her father and mother and she vowed revenge . At the age of twelve she fulfilled her desire for blood when she slew the man responsible . She quickly became one of the youngest and deadliest assassins in the world , which is why Bill took her under his wing .
After an amazing showdown with O-Ren and her sword-wielding gang , The Bride hunts down #2 on her list of people to kill , Vernita Green . The Bride and Vernita engage in vicious hand-to-hand combat ( with a brief intermission when Vernita's young daughter comes home from school ) before Vernita meets her doom before the eyes of her young daughter . But things are never as simple as they seem and Revenge is never a straight line . While The Bride continues on her journey to kill Bill , we learn of a secret that may be her undoing : her daughter , the child that she believed to be dead when she was assaulted on the day of her wedding rehearsal four years earlier , is still alive and living with her daddy , Bill .
Some Tarantino fans have complained that this film is a departure from his dialogue-driven serio-comedies about charismatic criminals and lowlifes , but even as this is true Kill Bill is a definitive Tarantino film . Darkly humorous , graphically violent and as irreverent as always , his films polarize , provoke , and entertain audiences , which is why Kill Bill is quintessentially Quentin .
The film is rounded out by a terrifically diverse cast including Uma Thurman as The Bride , Lucy Liu as O-Ren Ishii , Vivica A . Fox as Vernita Green , Michael Madsen as Budd , Daryl Hannah as Elle Driver , David Carradine as Bill , and Sonny Chiba as Hattori Hanzo .
The DVD is a must-have for Tarantino fans , however be warned that a more elaborate DVD release may be on the way . Special features include the Making of Kill Bill featurette , two musical performances by the 5,6,7,8s and trailers for Tarantino's other films .
* Here are some of the films and television shows that inspired Q.T . to make Kill Bill :
Once Upon a Time in the West
Bruce Lee Ultimate Collection
Lone Wolf and Cub Box Set
Fox in a Box - Featuring Pam Grier
Lady Snowblood
Yakuza Graveyard
Charlie's Angels - The Complete First Season
Shogun Assassin
Shadow Warriors - The Complete First Season
023 4 ` Kill Bill ' has received a lot of praise and love from fans and critics alike , but up until this week I had yet to watch it . Now , after watching both volumes I can attest to the fact that these films really are that good . It's refreshing to see something we've never seen before be done so well , so expertly crafted so it feels like the film you've been waiting for . It's a perfect example of a revenge story gone terribly . . . right . Tarantino wrote and of course directed a masterpiece here , mixing all the great aspects of kung-fu films and westerns as well as anima and comic books giving us a brilliant script coupled with acting worthy of Oscarbait wrapped in a beautiful package and delivered to you DVD player .
This tale tells the story of The Bride ( Thurman ) , a former assassin who was brutally attacked during her wedding rehearsal by her former colleges . The attack resulted in the murder of her closest friends and her husband to be , as well as her unborn child . What it failed to do was take the life of the main target , and upon awakening from her four year coma she's out for revenge .
Thurman does a brilliant job taking what could have been pure camp and creating a memorable character in the history of movie cinema . As The Bride tracks down her former friends and picks them off one by one we see her grow stronger with anger and determination as she works towards her goal to ` Kill Bill ' . Sporting great supporting roles by Vivica A . Fox and Lucy Liu as two former assassin's that meet their end at the hands of a woman scorned . The film itself is filmed brilliantly with over the top action ( the violence being so unrealistic it's almost funny . . . and that my friends is half the fun ) that makes for an exciting ride that all will enjoy .
Quentin has cemented himself as one of the most genius directors we have today , not afraid to make a statement , to bend the rules and test our tolerance . He is a moviemaker above all others who always serves up the best plate on the table .
024 4 What can you say about a movie that is just enthralling from the moment you push play to the moment it ejects . Greatness ! Kill Bill is an homage to all those crazy martial movies we love to hate . . . but I find myself not hating this gorefest . . . I love it ! Amazing ! Notice this review is full of positive adjectives . . . Kill Bill Vol 1 is a woman's revengeful rampage , and the sensitive mushy stuff is left for the dogs . The action and fighting is awesome . . . big budgets do help sometimes ! Uma is outstading as per usual and Kill Bill VOl 1 will go down as an absolute classic ! I know movies and this is a great one . . yeah violence isn't the answer nor revenge . But after watching this flick I am pro revenge just on a much lighter scale . . . much much lighter !
025 4 Quentin Tarentino's Kill Bill , Volume 1 is the perfect film for today's trendy chic movie going audience . Casual in its violence , flashy in its visuals , and conspicuously lacking in content and theme , the film is a genuine triumph of style over substance and a testament to the art of cool . Here is a film so self-consciously arch and emotionally detached that it plays more like a live action cartoon than a drama set in anything remotely resembling the real world ( in fact , one section of the movie literally is a cartoon ) . The plot is , essentially , one long drawn out revenge scene with Uma Thurmon as a young woman systematically seeking out and killing a band of assassins who left her , her unborn child , and her entire bridal party for dead on the day of her wedding .
Yet , what person in his right mind goes to a Tarentino film in search of a meaningful storyline ? Indeed , the thing that counts in a Tarentino work is the director's obvious love for both movies and moviemaking , a love which is visible in every frame he commits to film . Kill Bill is Tarentino's affectionate homage to the martial arts epics in which characters defy the laws of physics and gravity as they perform their deadly kabuki-type ballet with knives and swords . In this pastiche of ninja melodrama and Japanese anime , at least half the film's running time is spent on elaborately staged swordfights and kickboxing sequences , all of which are filmed with the utmost brio and verve . The violence is , indeed , gory and graphic - with dismemberments galore and fountains of spurting blood - but so preposterously overblown that the violence eventually becomes abstract and thus doesn't offend us much while we're watching it . Thurmon doesn't have much of a chance to develop a character here , but the steel-eyed intensity combined with the strange sense of vulnerability that she brings to the role makes her fascination to watch nonetheless .
Yet , for all its cinematic joie de vivre and visual inventiveness , there's something a bit unsatisfying about Kill Bill Volume 1 after all is said and done . Perhaps it's the fact that the film feels so much like a clinical exercise in style that it lacks the power to really draw us into its world . We watch it with an air more of detached bemusement than of emotional involvement . Perhaps , too , the absence of anything much going on beneath the surface leaves us with little of substance to take home with us once we've left the theater .
I suspect that this is the very effect Tarentino is going for here - that if we were made to care deeply about anything that was happening on the screen we would somehow be violating his code of coolness , that we would be simply reacting to movies with the kind of programmed emotional responses the director is clearly militating against . The problem is that , while we can appreciate all that on an intellectual level , we are still left feeling relatively empty and unfulfilled by movie ` s end . Perhaps , the completion of the story in Volume 2 will help to rectify that condition .
027 4 There was a time when science-fiction was considered mere pulp trash . It didn't matter to the kids back then - - they loved it . They snuck their comics under the covers at night with a flashlight and played hookey in order to see the latest serial at the cinema . When they grew up , they wanted to bring that childhood love of theirs to the big screen , with one change : they wanted their movies to be respected .
And so , we have Star Wars , and the modern Battlestar Galactica and Firefly / Serenity . Sci-fi isn't mere pulp , anymore ( if ever it truly was ) , no matter what the older generations might continue to feel .
Tarantino's plan is roughly the same , though his role-models are different . He's a fan of the action-packed 70s flicks . Kill Bill , vol . 1 , is his ode to Kung Fu extravaganzas , with one change : respectability .
It's not a very complicated plot . Uma Thurman ( the Bride ) was beaten into a coma on her wedding day , and now looks for revenge against those what done the beating ( and especially their leader , Bill ) . The movie is about her gaining that revenge , usually through long and gory fight sequences .
Tarantino earns the respect he craves for his Martial Arts movie by 1 ) having quality actors fulfill the roles , 2 ) an awesome score , featured prominently ( par for Tarantino's course ) and 3 ) a variety of interesting and always changing visual and narrative styles . He shifts from black and white to color to animated sequences to flashbacks and back again . Neither the camera angles nor the kill-shots ( and there are a bunch ! ) are ever duplicated . Everyone is provocatively dressed and distinctive , each sequence has its own feel , pacing and rhythm . A two-hour long Kung Fu movie with non-stop action could become boring . Tarantino never allows it .
That is his genius .
It turns out that every genre of film can be good art . I'm not sure whether Kill Bill would be the first artistic martial arts movie , or if it even matters . What matters to me is that this movie is a lot of fun - - gruesome , violent fun . A striking film that students of cinema , and fans of old-time karate action alike , must see .
028 4 Kill Bill is an interesting hybrid . Featuring a caucasian lead within the realm of Japanese style film making , the issue of race does come up more than once , however it is apparent that this film is for EVERYONE , and that silly caucasian girl who like to play with samauri swords can indeed bring it !
The Bride ( Uma Thurman ) is a woman seeking revenge against her former colleagues , a group of assassins who left her for dead after murdering everyone who attended her ill fated wedding . After waking up in a coma approx . four years after the fact , she travels from coast to coast , and aiming to right the wrongs and even the scales in her favor .
The cast is excellent . Uma Thurman gives in the best performance of her career in my opinion , while Vivica Fox makes a tough first impression in the film's opening . Most of all , Lucy Liu is terrifying as the Yakuza boss O-Ren Ishii , inspired by another Japanese revenge film , ' Lady Snowblood . '
The film itself is an orgasm of light and sound , featuring beautiful fight scenes and liberating justice ; Quentina Tarantino's style serves this picture well , and I can hardly wait for the inevitable Vol 3 . in the future !
029 4 Quentin Tarintino does it again . He releases a movie with extreme violence and harsh language . This time it is Kill Bill Volume 1 . It is a story of an assassin ( Uma Thurmin ) who is betrayed by her boss and fellow assassins . The Bride ( Uma's Nickname in the movie ) spends the rest of the movie out to get revenge on those who betrayed her . There are several bloody scenes in this movie . So don't let the small children take a peek . Several of the scenes are comical especailly when people's heads get chopped off , and an unrealistic amount of blood squirts out . There is a whole lot of action in this movie , lot's of kung-fu violence that will keep you at the edge of your seat . One of my favorite moments is the first fight scene where The Bride fights the character played by Vivica A Fox . It's hilarious when Vivica's daughter walks in on them fighting and the two of them are standing there a bloody mess . The fight scenes near the end are very good too . This movie is great for any action movie fan and I recommend it for any blood thirsty movie fan .
031 4 No one can dispute that Kill Bill is a violent movie . . . but hey , that's Tarantino's style . The film opens up with a hardcore fight in sleepy suburbia , which shocks you into paying attention and makes you ask , What is up with these women ? And to find out , you have to keep paying attention . As the film progresses , and you learn more about The Bride and why she's so mad , you sympathize and root for her , which makes most of the violence more palpable , because most of the victims had it coming .
033 4 To say that Kill Bill is without a plot isn't ' exactly correct , rather the plot is quite simple ; an ex-lover's pregnant bride-to-be and her wedding party are slaughtered by his gang of trained assassins [ she herself at one time a star member of this hit-squad ] . She survives , goes into a coma for four years and seeks revenge when she recovers . Its title should make the level of violence within Kill Bill readily apparent to any potential viewer . And , being a Tarantino film , it's frankly surprising that anyone is surprised . Suffice it to say that if you subscribe to the Michael Medved school of morality and movie reviews you won't like Kill Bill Vol . 1 .
Uma Thurman is wonderful as the vengeful bride her , actions set within Tarantino's cool homage-to-the-seventies style . And what a style it is ; everything from the seventies is here , a soundtrack to Ironsides , marital arts stars and a flashy-retro sensibility . It's told in typical Tarantino non-linear fashion with each chapter a different adventure in revenge by Uma . The non-linear style allows the director to slowly reveal the motivation for Uma's character [ the character is nameless in Vol . 1 except for her code name - Black Mamba ] . The supporting cast , Michael Madsen , Darryl Hannah and especially in Vol . 1 , Lucy Liu are fantastic .
With violence that exceeds the final scene of The Wild Bunch , cinematography that rivals the best in film and a timeless story of revenge Tarantino has built a movie both exceedingly simple and complex . My one and only criticism is that both Vol . 1 and Vol . 2 should have been released as one movie , studio execs be damned .
Moralists and those with queasy stomachs should avoid this film . Everyone else be prepared to experience what may be a landmark film , certainly one of the most stylish of the last twenty years .
Excellent all around and highly recommended .
034 4 My second favorite movie of last year , only below Return of the King , this movie just rocks . The movie is so stylish that it makes you want to watch every frame , afraid that if you blink you will miss something . The soundtrack works perfect with the video . Uma Thurman is the epitimy of badass . Some people complain about the blood and the action sequences not being realistic , I say if you want realistic action sequences , watch boxing . The action in this movie is stylish and fun . I can't wait to see Volume 2 .
035 4 I loved Kill Bill Volume 1 . Sure , it's a gory movie , with lots of violence . But hte gore is very cartoony , as is the violence . Also , the storyline is very interesting , and the fights are excellently choreographed . This movie is only for the action fans though , as the gore can be a turn off . However , it was an excellent film as far as Tarantino films go . Starring Uma Thurman , Lucy Lui , Vivica Fox , Daryl Hannah , David Caradine , and Michael Madsen .
036 4 So many reviews of the film , so my review is reserved for the DVD itself . The first thing I noticed is that it has some spectacular menus . They were colorful and easy to navigate , and I even found myself just sitting back and watching the menus for a bit . That however , is where my fascination with the DVD ends .
This DVD comes with 3 extras :
Behind the scenes featurette
Musical Performances by The 5,6,7,8 ' s
Quentin Tarantino Trailers
The featurette is short , but very entertaining . The musical performances are okay if you're into that thing . I'm not , and it seems like it's just filler for the DVD , along with the trailers .
That's everything . No commentary , no cast interviews , no bloopers , no nothing . That's because they're saving all of the good stuff for the special edition DVD which will come with Kill Bill volume 2 . THIS is the DVD you want to buy , not this thing . This is just to wet your appetite and capitalize on the release of the second volume . For $20 , I want more than a 10 minute featurette and two throw away extras .
The next edition of this DVD should be out during the summer , so I would highly advise waiting until then before purchasing it . Especially since this film is designed to be viewed with Volume 2 anyway .
Note : This review refers to the Kill Bill , Volume 1 DVD .
037 4 The movie is a joyride of pure action-packed wonderment , with blood on-screen measured in gallons per second . Uma Thurman has never looked better , as does most of the rest of the cast . Beautifully shot and lit .
This DVD kind of falls through , however ; the quality of sound and video is just fine , but there's essentially nil for extras . Trailers for other Tarantino films , and some very throwaway videos for the musical group playing at the beginning of the hotel scene .
With all the extras on Reservoir Dogs , I expect more of Tarantino . Wait for a special edition of the film , hopefully containing both volumes packaged together . If you liked the first one , you'll probably dig the second . . . though a three-hour long cut with the two movies together would be ideal . Can that come out on DVD , Mr . Tarantino ?
038 4 Great movie . . . a lot of action , great storyline , some a little bit out there , but what else would you expect from the guy that created Pulp Fiction and Reservior Dogs ( sp ? ) .
At least Neo flew off after he saw that the odds were starting to look grim . . . one would think Uma would've done the same . : - )
I can't believe I waited for this to get to video to see it . . . #2 will definitely be seen in the theater .
039 4 ' Kill Bill ' is a difficult film to review . It has many elements simply copied from other , older genres ( martial arts films , westerns ) , has music from 60 ' s / 70 ' s TV shows , and buckets of surrealistic blood ( gushing like fountains from amputated limbs / heads ) . Inject Tarentino's bizarre sense of humor , and you have one oddball of a movie !
Tarentino's penchant for time frame manipulation ( ala Pulp Fiction ) can make things a little confusing for those not familiar with his approach , but it all comes together if one has patience . His cinematography is simply superb , especially in the fight sequences , which are the real stars of the film . The final battle in the Japanese bar is awesome , in spite of the extreme gore . Tarentino has a way of making dismemberment a humorous event : witness the Lucy Liu ' Yakuza ' meeting .
I'm not sure I like Tarentino's flippancy toward bloodletting-it's all a sort of cartoon to him . When one thinks about the real blood being shed in Iraq and Afghanistan ( which the US government goes to great lengths to PREVENT the American public from seeing ) , this stuff feels awfully petty . Nevertheless , Quentin makes it all seem like no big deal , and creates a near-poetic way to present it to us . Think about it : if you saw this amount of human devastation on CNN , how would you react ? We snicker because we know it's Tarentino , and ' It's Just a Movie ' . . .
041 4 It's been my experience that one either delights in Tarantino's films , or they do not . But those opinions tend to go to the extreme . Perhaps Tarantino's not-so-mainstream approach gives his movies their unique appeal . After all , it * is * human nature to be curious about that which is different .
And different Kill Bill Vol . 1 is . It's the little curiosities and snippets of quick wit that give this movie it's surreal humor ( yes , humor ) . And anime lovers will appreciate the history of Oren-Ishii , a mini-revenge plot in of itself . Being a martial arts / fitness enthusiast , I was originally attracted to this movie because of its action and super-human Matrix-esque fight scenes . I was somewhat disappointed as to the over-obviously fake scenes where limbs were severed . However , this may have been intentional - a homage to the marital-arts movies of the past .
Overall , I personally enjoyed the movie . And yes , I'll be in theaters when Vol . II arrives . However , if you are looking for stunning visual effects involving computer-generated graphics , then my recommendation would be to stick with Keanu Reeves and Lawrence Fishburne .
042 4 Comas are a deep sleep wherein a victim is neither living nor dead . The mantle of darkness protect the soul from the reality which put it there . However , an ancient proverb states , that if the spirit has unfinished business in the world of the living , then woe betide those who put it there . Such is the premise of Kill Bill . Once part of an elite group of world wide assassins , ' B.B ' , the victim , { Uma Thurman } awakens and recalls well who tried to kill her . Throughout the rest of the film , viewers are introduced to her former friends all code named after the world's most venomous snakes . Not sure of the reason why she was nearly murdered , Black Manba as B.B . was code named , ( The deadliest snake ) goes after each of the assassins . It has been suggested , were Bruce Lee to have lived , this vehicle would have been his . Instead , the story was redesigned with a feminine twist and all the explosive action and martial arts confrontations were designed in the fertile mind of action Director Quinton Tarentino . From the first to the last , exciting sub-plots and well-choreographed martial arts scenes give this film it's special quality . The main target of B.B . ' s revenge is of course none other than Master ( Kung Fu ) David Carradine as Bill . It is he and his ' Snake team which consists of Lucy Liu who plays O-Ren Ishii , Vivica A . Fox as Vernita Green , Daryl Hannah as Elle Driver and Michael Madson who now become the intended targets . Interest in the film is ample as each killer has their own story and each contains the special formula of subtle sex , exciting physical confrontation and superb samurai action . In the end , what can be said of Kill Bill One ? If this film is fantastic , I can't wait for part II . ( of which there is ) Excellent .
043 4 Quentin Tarantino has made a career of writing and directing fantastic films , and with the first volume of the Kill Bill duet the tradition continues . On the surface , Kill Bill : Volume 1 spins like an above average revenge flick - an ex-assassin known only as The Bride is brutally tortured on her wedding day by her former employer's lethal band of contract killers : the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad . The ` blood-splattered bride ' is left for dead on the church floor , but her wounds eventually heal and four years later she begins her personal quest for revenge . Plot points such as these , however , are not what make Kill Bill ( or any Tarantino film for that matter ) special .
From the first grizzly minute all the way to the credits , every shot , every character , every line of dialogue , and every aspect of the story is driven by Tarantino's love for Hong Kong martial arts films , samurai movies , spaghetti westerns , and revenge flicks . These influences can be seen everywhere - from the camera framing copied from The Good , The Bad and the Ugly , to the final battle at the House of Blue Leaves where The Bride wears a yellow catsuit very much like the one worn by Bruce Lee in Game of Death . Tarantino uses references such as these to give Kill Bill : Volume 1 a cinematic depth that most revenge films can't match .
Quentin Tarantino dropped out of school at the tender age of 16 to pursue acting . However , he developed his love of film while working at a video rental shop in California . Since then , Tarantino has directed a total of five films , written eight , and won an Oscar ( for Pulp Fiction ) . His love of film bleeds through every frame of every movie he is directly linked to - as evident by his use of homage as a film style . Pulp Fiction paid tribute to ( among other things ) gangster movies . In Reservoir Dogs , it was heist films and undercover cop stories . And in Kill Bill it was revenge , samurai showdowns , and old Westerns .
One of the strongest aspects of Kill Bill is that Tarantino embraced the simple mentality of typical revenge flicks while , at the same time , generously applying his own spirit . By default , movies that deal with reprisals tend to be a little bit shallow and predictable - someone has to kill or harm someone else for some wrongdoing .
What sets Kill Bill apart is the dialogue . For the film's entire 111 minute running time , the story is unfurled using dialogue that is packed with black comedy , old Asian legends , pop culture references , and extraordinary bravado . For example , when The Bride awakens in a hospital bed four years after the massacre , she learns that when she was comatose the head hospital attendant was acting as her pimp - selling her for $50 a session . While this might have otherwise come across as a totally revolting and extremely dire situation , the dialogue and characters involved turn the scene into black comedy gold by playing off of the hick stereotype associated with many small Texas towns .
Another example of where the dialogue shines is when The Bride travels to the tiny island of Okinawa , Japan to meet with the legendary sword smith Hattori Hanzo . The nature of the film changes dramatically ( for the better ) as Hanzo passes on ancient Samurai proverbs to aid The Bride in her fight . This scene sets up a more purposeful tone for the remainder of the film and might contain the most powerful lines in the entire movie . Before giving the ` yellow-haired warrior ' ( The Bride ) his powerful ` Hanzo Steel ' samurai blade , Hattori effectively sums up the entire idea of vengeance by saying that revenge is never a straight line . It's a forest , and like a forest it's easy to lose your way . This is the type of dialogue that sets Kill Bill apart . The ideas behind it are not new , but they are executed in such a way that they come off as fresh , funky , and unique .
The only downfall of Kill Bill : Volume 1 is the way it was released . Originally , Tarantino wrote and directed the project as one film . However , due to its four-hour plus running time , the Miramax production company decided to split it into two ` volumes . ' Due to this separation , the first volume comes across as light on story and heavy on violence while the second part seems light on action and heavy on plot exploration . The difference is especially noticeable in Kill Bill : Volume 2 , which contains only two major fight sequences . The lack of closure at the end of Volume 1 , due to Miramax's attempt to sell multiple tickets to the same movie , must be listed as a flaw of Tarantino's ( otherwise ) brilliant project .
Kill Bill is an experience . It pulls ideas from many different cultures , movies , genres , legends , and old television shows , and packages them together in one super-fine blood-soaked escapade . The only problem is that it's not one escapade ( as it was originally meant to be ) - it's two . Splitting the film causes a jarring shift in tone that's difficult to ignore . The best solution is to watch both DVDs back-to-back , thus eliminating what might be the only problem with one of the best films of the past decade .
044 4 The Deadly Viper Assassination Squad are made up of five most deadly killers , led by Bill . There is O'Ren-Ishii as Cottonmouth , Elle Driver as California Mountain Snake , Vernita Green as Copperhead , Budd as Sidewinder . The main character is called ' The Bride ' , who is an Ex Deadly Viper , but quit because of pregnancy . On her wedding day on El Paso Texas , Bill and the gang showed up and killed all at the chapel .
But , The Bride survives , barely , and is in a coma for four years . One day , The Bride awakens . For her , not a second has consciously passed , and after she realizes all the things that have happened , The Bride decides to take revenge On each single one of those who betrayed her .
The story itself is very intriguing . The cinematography , and trademark directorial shots and dialogue are always top notch . Later in the film , there is an anime sequence . Personally , I thought it was a little much . But still very enjoyable for anime fans , and non . Acting and Dialogue aren't a problem here . All classic Tarantino . Fans of Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs would very much enjoy this film .
Nice sword fights too . The crazy 88 put up a gory and gruesome fight .
In my opinion , Kill Bill was successful , and would only be successful under the rock star of film making , Quentin Tarantino . Under anyone else , this film would be an absolute flop . No doubt about it .
I give this movie a 4 of 5 . A perfect blend of Japanese Cinema and American Cinema .
045 4 I have to admit ; I absolutely loved this one . This movie is nothing deep , but very entertaining . To me , a good movie has to be either deep , touching , or pure fun . This movie is simply pure fun to watch . Uma is certainly the best actress for this role . I can't think of any other Hollywood actress that would be half as good as her . She is absolutely marvelous . The way she handles the sword is so cool , and professional as well . My favorite scene is the combat between Uma and Lucy in the courtyard . The Japanese winter view , the landscape , and the beautiful snowfall already grabbed my attention , let along the stunning music . The fighting took place under such peaceful surroundings . Everything was fascinating .
Again , this movie may not make you think , but it's a gorgeous movie to watch . I can't wait to watch the second volume , and don't understand why I waited so long to watch the first one .
046 4 I have watched this film many a times and recommended it twice as many . What i get in return is a mixed batch of lovers and haters of the film . People who are going to see this film must have an open mind and obove else a sense of humor . Experience with his other films will work too because there are so many annotations from his previous work in this film that just noticing them would take several viewings of the film . Of course people wont go see this film for stuff like that but i find them interesting to see .
There is plenty of gore , action and Uma to keep the teenagers interested but there is also some great dialogue that didnt get enough credit as it should have by film critics . This film was classified as great cinematography and like many Tarantino films as having an awesome soundtrack , which it does . I think that this film is a balanaced combination of all techniques assciated with classic Tarantino , including dialogue which many people thought was lacking too much in . Best film of the year , for me best film of the decade , but its too early yet to determine that but for the meantime it holds the title .
047 4 Many people on Amazon would disagree with the
title masterpiece , finding the over-the-top blood and violence to be too much and unnecessary . Whatever your opinion Tarentino is undeniably a cinematic genius . His knowledge / love of martial arts / samurai movies is clear , and the man knows his stuff . I am not a fan of old kung-fu movies and still pick up references in the movie that point to his paying homage to a genre he is knowledgeable within . I saw Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction , both great flicks , and the patented style is again used to tell this story .
Kill Bill Volume 1 begins as a woman known only as The Bride has been beaten and shot to near death . The ones responsible - - The Deadly Viper Assassination Squad ( of which the Bride was a former member ) and Bill . Bill was her boss and also the father of her unborn child . A massacre ensues when the Bride is about to marry another man , but the killers made one mistake - - not killing the Bride . Even if I didnt tell you this you would figure it out very quickly - - - The Black Mamba ( the Bride's codename ) WILL get her revenge .
This movie gets some negatives from people for being so violent and at times sloppy . Tarentino had that vision and it couldn't have worked better . Blood unrealistically sprays when limbs are chopped off which of course is exaggerated almost to a comedic level but not quite . The question is did Quentin pay homage or rip off the genre ? The answer is he has ripped off elements to an extent , but told the story in the way Tarentino does . He combines traditional elements of Kung-fu and adds his style to give us nothing more than a superviolent revenge flick . It is a damn good one at that . To say he has blatantly ripped off everything is far-fetched . He has a deep love / appreciation for Samurai movies and he knows what he is doing here . He truly wanted to leave his mark on the genre and the result , Kill Bill is one that will stick around for a long time . I was literally amazed at what I saw the first time through and it is just as fun a ride the second , third , etc . times watching it .
This has been said and I will say it again : if you can't stomach the violence and blood to the extreme do not watch Kill Bill . If you are a Tarentino fan it is your duty to see this great movie . If you arent a fan give it a shot anyway . With so many styles , including Anime , this is a stylish , yet violently unrelenting epic that will be remembered . Watch the movie for what it , a story of a woman screwed over who deserves revenge against those who took the most precious things from her . Dont dismiss it as a bad movie because you don't like profanity or gore . Then question yourself as to Tarentino's brilliance . All that aside this is the best movie I have seen so far in ' 04 and I cannot wait to see Volume 2 .
The picture and sound quality are very good on this release , with a Dolby Digital Surround track and a DTS track for those who have the capabilities to hear that . Only negative I can give this dvd is the lack of extras . You just know with a movie like this one there is so much more out there as far as bonus material goes . As for me , I am happy to own this great movie and I recommend you to at least see this movie , if you can stand violence that is .
048 4 Tarantino teams with Uma Thurman to invent one of the coolest characters I think I have ever seen in any movie to date . 2003 ' s Kill Bill is one of the best films of this year if not of all-time and it's a damn shame that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences is too conservative to realize how great it is .
Uma Thurman stars as The Bride ( her real name is actually bleeped out whenever it's uttered ) and she's pissed as hell . She is a former assassin apparently on the verge of getting married after running away to restart her life after discovering that she is carrying her boss's baby . . . only her boss , Bill ( David Carridine ) finds out and sends her former teammates to gun her down at the chapel . . . but wait , that's just the beginning of the story . And it's brilliantly retold , short and to the point , in a grainy black-and-white two-minute sequence at the film's introduction . Bill is yet to be revealed . All we hear is his voice ; soothing , yet dark and foreboding . . . and all we can see is The Bride's pained face as she lies on the floor , sweating profusely and bleeding to death . She tries to tell Bill that she is pregnant with his child and it's cut off by a bullet to her head .
If you are trying to make sense of anything I have told you thus far , don't . If you think I've given too much away , I haven't . You see , The Bride WILL kill everyone she has set out to kill because that's her motivation . Thurman's character is practically invincible with the skills of the greatest martial arts fighter in the world and the momentum of a Mac truck . It's HOW she kills that provides you with surprise and suspense . And if you're thinking that this is a self-indulgent gore-fest with no plot , you're very much incorrect .
The Bride is smart and cunning and you identify with her cause . More so , I would imagine , if you were a woman watching this movie . In fact , you can't call Tarantino sexist or mysoginist because almost every female character he writes is intelligent ( save for Bridget Fonda's character in Jackie Brown , but Tarantino adapted the character from the book , so that doesn't count ) and has the ability to play on the same field as men . In fact , Bill's entire staff of killers , save for Budd , is a female so , technically , this is a chick flick but a chick flick lovingly dedicated to a group of women with their arms held aloft with pride and conviction and Uma leading the charge with a sharp sword and a bad attitude .
Like Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs , this movie is presented in chapters , making it feel like you're watching a great epic novel come to life in front of your eyes . Each chapter introduces a character , or a backstory told in different types of media . A few examples of this : The Bride's death is recorded in black-and-white as if you are watching history unfold , O-Ren Ishii's twisted origin is Japanese hardcore hentai anime , and characters fight in silhouette against giant screens that , at once , turn red , then blue .
These are truly epic moments told with truly epic style and fashion with giant doses of wit and flair added for good measure . An example is one of my favorite exchanges in the film is between The Bride and O-Ren after The Bride has mowed down O-Ren's gang of fighters ( nicknamed The Crazy 88 ) :
O-Ren : Silly caucasian girl likes to play with samurai swords . You didn't think it would be that easy did you ?
The Bride : Actually , for a second there . . . yeah . . . I kinda did .
O-Ren : Silly Rabbit . . .
The Bride and O-Ren ( at the same time ) : Tricks are for kids . . .
Or the soft-spoken and very solemn bragging coming from master swordmaker , Hatori Hanzo ( Sonny Chiba of The Street Fighter , one of Tarantino's favorite martial-arts films ) :
Hanzo : This is my finest sword . Should you encounter God in your travels , God will be cut .
The humor injected into each scene makes the fights following them seem all the more deadly and enticing and dramatic . Swords ring and slice , knifes cut through the air , bullets boom , women spit venom into the word , b * * * h whenever they trash-talk , and the blood . . . oh , yes . . . I did forget to mention the gallons upon gallons of blood , didn't I ? Violent ? Well , I still defend this film against those who say that violence is only justified in films regarding religion , mainly because while this movie is violent , you're really not supposed to be taking it seriously . I find it hard to believe that when someone gets a belly-full of sword , then has that sword removed from their belly , that all the blood they carry flies forth as if the stab-victim has a pressurized water cannon readilly installed in their stomach . It's violent . . . but it's outrageously violent and in that way , that is where the movie gets its charm . Sure , it's pretty dark charm , but it's charm nonetheless .
The great amount of detail that Quentin Tarantino has applied to this film is unbelievable . He borrows from old Sergio Leone westerns , 60 ' s martial-arts movies , action films , anime , and great sweeping dramas . The only genre that Tarantino leaves untouched is the movie-musical and science-fiction although , one would suspect that if Tarantino had enough time , he would cover those , too . I could almost imagine Tarantino ressurecting the acting career of Mark Hammill and casting him as a hip alien who tries to kill The Bride for killing Bill , a friend of his .
How good is it ?
Remember that part in Once Upon a Time in Mexico by Tarantino's good friend , Robert Rodriguez , when Johnny Depp tells Antonio Banderas that he is so crazy for the pork dish he is eating that when he is through , he is going to walk into the kitchen and shoot the cook ?
Oh yes , it's that good , but I'm not shooting the cook ' cuz I want more .
* * * * out of * * * *
- - Matt
049 4 I went to the cinema expecting to understand what the hype was all about . Maybe I should have done some research beforehand
Everyone was amazed at Tarantino's fourth film , saying ' Oh God , it must be good ' .
Pul Fiction - yes
Resevoir Dogs - yes
Jackie Brown - No !
Kill Bill - Hell no !
This was a film based purely on action , with no thought on a complex storyline . A simple revenge based film , with admittedly good choreography , but unrealistic battles and a general poor film
Everyone also seems insistent that Tarentino is a genius . To my mind , for genius read pretentious . Some scenes were genius , but the anime sections went on far too long , and as for other parts . . .
Actions fanatics may enjoy this . I certainly did not
050 4 Although I feel that Quentin Tarantino's reputation as of the the best directors of his generation might be overblown , I still can not deny the fact that his films have offered me great enjoyment in their unique and original style and very smart writing . I found Pulp Fiction to be his best , while I thought Reservoir Dogs was certainly ambitious but not the masterpiece that it was made up to be , being too gratuitously violent for my own personal taste , while Jackie Brown was certainly a disappointment . So it is with some interest that I watched Kill Bill , not knowing what to expect and what surprises were in store , typical of Tarantino's writing .
And yes I did enjoy the film very much , yet I had some reservations too .
The film is a delight to watch , and is crammed with homages , from Kung Fu films , David Carradine , Westerns , Japanese Yakuza movies to Japanese animation , and it really looked like Tarantino , similar to a child running loose in a toy store , was enjoying himself immensely with all the ideas and tributes that drives him as a director and as a first rate movie buff .
The success of the film is in telling a very simple story of revenge and dressing it with various styles to animate and liven it far beyond its basic premise .
The film was too violent and gory but in a totally different way : it was hilarious . . Not unlike Sam Raimi's Army Of Darkness , the violence was too overblown as to render it comical rather than disturbing , especially the main fight scene towards the end , when Thurman manages to kill dozens of swarming gang members . .
My reservations about the film is the slightly pretentious air that hovers over the movie . . The credits informs us in bold letters that it is the 4th film by Tarantino . . and the idea of the main character was by QT ( ! ! ) . . Moreover , stretching as I mentioned a very simple story into two films was a bit over indulgent.This is why when I left the theater , and despite enjoying all the hidden goodies of the film , I just did not feel any lasting connection to it .
Uma Thurman was as good as you expect her to be under the direction of a very sympathetic director like Tarantino , and Lucy Liu was particularly suited for the tough Yakuza boss role .
Kill Bill is still a very good film that you will enjoy very much , more so if you do not dwell a lot on the ' genius and masterpiece ' behind it all . . Just a well directed and scripted film from a talented director who loves cinema's geniuses and masterpieces .
051 4 I'll admit I was a bit reserved about seeing this movie . The last few movies people were hyped out were also movies that disappointed me . However , once this movie kicked in half-way through I found myself hooked in and enjoying myself the whole way through !
Most white people in an strange land movies follow a cliche , formulaic story that does little except bore the audience . Kill Bill , on the other hand , take such a concept and does new things with it . This is because Quentin Tarantino moves not to take his movie seriously . Do I consider this the greatest Tarantino film ever ? No . Do I consider this a bad film ? Of course not ! This round Tarantino takes his odd sense of humor , as well as endless knowledge of movies barely any body's ever heard of , and puts it to good use .
The storyline consists of Uma Thurman , a bride who's wedding was interrupted by a group assassins , coming out of a coma and planning to reprimand her enemies , including the man of the title character . She seeks training from a Japanese swordsmith ( none other than Sonny Chiba ) and with her new enhanced skill she sets out to get the first two people on their list . I have to admit it's here that I really enjoyed the film . The first hour was typical Quentin Tarantino with his trademark dialogue ( characters speaking ghetto one second , using words like beseech the next ) , but here it takes a stylized approach . It also starts to take itself less seriously , and provides lots and lots and lots of sword slicing action . And lots and lots of blood . Ever noticed that pool was clear before the fight . . . ?
Many people have complained This movie rips off other films ! Well , yes and no . Yes , there are homages to other films in here . . . but no , it's more so you can sit through the movie and think , Oh yeah I've seen that film ! The scene where Uma Thurman spanks a young Yakuza is taken right out of Yojimbo . The music they play when Uma Thurman first sees O-Ren-Ishii ( and even that flashing red lights they play over her eyes when she sees one of the villains ) is taken from the Western Death Rides a Horse ( which was also about revenge ) . Also , the scene where Lucy Liu kills a racist member of her group is actually taken from a Japanese film where the heroine kills a dissenting member of her Yakuza clan ( the line the actress used in the scene was what made the young Japanese actress famous and became her catch phrase ) . Knowing Quentin Tarantino there are probably about a thousand other references I haven't mentioned .
Because of all these references I consider this some thing Quentin Tarantino did just for fun , not to make any artsy film like he did in Reservoir Dogs . However , don't mistake me - I loved this film ! If you want a good laugh and some actually really good action , then I suggest you check this movie out .
052 4 The first Thing comes to people minds reading these reviews is ( should i seek watching this movie . . should i buy it ? ) . . . . . . . . .
well , the answer here is YES
Kill Bill is one of the best action movies appeared in the last couple of years . . i guarantee that .
Kill Bill's plot is kind of old story ( a woman takes revenge from all those tried to kill her ) , BUT director , Quantan Tarantino proves that a skilled director is able to produce an ordinary consumed story with a total new vision and rhythm . . ! !
the movie is inspired by the action movies of the 70s period , asian action movies and Manga ( japanese comic books ) . . and that appears vividly in every single detail with in the movie .
much effort is done in this movie , so u'd see Excellent Action , Excellent Acting , Excellent Music and Sound Effects and Excellent Visual Effects .
THe Director Quantin Tarantino Used his Tools very well , and such a unique , New way . .
THe way the time sequence is used is very impressing . . he didn't put every thing in order . . actually he did put some recent events before the later ones . . . putting them in order of the events of Less Importance To these of more Importance .
Music and sound effects are perfect . . . the use of music is so good , music here gives more dimensions to the events . . not just a background parallel to the picture . . here they mingle together . . ( there's a very nice fight with swords with a music of a spanish dance ) .
Acting . . . since the movie is full of action much more than conversations , the actors made great effort to appeal their feelings by eye contact and physical movements . . well they did it very well , specialy Lucy Liu ( You'll see her in kill bill as u never seen her before ) . . and of course Uma Thurman .
my last comments :
- the movie have lot of Blood and offending scenes . . so if you are offended and disturbed by such scenes . . don't watch this movie .
- Kill Bill vol 1 is such a big TEASER . . you will wait impatiently for Kill Bill vol 2 . . .
- i wonder why this movie wasn't nominated for any Oscars . . . can any body tell me ?
054 4 Yeeaaaahh ! ! !
Without a doubt Tarantino has set out to make the kind of movie that HE wants to see - and you should be glad that the studio has let him have his way . So if you are movie buff then you will be in heaven for the next two hours . However mainstream cinema goers may shy away from the heavy amounts of splatter violence , themes of extremely bad taste and what seems to be a very shallow plot .
First of all , Kill Bill is comprised of several different genres and themes stemming from femme fatal , the Yakuza , Spaghetti Westerns , Kick Boxer , Japanese Manga Anime , Lone Wolf and Cub , and Star Trek ! Essentially the plot is simple . Uma Thurman plays a woman called * * * * a.k.a Black Mamba who is avenging the death or her unborn child after her wedding massacre . There seems to be some past employment link between her and a mafia of trained assassins led by an unseen Bill ( David Carradine ) and this is revealed in flashback style as * * * * goes about seeking her revenge . All of the characters have a background which is fleshed out visually during lots of these various flashback pieces that are extremely bloody and graphically violent in nature . In fact Kill Bill looks likely too be one of the most goriest movies ever made . . . however it is also extremely funny . There are so many taboo elements brought up like pedophilia , coma patient rape , parents graphically murdered in front of their children and women killing other women ( Extremely violently I might add ) but Tarantino manages to make us laugh at these things every other five minutes . Seriously - this film makes fun of all the things that you would generally shy away from even under the influence of a few bottles of saki . It is an extremely black violent comedy in many ways , but at the same time you can not help sitting there in awe as Tarantino pulls out every trick in the book and then some more . The Manga type cartoon in the middle will either turn you off or blow your mind . . . it sure did mine !
The ending is a real cliff-hanger and although this is not Tarantinos best film by a long shot it is certainly his most ambitious work to date - if not one of the most ambitious films this century .
By the way - did I mention that the film was extremely bloody ? The GORE and I mean G O R E on display here is like nothing you have ever seen before . There is a shot of the Japanese club after a violent wake in what has to be one of the most longest and bloody battle sequences ever filmed . You have never seen anything like it , nor will you again .
The are some downsides to the film . The end fight sequence has too many pauses and some parts do drag on for five minutes more than they should which leads us to suspect that pieces of this film have been extended to help make up for the running time of what is a film of two parts . However these misgivings are easily cast aside by the sheer energy that is on display here . So if you got the stomach for it then you know what to do - Go watch the killing of Bill .
Role on the bloody part deux !
055 4 Quentin Tarentino's Kill Bill Vol 1 is the first movie of it's kind I have ever seen . Although it has very painfully obvious references to Kung Fu movies of the seventies , including , but not exclusive to , the very suit that The Bride wears for most of the end of the movie . I fully believe that this movie could be labeled under the dark comedy genre , in that many of the jokes involved in the movie range from the fact that The Bride's name is disguised by a censor beep , to her spanking the so-called body guard with her sword , to the Monty Python blood spurt that encites a humorous reaction from the audience . Yes , I did laugh almost every time someone lost a limb , and the absurd fountain of blood shot out .
Despite how the movie has been either insulted profanely , or praised emphatically , I enjoyed it for every minute the screen was lit . From the moment the Klingon proverb was projected to the point where Bill asks Sophie . . . oops , I almost said too much . If you think you might be interested in this movie you will probably love it instead . . . so try it !
Kill Bill ; it's not just a movie , it's an assassination !
056 4 I thought Kill Bill was a great film for many reasons , and a bit of a dissapointment for a few others . Ultimately , I thoroughtly enjoyed it , though honestly I can't be bothered to write an actualy review , least of all beacuse I know nobody's gonna read it .
I'm an American student on exchange in Tokyo , so I saw this film as it was presented to the Japanese market . At the time , I didn't know it was any different from the American version , other than there being not subtitles during the spoken Japanese . After seeing the film , however , I started seeing things on the internet about the American version being black in white in parts to tone down the violence , so I went out and found that version of the film .
Not to dissapoint anyone who was looking for torrents more blood , but there really isn't much of a difference . The only part of the Japanese film that is more violent is the colorized fight scene at the end , but it's only , what , three minutes of the whole scene that's been changed , from when Uma rips that guys eye out until they end up in the blue room for the showdown with the final group of Yakuza .
I feel both versions of the film have their merrits . The black and white enhances the visual eclecticism of the film , which goes along with the countlessly shifting colors and anime sequence , while the full color version is much funnier , and the colorized blood is so violently red and copiously abundant that it can't help but make you laugh .
The only other difference is that Uma cuts off Sophie Fatal's other arm when she's got her in the trunk of her car . That many have actually been in the American version , but I don't think I saw it . Anyway , so there it is .
057 4 I can only guess that most of these reviews are based upon the fact that Quentin Tarantino is such a down to earth guy that some of the reviewers are hoping he offers them a part in his next film . Tarantino is the SHOCK-JOCK of movie making ; in all of Tarantino's movies , his main goal is to shock the viewer with violence . . . got that . Yes , we got that . Boy , do we have that by now .
Kill Bill is a music video - death dance . 111 minutes of me starting to wish one of those Samuri swords Uma Thurman and Lucy Liu were flipping around might cut the tape to this dreadful VHS tape I actually rented today .
This movie may have action , but it has no drawing force to pull you into what is happening . Every fight scene last a little too long ; every cut off limb spews out blood just a little too long ; and I wasn't impressed with a twelve-year-old cartoon girl seducing an Asian mob-boss so she could drive a blade through his chest .
If you think Howard Stern is cool , you might like this movie . If you think profanity and rampant violence make a movie great , then by all means , rush out and buy this DVD ( or buy it here at Amazon.com ) . But if you enjoy a movie with some substance and good dialogue , hold off on this one .
I have watched a few interviews with Tarantino , and I must say I was quite impressed with his demeanor - he seems really cool . I'm sure this review will be disliked by his fans , but I think he could have made a better film than what I just watched .
059 4 American film makers have a tendency to follow a certain career cycle . At first , they seek studio approval , so they make a couple of films to the specification of pushy producers or totally independently but on low budget . Either way , their initial successes are then followed up by the grand opus syndrome . Coppola is a case in point . So is Bertolucci . There are other boy-wonders who have fallen into the trap of believing their own hype , as have the studios who ultimately green-light whatever their favorites come up with , including ideas without story-lines . Kill Bill is going to please some , as it should . It is , after all , rather different , and does celebrate a certain genre that no doubt many find appealing . That said , the slaughter-house opening struck me an over-indulgent rather than artistic . Don't get me wrong . I loved Pulp Fiction . But this is Pulp Fiction without the brilliant story-telling . This is lots of effects , but no acting . No doubt some would have it that this is exactly what the director had in mind . I'll give Tarantino credit for pulling off what he set out to make , but from my point of view the fact that the director had fun making his film is not the same thing as the audience having fun watching it .
060 4 Quentin Tarantino's fourth film , ' Kill Bill , ' shows how significantly he has matured as a director from his previous work in Reservoir Dogs , Pulp Fiction , and
Jackie Brown ( Two-Disc Collector's Edition )
. Tarantino's improvements have been quite grand over his relatively short career in Hollywood , going from a very gritty and rough beginning with Reservoir Dogs , to continuous refinement in his followups , to ' Kill Bill , vol . 1 , ' which is very nearly a perfect homage to the kung fu movies of the 1970s . After having been severely beaten and then shot by Bill and his Deadly Viper Assassination Squad , Uma Thurman wakes up in a hospital , having been in a coma for four years . Her would-be husband has been killed , and presumably , her unborn child is also gone . She embarks on a mission of revenge , which , in volume one , focuses on the characters played by Vivica A . Fox , and Lucy Liu . Thurman , Fox , and Liu , all play their parts exceptionally well , but with the exception of Liu , all have acted in other Tarantino films , so their performances are not unexpected in terms of quality . Uma Thurman's character , known only as the Black Mamba , bests her foes in the true spirit of the kung fu movie genre , and includes the addition of some of the special touches expected by Quentin's fans . Volume two is set for release next year , and , it seems safe to assume , will feature Daryl Hannah's and Michael Madsen's characters more prominently .
In terms of directorial prowess , Tarantino is definitely taking his place among the truly great directors in the world of film . From the very strong , but immatured promise he showed with ' Reservoir Dogs , ' much has been expected from him , and to his credit , he has delivered time and again with an ever-improving final product .
Pulp Fiction
certainly showed a marked improvement over
Reservoir Dogs ( 1992 )
, but Tarantino's sometimes awkward , and occasionally unnatural character dialogue took away from ' Pulp Fiction's overall greatness . These early mistakes have served as lessons learned by Mr . Tarantino , however , as ' Kill Bill ' is very nearly perfect in terms of its dialogue , writing , acting , directing , cinematography , and general nod to the classic kung fu movies that he seems to love . The homage aspects of ' Kill Bill ' have been covered by critics quite thoroughly , but what seems to be underappreciated is the director's other strong influences , like the early Charlie's Angels work , and the James Bond series of films . Both of these areas play a very strong role in the overall tone and style of the movie , and it is important to note them lest all the trouble Tarantino has gone to in including them go to waste on his audiences . The RZA's soundtrack to this film is impressive to say the least . The music is absolutely perfect in its fitting the scenes and is something of which to take note when seeing this film . Anime is even included for the first time of note in a major , primarily non-animated , feature-length movie , and it is used very effectively . Tarantino certainly still has his strong ambitions toward bringing the unusual to the film-going public .
The bottom line is that ' Kill Bill ' is definitely Quentin Tarantino's best film to date and should be seen in the theaters by everyone who will not immediately condemn it because of its violent content . If the violence can be endured by the audience , they will be rewarded with viewing a truly great film and a very strong desire to see ' Kill Bill , vol . 2 ' when it arrives in theaters next year .
061 4 Where to begin . This movie is my second favourite movie only second to Kill bill Vol . 2 . This movie boasts a star studded cast of Uma Thurman , Michael Madsen , Vivica A . Fox , Daryl Hannah , Lucy Liu and the legendary David Carradine , with a special appearence by the also legendary Sonny Chiba .
Tarrantino delivers such an amazing story that cannot be rivalled by any other movie made . This movie is trademark tarrantino , but the whole movie is done in a brilliant new movie making style all together . Its like a patchwork of different short stories each done in their own styles . You see the film take on different characteristics as you go from a scene shot under a regular lense , to a black and white to highten certain elements of that scene , to anime , to a warmer coloured lense and so much more . This is without a doubt one of the most artistically done movies i have ever seen .
The movies litteraly starts off with a bang , making the viewer watch and just go whoa and the ending is equally good in that its one of the best cliffhangers you'll see .
The music intertwines perfectly with the mood of the scene making you feel every twist and turn the movie takes .
Overall this movie is a girl power movie but i beleive that men can enjoy this movie still . It's a story about love , a story about motherhood , a story about revenge and mostly a story about doing all the wrong things for all the right reasons .
Their is a lot of japanese influence in this movie to bring out the honor of fighting and how honourable it used to be to use one's own skill to defeat your enemies . The skill of the art of fighting . Thus making it the newest old skool martial arts movie there is .
Tarrantino fans can appreciate the over the top style of the movie and non-Tarrantino fans will love it right away . This was the first Tarrantino movie i watched and it made me a Tarrantino fan as i discovered the rest of his movies . This is beyond a shadow of a doubt the crowning jewel in the Tarrantino collection and a recommend it to anyone .
The story follows a bride who is on a journey to claim what is rightfully her's ; the lives of each and everyone responsible for putting her in a four year coma and the murder of her unborn baby . The journey not only takes us to where she's going but also to what brought her to where she is now .
There are some amazing fight scenes , that rival some of the action greats , with enough blood to send aid to the whole of Africa .
There are only a handfull of movies that recieve a 5 out of 5 from me , and this is definitely one of those few . In fact if it was possible i'd give this film a sixth star . Now buy it and watch it , because i guarantee you wont regret it .
062 4 This movie duet ( so far . . . parts 1 and 2 ) will prove to be a classic - bringing to Western audiences the excitement of stylized Asian martial arts movies . For those who look closely , the Kill Bill ( s ) ( and the old martial arts movies ) contain much emotion and intimate storylines .
What is the value of of reality , or destiny and fate against a given individual's sheer will ? How far would you go to protect what means the most to you ? Do you , as the individual , even matter in pursuit of a larger goal ? Does a given individual's Fear rule in the case of little or big experiences ? Does one judge high level risk-taking as an exterior or an interior motive ? Is the physical , ultimately mental ? Do early or primal memories mean more than other memories ? Does the fact that Tarantino cast a female lead - make the case more or less obvious ?
063 4 Powerful films are hard to come by these days . But when Quentin Tarantino is directing something , you know it's special . Kill Bill is a revenge movie , done in a grindhouse kind of style . It's Tarantino's first action film , but don't worry , his dialogue is as cool as ever . Featuring neat music , humorous scenes , and silly unrealistic violence , Kill Bill is a fun experience . I hope you enjoy it !
064 4 Kill Bill was either a disaster-in-the-making or a one of a kind hit - - a sprawling revenge flick that had to be cut in two and released separately . But director Quentin Tarantino serves up entertainingly mindless gore and twisted thrills in Kill Bill Volume 1 , a salute to homages .
Tragedy strikes the Bride ( Uma Thurman ) on her wedding day : The Deadly Viper Assassination Squad ( DiVAS ) attacks and slaughters the guests , the groom , and wounds the very pregnant Bride herself . Her former boss / lover Bill ( David Carradine ) finishes the bloodbath by shooting the Bride in the head . But despite his efforts , she isn't dead .
A few years later , the Bride wakes to find that she has been in a coma for a few years , and has been being used as a sex toy for rent . After recovering enough to move , the Bride gets a sword sharp enough to cut God , and goes on a revenge spree against the people who wrecked her life and killed her baby , including Cottonmouth ( Vivica A . Fox ) and the deadly O-Ren Ishii ( Lucy Liu ) .
Don't expect cinematic art in Kill Bill Volume 1 . If anything , this is cinematic pop art , a loving tribute to cheesy martial-arts flicks and westerns . Tarantino even inserts a stretch of anime detailing O-Ren's background . It's pure Tarantino , untainted by typical directing methods and immensely entertaining if you switch off your critical faculties , refrain from asking How the heck could that happen ?
Kill Bill isn't for the weak of stomach ; over 450 gallons of fake blood are used in both movies . But the blood usage is more Monty Python than Braveheart ; it's so over-the-top that it's silly and sick rather than disturbing . So is the violence - - hacking dozens of people down without getting so much as a scrape is impossible , but it's sure fun to watch .
Tarantino throws out more one-liners than just about any other filmmaker around . The absurd Trix is for kids line aside , there are a number of great lines like Those of you lucky enough to have your lives take them with you . However , leave the limbs you've lost . They belong to me now . The script teems with impossibilities , but they seem plausible enough in this alternate reality that Tarantino has cooked up . Call it Tarantinoland .
Uma Thurman , with her yellow tracksuit and katana , rules the screen as the Bride . Despite the Bride cutting down people by the dozen , it's impossible not to appreciate her . And the best supporting performances come from Liu as the ruthless O-Ren , Carradine in a brief but intense appearance , and the wonderful , underrated Chiaki Kuriyama as evil schoolgirl Go-Go Yubari .
It's silly , it's creepy , it's gaudy , and somehow it's vastly entertaining . Tarantino's special triumph in Kill Bill Volume 1 is to somehow rope his vast store of movie homages into a gory , action-packed storyline , and one that is , at the very least , hard to forget .
065 4 Opening with 1970 ' s style ' Our Feature Presentation ' and then you are straight into a roller coaster of a film . Yes it is violent , and there is a lot of blood . But its very well done and of course a homage to the films that Tarantino grew up with in the 60 ' s and 70 ' s . Spagetti westerns , Kung-Fu movies are all referenced in images and the soundtrack . Spot Sonny Shiba as the greatest sword maker ever .
A third of the way through the film we get an anime section as well . Tarantino may be a fan of anime , but watching this sequence again recently I realised how incredibly violent it is . The whole film is an adult comic strip anyway , but this section is so violent that maybe Tarantino just decided to do it animated to avoid censorship problems . Whatever it doesn't matter , it works .
This is , as you would expect , well directed and fantastic entertainment . The performances from the cast are all good or better .
BTW there is really no point in buying this DVD without buying vol 2 at the same time . The reason it only gets 4 stars ? Kill Bill vol2 is better .
066 4 From the first 30 seconds the movie started I knew it was going to blow me away . There are exciting sequences throughout , and while the film is extremely violent , it is also cartoonish violence and the visuals are eye-popping and dazzling . Uma Thurman makes a great heroine , and I disagree with a previous review that said that Thurman does not make her character sympathetic . I think the audience will root for her to get her revenge , yet there are moments in the film where you realize the kind of life she is living ( and has led in the past ) and there are moments of vulnerability displayed by Thurman's character .
I am a comic book fan , and anime fan , a video gamer and love great music.and I thought I have seen / read any possible scenario imaginable ! So , my advice : If you liked either From Dusk Til Dawn , Pulp Fiction , Desperado , or Reservoir Dogs , see this . It pleases . And if you haven't liked Tarantino's past stuff , DON'T SEE IT . He doesn't do anything revolutionary to change his ways ( why I gave it 4 and not 5 - he does really stick with his old formula ) , and you will still not be enamored .
067 4 I borrowed this from a friend , my buddy Bobby Asslong , who is normally very keen in his reviews and referrals . But he missed the mark with this one . He called it a true classic , with the markings of an award winner . I call it , a bloody awful , overrated Shanghai extravaganza . Not bad , but certainly not as good as it was hyped .
I would recommend renting before you buy . Maybe my friend , Mr . Asslong would be willing to lend you his copy .
MC White said : Just a'iiight !
068 4 This review is from :
Kill Bill - Volume One ( DVD )
What critics see as paying homage to the 70 ' s film styles , I think is very shrewd copy catting . Be that as it may , this movie was a hoot to watch and David Carridine looks terrific for his age , he must be pushing 70 . I never thought Uma was anything close to pretty , but she does have a certain vunerable toughness about her , so she was good in this role . Who really blew me away was Daryl Hannah , I thought the fake nurse looked familiar but I couldn't place her until I read the credits and saw her name , she was excellent and unexpected . She never had a part like this one , she should do more roles like this because she certainly shined in this movie . I thought she deserved more attention . Enjoy !
069 4 What critics see as paying homage to the 70 ' s film styles , I think is very shrewd copy catting . Be that as it may , this movie was a hoot to watch and David Carridine looks terrific for his age , he must be pushing 70 . I never thought Uma was anything close to pretty , but she does have a certain vunerable toughness about her , so she was good in this role . Who really blew me away was Daryl Hannah , I thought the fake nurse looked familiar but I couldn't place her until I read the credits and saw her name , she was excellent and unexpected . She never had a part like this one , she should do more roles like this because she certainly shined in this movie . I thought she deserved more attention . Enjoy !
070 4 This is a wonderful , postmodern plundering of kung-fu , rape-revenge , and cult action movies . In Kill Bill , Tarantino deferentially revisits the 70s ( ish ) genre film with his typical style and wit . It's every bit as good as Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown .
The major short-coming is the DVD itself . There is next to nothing in the way of extra features . This is inexcusable for a major studio release of a major studio film . The DVD includes a brief featurette that , as usual , spends most of its time showing clips from the movie . There are also some liner notes , but nothing amazing . It's a shame because there are some many places they could have gone with extras . I'd love to hear more about some of the specific references in the movie , I'd love to hear about the filming process during the black-and-white / color Crazy 88 sequence , I'd love to hear Tarantino talk about getting such an over the top violent picture through the ratings board . What would be better than anything would be a commentary track or two . Just look at Tarantino's buddy , Eli Roth . Cabin Fever wasn't a really great movie , but it includes no less than five commentary tracks ( ! ) as does Hostel .
Regardless , it's a great film and it's totally worth owning on DVD . I just wish there was something substantial in the extra features .
071 4 Kill Bill is a riot of color , music , action , plot and character . Tarantino takes you on an amazing ride that beats just about any other action movie ever made . And with stars like these , how could he go wrong . The animated sequence is just genius , and oh ! Uma Thurman ! Her performance and presence is overwhelmingly wonderful . Whoever doesn't like this doesn't have red blood streaming through their veins !
072 4 Shockingly cruel scenes , extreme violence , and harsh language . Bravo ! It's about time someone exposed the nature of humanity brooding beneath the thin skin of what we call civilization .
A true , creative work of Art . Yeah , this film is all of these and a lot more . Tarantino reveals the violent nature of our age , the anger that we hide behind in the form of political correctness .
pure genius
Don't go looking for the story ? ? ? . . . sounds like someone might have missed the boat . Maybe they were looking for the Titannic instead of the eight-foot canoe next to the dock . Actually , there is a very ancient and simple storyline at work here , the same one that worked for the cheesy Hong-Kong kung-fu movies of the 70s . The same one that worked for a lot of old westerns , namely the quest for revenge , in this case , a mother's revenge . The story is simple and traditional , but like all great stories , that is not where the art lies . The art is in the satirizing of violence itself , the art dwells in the subjective abstract . The violence is extreme to the point of absurd , just like revenge is absurd , or is it ? Perhaps it just is , whether we choose to embrace it or reject it , human beings are absurdly violent . Perhaps this is what Tarantino is trying to tell us .
073 4 With Kill Bill , you have a line drawn , those who love it and those who hate it . Either you like it for it's cool action , sharp and witty dialogue , creative and fun characters , and well choreographed style and well shot cinematography . Or , you hated it for it's over the top violence , simple story , and interesting casting . Either way , this is one well done film . Now , there is no doubt that Tarantino is one of modern times best filmmakers . He is a noncomforist filmmaker of sorts , who still sides on a more independent note than trying to put out the Next Big Thing . And Kill Bill is his message of this : rather than trying to create a pop culture flick that will make tons of bucks , he's created something he can enjoy . In other words , this is Tarantino's fanboy film .
The film itself is qute simple . A former assassin goes on a rampage of revenge to kill the man who took away the life she wanted to have . But in retrospect , the film is more about it's characters than what they do . Uma Thurmans ' Bride ' is not just a one dimensional killing machine . She's a woman who lost her baby . An ex-assassin who just may be the world's deadliest woman . She's someone who you could be good friends with , as long as you don't get on her bad side . While most of the other characters aren't nearly as well developed , they do at least have interesting enough backstories to them . And , at the very least they are interesting .
One other thing you know you can get from a Tarantino film is great writing , and thats no less true here . The film sparkles with great dialogue . Whether it's Uma's narration ( which are very well voiced ) or the exchanges and banter between friend's and foe ( Sonny Chiba's scene being one of my favorites ) , there is a bounty of great lines here . Yes , some of it seems a bit out of place , but the style is just so darn cool , you can't help but go along with it .
As for the action , it's some of the bloodiest to have graced the screen in a while , but it's also quite stylish . The choreography is well done and the fights are creative , ranging from teenage girl with a chained and spiked ball ( resembling something out of an anime ) to a fight in a homemmakers suburban house , the battles are entertaining and spark the imagination .
Now , I will say , this movie isn't for everyone . Yes , it is overly violent . Yes , it does have an unusual style that is mostly in service of Tarantino's own fandom . But , the film is cool , stylish , and one great time . And , if you like Quentin's previous works , you're in for a treat , because this is one of his best to date . Now stop reading this , and go get this movie . . . . now !
076 4 Kill Bill Vol . 1 is Oscar winner Quinton Tarantino's first film release since his long break . After directing and producing films Pulp Fiction , From Dusk Til Dawn , Jackie Brown , and others , he yet again masters another unforgettable film . The man known for creating 1970 ' s style films masters another potential classic . This time , it's almost his most bloody and graphic film to date . He proves that he is a highly unique film maker with his untouchable style . This film begins the quest of The Bride's ( Uma Thurman ) revenge after having lain in a coma for years . She now wants to kill her assaillants , especially Bill .
This film contains the perfect level of action , martial arts , and wit throughout the mission . This creative plot takes audiences closely into the mind of those experiencing these events . The film never holds back on the hardcore graphic violence , the blood , the body parts , and others . Tarantino stays true with his trademark with occassional long flashbacks and one-of-a-kind camera work . The numerous change of color backgrounds , including black and white , give each individual scene the added intensity that it deserves .
Through the numerous physical brutalies lies the emotional value expressed throughout . None is more expressed than Uma Thurman's powerful performance . Her anger , sadness , and rage never loses its intensity throughout the film . This is in no doubt her best work in her career , possibly tying her Oscar nominated role in Pulp Fiction ( 1994 ) . Other performers also give wonderful performances , offering their own taste of theme : Vivica A . Fox , Pam Grier , Lucy Liu , Daryl Hannah , and others .
Kill Bill Vol . 1 is a great action film for those looking for something intense . This is sure to keep audiences awaiting anxiously for the sequel Kill Bill Vol . 2 . Those curious about this series must watch Vol . 1 first . Otherwise Vol . 2 will be highly confusing . Unfortunately , according to Tarantino , fans must wait about 15 - 20 years for Vol . 3 to be released .
078 4 I ? m reading these other reviews on Kill Bill and it seems the approval rating is about 50 / 50 . I then think to myself how in the world can this be ? Quentin Tarantino is one of the greatest film makers of all time . I loved Pulp Fiction for example , it is one of the most influential movies of the 90s . Some speak of violence or gore in the film with the same lack of understanding or ignorance . Tarantino is trying to fuse Japanese Yakuza and Samurai movies , water it down till its palatable to a U.S . audience to present a masterpiece . Seems like all the great directors whom you all love have a great respect for Asian cultures , Lucas with his Jedi or should we say Samurai or Spielberg with Road to Perdition , its been done before with Lone Wolf and Cub . Tarantino ? s ability to stylize his film with music and anime is a respectfully refreshing new concept in American cinema has gone un matched in originality . This movie is a must buy .
079 4 This review is from :
Kill Bill - Volume One ( DVD )
Kill Bill was either a disaster-in-the-making or a one of a kind hit - - a sprawling revenge flick that had to be cut in two and released separately . But director Quentin Tarantino serves up entertainingly mindless gore and twisted thrills in Kill Bill Volume 1 , a salute to homages .
Tragedy strikes the Bride ( Uma Thurman ) on her wedding day : The Deadly Viper Assassination Squad ( DiVAS ) attacks and slaughters the guests , the groom , and wounds the very pregnant Bride herself . Her former boss / lover Bill ( David Carradine ) finishes the bloodbath by shooting the Bride in the head . But despite his efforts , she isn't dead .
A few years later , the Bride wakes to find that she has been in a coma for a few years , and has been being used as a sex toy for rent . After recovering enough to move , the Bride gets a sword sharp enough to cut God , and goes on a revenge spree against the people who wrecked her life and killed her baby , including Cottonmouth ( Vivica A . Fox ) and the deadly O-Ren Ishii ( Lucy Liu ) .
Don't expect cinematic art in Kill Bill Volume 1 . If anything , this is cinematic pop art , a loving tribute to cheesy martial-arts flicks and westerns . Tarantino even inserts a stretch of anime detailing O-Ren's background . It's pure Tarantino , untainted by typical directing methods and immensely entertaining if you switch off your critical faculties , refrain from asking How the heck could that happen ?
Kill Bill isn't for the weak of stomach ; over 450 gallons of fake blood are used in both movies . But the blood usage is more Monty Python than Braveheart ; it's so over-the-top that it's silly and sick rather than disturbing . So is the violence - - hacking dozens of people down without getting so much as a scrape is impossible , but it's sure fun to watch .
Tarantino throws out more one-liners than just about any other filmmaker around . The absurd Trix is for kids line aside , there are a number of great lines like Those of you lucky enough to have your lives take them with you . However , leave the limbs you've lost . They belong to me now . The script teems with impossibilities , but they seem plausible enough in this alternate reality that Tarantino has cooked up . Call it Tarantinoland .
Uma Thurman , with her yellow tracksuit and katana , rules the screen as the Bride . Despite the Bride cutting down people by the dozen , it's impossible not to appreciate her . And the best supporting performances come from Liu as the ruthless O-Ren , Carradine in a brief but intense appearance , and the wonderful , underrated Chiaki Kuriyama as evil schoolgirl Go-Go Yubari .
It's silly , it's creepy , it's gaudy , and somehow it's vastly entertaining . Tarantino's special triumph in Kill Bill Volume 1 is to somehow rope his vast store of movie homages into a gory , action-packed storyline , and one that is , at the very least , hard to forget .
080 4 Kill Bill was either a disaster-in-the-making or a one of a kind hit - - a sprawling revenge flick that had to be cut in two and released separately . But director Quentin Tarantino serves up entertainingly mindless gore and twisted thrills in Kill Bill Volume 1 , a salute to homages .
Tragedy strikes the Bride ( Uma Thurman ) on her wedding day : The Deadly Viper Assassination Squad ( DiVAS ) attacks and slaughters the guests , the groom , and wounds the very pregnant Bride herself . Her former boss / lover Bill ( David Carradine ) finishes the bloodbath by shooting the Bride in the head . But despite his efforts , she isn't dead .
A few years later , the Bride wakes to find that she has been in a coma for a few years , and has been being used as a sex toy for rent . After recovering enough to move , the Bride gets a sword sharp enough to cut God , and goes on a revenge spree against the people who wrecked her life and killed her baby , including Cottonmouth ( Vivica A . Fox ) and the deadly O-Ren Ishii ( Lucy Liu ) .
Don't expect cinematic art in Kill Bill Volume 1 . If anything , this is cinematic pop art , a loving tribute to cheesy martial-arts flicks and westerns . Tarantino even inserts a stretch of anime detailing O-Ren's background . It's pure Tarantino , untainted by typical directing methods and immensely entertaining if you switch off your critical faculties , refrain from asking How the heck could that happen ?
Kill Bill isn't for the weak of stomach ; over 450 gallons of fake blood are used in both movies . But the blood usage is more Monty Python than Braveheart ; it's so over-the-top that it's silly and sick rather than disturbing . So is the violence - - hacking dozens of people down without getting so much as a scrape is impossible , but it's sure fun to watch .
Tarantino throws out more one-liners than just about any other filmmaker around . The absurd Trix is for kids line aside , there are a number of great lines like Those of you lucky enough to have your lives take them with you . However , leave the limbs you've lost . They belong to me now . The script teems with impossibilities , but they seem plausible enough in this alternate reality that Tarantino has cooked up . Call it Tarantinoland .
Uma Thurman , with her yellow tracksuit and katana , rules the screen as the Bride . Despite the Bride cutting down people by the dozen , it's impossible not to appreciate her . And the best supporting performances come from Liu as the ruthless O-Ren , Carradine in a brief but intense appearance , and the wonderful , underrated Chiaki Kuriyama as evil schoolgirl Go-Go Yubari .
It's silly , it's creepy , it's gaudy , and somehow it's vastly entertaining . Tarantino's special triumph in Kill Bill Volume 1 is to somehow rope his vast store of movie homages into a gory , action-packed storyline , and one that is , at the very least , hard to forget .
081 4 First , if you've watched previous Tarantino films and disliked them , skip Kill Bill - both volumes . It is pure QT from start to finish . Same , if you don't like Uma Thurman ( I am shocked there are some who do not ! ) , you might want to skip as well . However , if you like QT's quirky humor and oddball films , then you will love Kill Bill - Part 1 mind you ! This is truly the first half of the Kill Bill set . So , expect the blunt ending that leaves you hanging . It starts with the old Drive-in lead clip giving you a hint this movie is gash for the B-film addict's soul . With soundtracks from everywhere and bits and pieces stolen - homage ? - to other films , then remade in QT magic , it's a film buff's trivia delight .
In TQ style , you are given puzzle pieces that eventually fit together to present the whole story . Thurman - rather preggers and on her wedding day - is attacked by the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad . The whole wedding party is taken out in a
bloodbath , with the unseen Bill putting a bullet to Thurman's head at the end of it . When the police arrive , they find Thurman not dead and rush her to hospital , where she stays in coma for over four years . Once she awakens , she finds it kill or be killed . So , she set out on her adventure to kill the five people on her list - Bill being the last .
Everyone was Kung-Fu dancing , with tongue-through-cheek , in some of the wildest ninja fight scenes . QT's brilliant , quirky wit shines in that totally indefinable way of his . But it's Thurman who is the WOW of this show . She alternates between her homely - breathtaking beauty , as the scene calls for it , and makes the total absurdity believable .
If you like QT , you will love Kill Bill Vol 1 . If you have not liked him , then forgetaboutit . . . you will hate it .
084 4 Kill Bill is a hilarious , but action packed movie . This movie will keep you on your toes from start to finish . Uma Thurman plays a woman out to seek revenge on those who tried to kill her . In order to kill Bill , she has to kill those who are connected to him . In doing so , this movie supplies action and great suspense . You will find yourself laughing hysterically , and gasping all at the same time . Although some of the scenes seem to be unbelieveable , keep in mind that it is to be taken lightly.If you want to spend your hard earned money on a DVD , then choose Kill Bill Volume 1 . This movie is truly one that will not disappoint .
085 4 Watching this movie is such a joy ; especially for those of us who are movie buffs and have had watched martial arts and samurai movies . With the advent of digital technology , computer has taken over the art of making movie : Matrix trilogy , Jurrasic Park franchise , Terminator trilogy being some examples . It doesn't mean that lesser technology movies are faring worse than those examples illustrated . With a good script , good direction , good idea , good team behind you , a movie can also kick arse without blowing the budget . This movie is obviously a labour of love for Quentin . It's really wonderful sitting through the bonus material regarding the making of this movie . I strongly recommend viewers to watch them so that you have an in-depth understanding of where Quentin gets his inspiration from . In this movie , Quentin pays respect to those stars of yesteryears such as Sonny Chiba ( famous for his black white samurai films ) , Gordon Liu ( famous for his Shaw Brothers ' martial arts movies ) by having them in this movie . Nowadays , it's not common for movies to change the way movies are shown . However , this movie has everything : from black white samurai style to Japanese manga style ( ! ! ! ) to spagetti western style to all-out martial arts style to Brian de Palma's split screen style ( just for a bit of fun , in Quentin's own word ) to 70 ' s Shaft style to Quentin's unique colourful dialogue style . And it's amazing how seamless the transition is from one another . Quentin commented that he felt home when he made this movie in Japan and China but felt like he was on location when he gotten back to the States , a display of how much he adores the cultures that shapes him into the Director that he is today . Never a moment I feel that Quentin is making a violent movie for the sake of it but for the FUN of it . He's a different cattle of fish compared with Oliver Stone . I can't wait for the second offering , that's for sure . Highly recommended . By the way , the soundtrack provided by Wu-Tang Clan's producer , RZA ( I think ) is pertinent and effective here . Again , a labour of love for him too .
087 4 If there is any word to describe my reaction to Kill Bill Vol . 1 , it is this : Underwhelmed .
Oh , there was plenty to like . Superb cinematography , really nice character and set design , and some very stylish sequences . . .
. . . but ultimately I was left shrugging my shoulders and saying , yeah , it was alright . Following this film , I won't make any great effort to see Vol . 2 , though I'll watch it if it comes my way .
There was a lot of style and gloss and swagger , which is fine , but it was empty style and gloss and swagger . I didn't much care about the story or characters , I didn't find the humor funny , and I never felt drawn into the story or interested to see what happens next . About 45 minutes in I just wanted to see the bloodbath at the end everybody was talking about and be done with it .
( Take note , I am not a fan of many of the genres Tarantino was referencing in Kill Bill , so things that would make a fan of Sunday Matinee Kung Fu smile would not do much for me ) .
Still , there were some camera shots that were just fantastic - the car and motorcycles racing through Japan , the long single-shot sequence , the pan over the slaughtered wedding party , among others - and the score and soundtrack was flawless in every way , probably the best yet in a Tarantino film . The action sequences were well choreographed , and the special effects were delightfully campish .
Yet in the end I felt a bit empty . Unlike my first viewings of Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs , when I knew I had just watched something special , Kill Bill Vol . 1 struck me as just . . . good . And the hype claims much more than good .
Certainly an argument can be made that Vol . I was just the first half of the film , and hence is incomplete . The second half may well put the first in perspective . But this review focuses solely on Vol . I as a standalone film , and as a standalone film , it did not work for me .
The film's merits aside , the quality of the DVD was outstanding , with a crisp picture and excellent sound . Techphiles will not be disappointed with the presentation in any way . The extras are sparse , but what is here is solid enough to tide Kill Bill fans over until the Special Edition is released .
If you already know you like this movie , purchasing this is a no-brainer - great DVD presentation , good picture , and , well , it's Kill Bill . If you're unsure if you will like this , a rental is recommended before plunking down the cash on a purchase , because for this viewer , the reality did not live up to the hype .
089 4 Like Pulp Fiction , the story is told out of sequence , but lack any of the witty dialog that made Pulp Fiction good . Tarantino film making is borrowing scenes from other directors / films and blending them into his own vision . His films are also usually interesting , and always sport quick and interesting dialogues . But they're basically popcorn movies , without any real depth of plot or complexity to the characters .
Tarantino delivers a film that struggles so hard to call attention to itself , and to its lack of originality . He has borrowed from an international grab bag of amusements , kung fu movies , spaghetti westerns , comic books , to build his B movie , and then drenched it in a bucket of blood . You almost expect their lips to move out of sync with the dialogue .
They should change the title to Kill Quentin . This movie simply did not ever need to be four-plus-hours long . By the time the last enemy is crossed off The Bride's list , you simply don't care all that much anymore . It's just Tarantino is paying homage to himself . Many scenes from would be far more interesting as filler on a Kill Bill extended cut with Tarantino commenting that here's a scene I really liked but just couldn't use . Kill Bill is like a school paper were your the spacing and the font size turning a lousy 5 page paper into a lousy 10 page one .
091 4 In my opinion this movie is great . Awesome soundtrack ( there are some songs I don't like , however ) combines with good acting and fight scenes to produce this masterpiece . There's lots of blood and violence in this movie , so its not for everyone , but I think it just adds to the quality of the movie . The plot is interesting and involving ( especially as it unravels in Kill Bill Vol . 2 ) Recomended for everyone not offended by seeing people's arms , legs and feet cut off . : )
093 4 This movie rocked ! Plain and simple , if you like the look of an independent film with the art of a samurai , blood , decapitations , deception , and brutal killing sprees this is the movie for you .
It is chock full of red-gory goodness . Long story short , a lady seeks revenge with 5 specific people and the movie is about her getting revenge by killing each and everyone of them . You'll be hooked with the opening scene of the movie . . . fantastic . Not to mention the music for the movie is fantastic !
095 4 Quentin Tarantino's epic , blood-spewing , over-the-top , fetishistic , vanity production , KILL BILL Volume1 ( Miramax ) arrives on DVD just in time to wet anew the appetite for the big screen theatrical finale Kill Bill Volume 2 . So much has already been written about this high-profile , visual tour-de-force Asian-cinema martial arts homage and revenge saga ( yes , it's all that and more ) , there's not much left to say . The story of a massacre by an Asian gang at a wedding rehearsal that leaves pregnant former gang member Uma Thurman for dead is the set up . The rest is all back story and exposition as a very lithe and determined Uma seeks out all those who block her path to Bill ( a barely seen David Carradine ) , her ex-lover and the gang leader . But the story is really an excuse for dazzling filmmaking and brilliant riffs of heady dialogue .
At heart , this is the darkest of comedies , a demented parody of excess . In the better than average making-of featurette , Tarantino enthusiastically explains the stylistic inspirations ( including Sergio Leone ) for his film and the origins of the Bride character that he and Uma jointly developed while shooting Pulp Fiction . Bonus material also includes trailers of Tarantino's three other films and very cool musical performances by The 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ' s an amazing group Tarantino heard on a juke box in a Japanese bar while scouting locations . If there's any doubt that this movie is tongue in bloody cheek , check out the action figures , Pussy Waqon key chains , flasks , lighters and lunch box paraphernalia on the DVD insert . If you plan to see Volume 2 , don't miss this dizzy exercise by a remarkably gifted , intuitive filmmaker .
096 4 There's nothing I can say about this film that countless others haven't already . I am a big Tarantino fan , and I still went into this film not knowing what to expect . I was blown away . I can't even put my finger on why , but I thought it was simply amazing .
I will definitely be adding this to my DVD collection .
But something tells me maybe we should hold off on this edition . In the past , Tarantino has revisited some his movies with some of the more impressive DVD sets ever . The extra features on Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction helped to improve my appreciation of two already outstanding films .
I am guessing that in the wake of releasing Kill Bill vol . 2 in the theaters , Miramax is looking to make some extra cash by selling Vols . 1 and 2 separately . But I would imagine they will also sell a DVD edition combining volume 1 and 2 into one movie , and that's the one I am waiting for .
All in all , this is a fantastic movie that belongs in any movie lover's DVD collection , and if you can't wait to buy this one I can certainly understand that . But as for me , I am going to hope that my patience pays off and that we are given the option of buying Vol . 1 and Vol . 2 as one epic film .
099 4 Kill Bill was originally going to be one big movie . But then , naturally , Quentin Tarantino , world famous for his style , director decided to split it up into two volumes .
From the get go , we are introduced to battered bride . She is scared and shivering until the man she was aquainted with , takes out a gun and finishes her off . But , on a poetic irony note , she looks him in the eye and says , just as he's pulling the trigger , Bill , It's your baby .
Bang !
Afterwards , after a long spell of a coma in the hospital , we are thrusted into the life of The Bride . . . and her speeding train of revenge .
The pure driven storyline , old-fashioned dialogue , huge sets , and creative period piece gives way to something that quentin Tarantino likes doing best - paying tribute to the genre of kung fu seventies movies . But , it is not totally ripping from the era . Qeuntin's style is thrown all over the place . It is said that Uma Thurman AND Quentin Tarantino came up with the plot and character of the bride themselves .
The stunt work and fight scenes are exquisite and they will have you hungry for more . When The Bride is battling the Crazy 88 ' s , a group of O-REN Ishi , one of the people who took part in the supposed killing of the bride , there is a heavy degree of hate and skill combined to make the perfect battle sequence . Uma Really Handles that Samurai Sword well .
Not only is this a live action film but there are also certin style types to telling stories from the past .
O-ren's past - done in complete Anime .
There are also spagetti western characters .
Some of the battle scene with the crazy 88 ' s is done in black and white . Some speculate that the mpaa took a hand in that but I think it gave it a classic look .
There is even a point where Uma is Breakdance fighting .
For the women : If you are intrested in a grown women being a hardcore killer that is skilled with knifes , guns , kung fu , samurai swords , and such then this movie is for you . You'll thrill at the chance of seeing Uma fight and will also prove that women really can be deadly sometimes .
For The Men : If you are looking for classic cinema coupled with a revenge story with many fights scenes and a lot of action than this movie is for you .
True , there is some gore here and there but it's done in the same way that the kung fu movies were done in , and believe me , sometimes those movies can get pretty graphic .
But , as always , Quentin never sacrifices his style , script , or direction becuase it's the thing that we are constantly craving . We just can't get enough of it . It's Just that Simple , folks .
Final Verdict : A revenge Cut ' em Up rampage that doesn't hold back and still has time to look cool doing it .
100 4 I've been fascinated with this movie ever since it came out . This movie being a revenge plot is very pulpy . Plus the actors are all quite up to that task . They all go about chewing up the scenery , which fits quite nicely into the film as its set up . Thurma takes the lead as The Bride with much vigor and attitude because The Bride is pissed .
There are several film genres here and the best is the back story on Lucy Liu's character when the film switches to Japanese anime to set up the audience for the second half of the film which takes place in Japan . The dialogue is classier in this half of the film only between Thurman and Liu . Instead of using the F-word ( as Tarantino is want to do in his films ) , they shoot more witty barbs at each other as if there was once great respect between them . This sets up a scene at the end of their fight that is actually touching and makes The Bride human instead of just a killing machine .
Towards the end the film it sets up for Kill Bill Volume Two . That being said , Tarantino has provided viewers a film that is a dazzling combination of action and visuals that will delight some and frustrate others who are looking for more depth . The film shows that Tarantino is a talented and visionary filmmaker who is the master of mixing action , quirky characters , over the top action , and twisted humor to create a symphony of theatrical originality . Highly recommend for those who can handle it .
101 4 Many have complained / slandered Quentin Tarantino for his use of heightened , over-the-top violence in Kill Bill Volume 1 . Those who would think twice would know that Tarantino was raised on the old martial arts movies from the 70s , etc . In these movies , blood would fly in squirts of red water . So , its no surprise to me that Tarantino would create his magnum opus as an homage to these early movies that gave him so much joy .
As it is , Kill Bill Volume 1 is an exciting , very blood-filled revenge story . It's also very different from Vol 2 . It sets up the Kill Bill universe , while introducing The Bride . In fact , Vol 1 is a trial by fire for The Bride , effectively being a training ground for her where she will learn who she is and who here enemies are . In fact , the first movie can be considered a coming of age story where the Bride finally comes into her own as an unstoppable brute . She goes from having everything , to being in a coma , and then the movie shows her fight to get everything back ( her coming into knowledge and power ) .
Those who loved Pulp Fiction might not find the same dense storyline in this first volume . The story here is basically for setting up the characters and giving you a hint of what's to come . The second volume will answer questions and change what you think you know about the story , so just hold on through this one .
This first movie , as stated earlier , is an homage to the old martial arts films but it is also an homage to Japanese cinema . Not only do we have the very stylized violence of the martial arts films , but we have an amazing 10 minute anime sequence that is probably the most violent part of the movie . We even have a master sword creator who will give The Bride her weapon of revenge . The movie oozes with Japanese pop and cinema culture throughout the ages .
I have never been a real fan of Uma Thurman but she excels in this movie . You can tell this part was written for her and it amazes me that Tarantino is able to elicit such a terrifice performance from her where she has been merely adequate in other films by other directors .
I was thoroughly entertained by this movie . The cinematography was excellent , the music fit with the theme of the movie , it was crafted , you can tell , with love . It is a powerhouse of a movie where those who aren't turned off by the stylized violence will find excellence . And then there's Volume 2 ( if interested check out my Review Part 2 : Where we learn of Bill on the Kill Bill 2 page ) . . .
103 4 After i saw Kill Bill Vol 1 , i feel like writing to Zhang Yee Mou to tell him please stop making Kung Fu Movie .
Because QT's movie is the ultimate , followed by Once Upon a Time in China II as the two best of all times , both choreographed by Yuen Wu Ping.Both films features great heroes
and great vallains engaging epic battles of utmost entertainment .
Kill Bill Vol 1 is mesmerizing , i have seen it 5 times already !
104 4 Quentin Tarantino has become one of my favorite movie directors . This film has my mind moving in all different directions . The ultra-violence in his movies is nothing new ( And it is very violent ! Don't watch it if you don't like blood with your movies ! ) . It's the visual imagery and sheer brilliance of directing that's just amazing about this film ! Thurman fits the bill ( no pun intended ) as the super hero . The supporting cast is great ! Tarantino remembers , just like I do , about the Saturday matinees that featured Kung Fu flicks that this movie tries and succeeds in re-creating . This is just great movie making ! I can't wait for Volume 2 !
105 4 According to Boston Globe pop critic Renee Graham , Miramax COO Rick Sands - - referring to the Kill Bill franchise - - recently told the New York Times : Vol . 1 goes out , Vol . 2 goes out , then Vol . 1 Special Edition , Vol . 2 Special Edition , the two-pack , then the Tarantino collection as a boxed set for Christmas . . . . It's called multiple bites at the apple .
Multiple bites at the apple ? Give me a break . We deserve better than this as consumers , especially in times likes these , with our crap economy , rising unemployment and skyrocketing prices at the pump . Remember all of those editions of Lord of the Rings ? And how they released Dawn of the Dead just recently , with plans for a 2 - disc cumulative DVD later this year ? How much did YOU pay just to ensure that you had the DVD with the most goodies ? I know I've paid plenty , and now I'm done .
Kill Bill is one of the best movies I've seen in a long time . I give it five stars - - the art direction is exquisite , the anime scene is awesome , and Tarentino scores bravura performances from his leading ladies - - but I'll wait until Miramax is done trying to exploit us before I buy it on DVD .
106 4 You may know the storyline well from other reviews . To cut it short , this DVD doesn't come with an extra second disc for special features nor deleted scenes . It simply includes the Kill Bill Vol .1 movie with subtitles option . A very short trailer of Kill Bill Vol .2 and a ten minutes feature of making Kill Bill . Period . I believe Tarantino may either save the extra goodies like deleted scenes , directory's comments , and interviews , etc . for the Kill Bill Vol .2 , or may publish a special or extended edition of Kill Bill DVD Collector's Set .
I watched the movie in theater but I still bought this DVD to re-watch it more than once . Simply this is a very entertaining and well-crafted movie you would like to collect own it .
108 4 This movie came out while I was living in Japan , so I happened to see it in a theater over there . I was very impressed with the story and the overall quality of the movie . Definitely one of Quentin Tarantino's better works .
Then , a year later , I was visiting America and saw the American release . I couldn't believe how much they butchered it ! They edited it so much to avoid the NC - 17 rating that it ruined the overall quality . The fight scene against the Crazy 88 ' s was spectacular , but they changed it to black and white and cut out the messiest parts . Other particularly gruesome parts were edited too . Even the amputation of Sophie's arm was cut . ( No pun intended : P )
I love the Kill Bill movies , but I will never purchase the hacked-up American release . The unedited Japanese version , done exactly the way Quentin intended it to be , is all I care to see .
109 4 I haven't seen anyone point out the obvious inspiration of this film . Obvious to me I guess , because I don't know martial arts movies too well . The Jeanne Moreau film from the sixties , a group of men kill her husband-to-be at the wedding ceremony , and she hunts them down one by one , for the rest of the movie , first enslaving them , and then killing them .
This one is updated in that it's not the husband , it's the whole bridal party that gets it , including the bride really , and especially her unborn child , a girl ( how did she know ? ? ) . .
But she rises from the dead as it were . . . and goes to re-establish Justice . . . not acknowledging that it is justice that destroys the inner child of every one of us .
A great thought-provoking film . I could talk for days but will spare you . . . it's religious to me . . . and killing bill is about the same as nailing the Law to the Cross . But the same guy says he came to fulfill it , not destroy it . My favorite part was how the nasty fight with Vivica stops when her beautiful little daughter shows up . . . please , we mustn't be our horrible killing selves in front of the children . . . and yet it always works out , that THERE THEY ARE , at the Moment of Truth . . . and down the same path they go . . .
112 4 Tarantino , being the master that he is , is ( lucky for us ) incapable of taking anything to seriously . In Kill Bill volume one he has once again proven his quality as a film maker and has entertained us all . Blood is spewn from all angles and orifaces and , in true Quentin Tarantino style , the good guy somehow manages to kill 88 people at one time . As bizzare and unrealistic as Kill Bill was , one must understand that beneath the blood , the drama , and the action is the real heart of this picture : comedy . The movie is simply a comedy and one must take it for all that it is . I loved every frame and recommend it for anyone with a sense of humor ( and a strong stomach ) .
114 4 This is by far one of the best movies you will ever see.Its cool , hip , fast , slow when it needs to.Its a movie with style.Writer-Director Quentin Tarantino just knows how to make great movies .
The story is simple.Its a story of revenge.Th Bride is shot down on her wedding day by her former employer Bill and her old friends O-Ren , Vernita , Budd & Elle.She falls in coma.When she wakes up from her coma she goes on murderous rampage of revenge against them.This film of course is in Quentin Tarantinos style of non linear structure storyline .
The casting is great.Even though we dont get to see Bill until Volume 2 it leaves you know a bit anxious to see him in the next one.David Carradine everyone will remember from Kung Fu.One of Tarantinos qualitys is casting people that have been having a bad run in films.In Pulp Fiction John Travolta , in Jackie Brown Pam Grier & Robert Forester and this one David Carradine.Uma Thurman as the Bride is perfect choice.I wont have never expected her do all the things she did in the film but was i surprised.And the Viper Assanation Squad greatly casted with Vivica A . Fox , Lucy Lui , Michael Madsen & Darry Hannah .
The action is mesmorizing and incredible especially the scene of The House Of Blue Leaves . The dialogue is not what you would expect from a Tarantino film but good inoff for this.Another thing that is Tarantino trademark of putting great music in his films the music helps move the film and get to feel the groove of the it.Also the acting is top notch.There is graphic violence in this film but not as much as people say i mean ive seen worse.Trust me this not the movie that will make you stop the film because you feel sick.This not Tarantino best film but it is his coolest to me.So stop whatever your doing my friend and go buy this film , you wont regret it .
The film was originally going to be one film Kill Bill and not split into to two parts.But Quentin Tarantino was shooting some much footage that also so good.If i remember correctly it was one of the producers that mentioned the idea to split the films.It was not so much a bad idea.In my opinion both Volume 1 and 2 are perfect and diffrent in their own ways.This one more action and showing homages to Asian cinema that Quentin loves.Instead the second one is more dialogue and emotional driven.With more homages towards Spagetti Westerns .
The DVD doesnt have practily any extras.One nice little behind the scenes.But its to short.At least its informative to its small length.The DVD includes trailers from his other films and of Kill Bill.But i have to tell you there have been rumors of a new special edition of the dvd coming in the near future so wait if you dont want to waste your money on buying it two times .
Kill Bill Vol .1 is true film of filmakers love for the whole art of cinema.There is no other director that loves film like him.Quentin Tarantino tested himself to a new genre showing his talent being of the best directors of our generation .
117 4 . . . it's going to be a bumpy fight ! A film that is a high octane , ass kicking , gut wrenching , camp , cute , American / Eastern fusion of glamourous ass whoopings and revenge slaughters . Faint heart never won Fair Lady but Fair Lady rocks here with a blisteringly bitter dialogue and a heart full of hate for her near killers and the killers of her unborn child .
Thurman is raw , upfront and utterly brilliant and the style of the movie is weirdly campsy , cutsey , retro with a big sting in the tale . Totally typical , highly original , blood spattered Tarantino , humour / drama .
Should have been showered in Oscars from a severed artery of Osacar production in downtown Tokyo !
118 4 meets low budget Kung Fu meets splatter film meets . . .
You get the idea . Tarrantino uses every film technique in existence along with animated segments , black and white segments , references to old TV shows ( sound track from the television show Ironsides used as a sound effect ) , and practically every cheesy cult genre of film is skewered repeatedly and with great humor .
That's the key here , folks . This is a COMEDY - if you take this movie seriously you deserve the seven alarm heartburn that will ensue . This is Tarrentino's big F-U to the people that kept whining that he wasn't making enough movies - and when he did - that they weren't as good as Pulp Fiction . Complaining about this movie being bad is like complaining that the old Batman TV series wasn't true to the comic book - this movie is meant to be camp taken to an extreme . It's an anime cartoon brought to life . On that level , it's an unqualified success .
If you saw this film and didn't laugh out loud at least once , you have a PROBLEM , period .
119 4 A good movie that any good director should direct.Tarantino's got it.You got Uma Thurman , David Carradine , Vivica A . Fox , Daryl Hannah , and Luck Liu . Not to mention a cameo appearance of Sonny Chiba-what's better than that ? ! The cartoonish kitsch factor is what makes the movie quite so addictive-blood , lots of FAKE blood from one human body that even a real human body can't contain.The dialog , for example-The Bride ( Thurman ) and GoGo Yubari ( Chiaki Kuriyama ) and use of Japanese language.Music was played part of it.The pan-flute that Tarantino said he heard in a Thai restaurant found perfect for the key scenes when The Bride recieved her steel from Hattori Hanzo ( Chiba ) . Even the the way the Chinese / Japanese actors played as the Crazy 88 ' s carried themselves in the House of Blue Leaves where Oren Ishii ( Liu ) makes a grand entrance , Buck the male r.n . , and the Japanese Charlie Brown who works at the House of Blue Leaves where the showdown between The Bride and Oren takes place.A movie quite humorously funny and just makes you want to observe every scene .
120 4 I can't understand why someone who is a fan of movies wouldn't enjoy this one ! If you like Martial Arts Cinema from the 70 ' s , you'll love this , if you like Spaghetti Western's ( think A Fistful of Dollars ) you'll love this , mostly - if you like NO APOLOGIES ACTION , you'll LOVE this !
This is EASILY the BEST movie of the year ! I loved it ! The fight scenes are incredible , the cinematography and images are beautiful , and the blood and violence are done in an almost comical Tarentino style that translates well for this type of movie . This film takes you on a Fun-Wild Ride from start to finish ! It's not supposed to be compared to the Godfather or Seven or whatever . It's not dark and brooding , it's in your face , good , dirty , fun !
BE WARNED : Kill Bill vol . 1 & 2 were originally ONE movie . They were basically cut in half shortly before it hit theatres .
So , the ending does seem abrupt . But watch volume 2 also and you won't be disappointed !
121 4 I saw this movie only on DVD , cause like most , I though the movie was going to lame as hell . But after viewing it and just falling in love with the karate and sword fighting that just got me so into , I was fooled , this movie was excellent . Uma , Vivica , and Lucy should have gotten Oscar nods , cause it's not everyday you see women kick this much ( . . . ) . Good job , Q.T . !
122 4 Being a huge Kung-fu and Spaghetti western fan , this was right up my alley . A spectacular cross of Once Upon A Time in the West and Snake and Crane , this film just flat out works in every way . It is exciting , intriguing , funny , and entertaining . This is , however , just the beginning . Volume 2 is essential for the full story .
124 4 For those of you who wish to see Quentin Tarantino's wiry hide thrown overboard and be made mincemeat of by barracudas , well , better luck next cinematic go-around . In his first feature-length film since Jackie Brown , Tarantino has shuffled the cards and somehow produced a remarkable hand once more .
Kill Bill Volume I - the second and final volume is due out in February - relays the redemptive mission of The Bride , aka Black Mamba ( Uma Thurman ) .
The reason for her deathly disgruntlement lies in a botched slaughterfest at her countryside wedding some four years earlier . Five homicidal professionals , formally known as The Deadly Assassination Viper Squad , ended The Bride's matrimony with a cloud of firearm discharge .
Splattering the innards and brains of all those present , including the groom and the chaplain , the lethal fivesome then turned its attention to The Bride , who was a couple of weeks shy of childbirth . The clan opened its barrage with a coarse rendition of Ring Around the Rosy , in which The Bride was flung from person to person , each member imprinting a mark of ache on her chin . To finish her off , the head honcho , Bill , launched a point-blank bullet into the right side of her skull .
Seemingly , this makes her the 10th victim of the execution ; however , it is soon discovered that the projectile merely dislodged a cranial plate , preserving her brain , but leaving life in coma . Four years pass , and , thanks to the blood-famished proboscis of a mosquito , the Black Mamba rises from the dreariness , childless and hardly able to move .
Bent on payback , The Bride first must manage to make operable her appendages . She is eventually able to rehabilitate herself .
Once physically capable , The Bride composes a hit list she calls Death List Five . The list is as follows : 1 . O-Ren Ishi , code name Cottonmouth ( Lucy Liu ) ; 2 . Vernita Green , code name Copperhead ( Vivica A . Fox ) ; 3 . Elle Driver , code name California Mountain Snake ( Daryl Hannah ) ; 4 . Budd , aka Sidewinder ( Michael Madsen ) ; 5 . Bill ( David Carradine ) .
For starters , The Bride sets off to eliminate Green in her suburban bungalow . As soon as Green answers the call of the doorbell chime , she is embattled in a rowdy till-death-do-us-part knife scuffle with The Bride , only to be interrupted by the arrival of her daughter's school bus .
However , as soon as the munchkin climbs the stairwell , the skirmish rages on , and the blood-stained Bride waltzes away victorious .
But it remains an uphill hike for The Bride . She must fly to Tokyo and quarrel with Ishi and her henchmen known as the Crazy 88 .
Kill Bill Volume I is an eye-popping bloodbath made complete by flawless dialogue , a scintillating musical score and stylized camera movements . Hell , there's even an homage to Japanese anime , used splendidly to show the youthful disturbances that led to Ishi's ascent to the position of Tokyo crime boss and assassin .
125 4 I've never been a big Tarantino fan ( nor an Uma Thurmon fan ) , and I waited for this movie to come out on video before watching it . I had low expectations . Man ! this movie blew me away ! ! ! I would have given it 5 stars if it weren't for the filthy language ( that's a hurdle that's hard for me to get over ) . But , aside from that , it was a great action-packed movie with excellent music and great acting . Uma will never do better than she did in this movie .
One may be tempted to think this movie a little cheesy , but that's if one tries too hard to fit this movie into the scope of reality . It's not supposed to be realistic , it's supposed to be entertaining and humorous . When the guy gets his head chopped off , don't analyze the way the blood squirts out and think it's unrealistic , just laugh at it ! You've got to have a good sense of humor while viewing this . If you don't mind blood and violence , and enjoy seeing a good revenge movie , this is the movie for you .
126 4 I'm writing this as of seeing Volume 1 with no knowledge of Volume 2 ( missed it in theaters , have to wait for the DVD to come out . ) This film has been hyped to me endlessly , reported to be the greatest action film ever . I'd also heard it was silly , shlocky , and a great revenge film . The latter description is true , but I wouldn't call it an excellent action film by any stretch of the imagination .
I'm sure everyone knows the story , so I'll be brief : The Bride was beaten and shot on her wedding day by her former co-workers , the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad , and her boss , Bill . The others at the wedding were killed , but the Bride managed to survive . 4 years later , she awakes from her coma with one agenda : revenge .
There's a good balance of seriousness and nonsense in this movie . On the one hand , what happens to the Bride ( and to O-Ren Ishii in her anime flashback ) is pretty brutal , and Uma Thurman shows off her acting skills when reacting to it upon waking up . There's decent tension every once in a while , especially in the cliffhanger ending . On the other hand , blood gushes from every wound like a shaken soda can , some of the dialogue is appropriately hackeneyed , and certain events are just silly .
There's something about revenge films that really captivate people in different ways . The audience knows what the avenger has suffered , and when that person is the protagonist , they usually want to see justice done . Kill Bill is no exception . Her groom and wedding party were slaughtered , she lost 4 years of her life to a coma in which she was raped by hospital staff , and her baby has been taken from her . Quentin Tarantino makes sure to keep all this in mind , with flashbacks throughout the movie ( which is largely a flashback itself ) of what happened to the Bride .
Tarantino also shows off his cinematography skills with interesting camera angles and lighting movements . In the House of Blue Leaves , the camera follows different characters as they move through the building , almost nonsensically , while the audience is subconciously taking in the layout for the fight scenes to come . It's the type of thing that is more appreciated on second viewing .
Performances are a mixed bag . Most of the actors are highly experienced , but because some of the movie is intentionally ridiculous , they come off as . . . well , ridiculous . The only performances that weren't campy at some point were those of Daryl Hannah and Michael Madsen , whom had less than 5 minutes of screentime combined .
The action is entertaining , though nothing spectacular . Blood gushes from all wounds and much of what happens is unreal and tacky . The final fight is good because of tension and music rather than the action itself , which is sub-par . The battle between the Bride and Gogo Yubari deserves the award it won from the MTV Movie Awards for Best Fight , as it was the only really good action in the film .
By far , the music is the best part of the movie . Many different tracks were blended into it , and they all work well together . I'd buy the soundtrack if so many songs hadn't been cut out .
The DVD is a disappointment and hopefully a Special Edition will come out soon . There's barely any special features and no Commentary track .
Kill Bill surprises me in how popular it is , when it almost seems like a movie that would only have found a small niche . Perhaps it's the combination of that niche with Tarantino fans , fans of the actors , and the style of the film ( it's almost set in a parallel universe of the 60 ' s , 70 ' s , 80 ' s , and 90 ' s rolled into one ) that has made it so popular . Regardless of the reason , Kill Bill is becoming iconic in American culture , with parodies and references popping up everwhere . Like it or not , its impact has been set in film history .
127 4 I was cynical towards this movie from the first time I saw the original trailers . I had been a fan of Quentin Tarantino in the past , but my dislike for Uma Thurman and the way the movie was portrayed in the trailers really turned me off . Then , last week , I found myself in the video store , trying to search for something to rent . In my eyeline I find Kill Bill Vol . 1 and decide to give it a chance . I am immensely glad that I did ! Story-wise , the movie was not very interesting . I found myself completely uninterested in what happened to The Bride and why and how these villains were related to her . The only bit of storytelling I enjoyed was the history of O-Ren . Some reviewers have commented on the nonsense of certain story aspects ( such as The Bride living at all or being able to carry a samurai sword on the plane ) - how could Quentin make it more clear that the movie is not meant to be true-to-life ? Pick up your average Bruce Lee ( or even Jackie Chan ) movie and you'll find that the entire point of a movie like this is that the main character can get rid of 50 + people without breaking a sweat . That's the beauty of it . Kill Bill is about the action . The beautiful martial arts and battle scenes in this movie stunned me silent . Completely in awe from the first scene between Uma Thurman & Vivica A . Fox - probably one of the best opening scenes of a movie ever written . There are some downsides . Lucy Liu just cannot act , and should not have been cast for the role of O-Ren . She was only interesting in anime form and not at all convincing or threatening . Thankfully , this was balanced by the amazing work of Uma Thurman , whom I have never liked previously . The bottom line is if you can't handle violence ( and this is artistic violence ) , then you shouldn't watch the movie . If you can't handle violence in film , you shouldn't be watching a Quentin Tarantino movie in the first place . But if you enjoy artistic violence and martial arts , this movie is chocolate for the eyes . I can't wait to own it and watch it over & over again .
129 4 not as much as great as Pulp Fiction or Resevoir Dogs but a lot better than Jackie Brown id say . this one has Thurman going after Bill ( David Carradine ) and his viper assassination squad ( Vivica A . Fox , Michael Madsen , Darly Hannah and Lucy Liu ) . the story goes that Bill massacered his wedding and the vipers beat the crap outta Thurman and put her into a four year coma , she wakes up and goes to Fox and kills her and then we get to see cool anime sprinkled into a bloody battle of comedy and pure adrenaline . the showdown at the chinese place is great with the girl and the spiked ball and chain , all the blood oozing and the battle with Lucy Liu with a great snowy background . there's also a great vehicle called the Pussy Wagon . a must see for Tarintino fans
131 4 This statement lies at the ending of this movie . I must state that Tarantino has made the most original and honest tribute to the great oriental tradition ; specially to the immortal Bruce Lee , ( Kato style from the green hornet TV series from the sixties )
Quentin Tarantino made a brilliant film , inmersed in the middle soul of the revenge . In many ways when I watched the film I couldn't let to think about a modern adaptation of The Count Of MonteChrist to the modern times . The takes are elegant , and the camera handle is still better than Pulp Fiction .
Thurman is magnificient in this role . Her charismatic beauty however , is not an obstacle for her to show all the spirit of fury , rage and cruelty that this character demands .
The violence reachs poetic heights . Specially in the final duel .
An ovewhelming triumph from Tarantino ; the edition and special effects are first rate . And from now , consider the decisive multiple sword duel in the hall as a true classic sequence . It's a macabre coreografic dance filled with histamina .
Don't miss this tribute to all that generation of Kung Fu fighters : Bruce Lee , David Carradine , Jim Kelly , John Saxon and Karate gladiators too as Chuck Norris .
A superb picture .
132 4 Although at times it can be a little far-fetched , this movie is pretty good . I think Quentin made Uma a little too good at times though , because it can be a little boring when she has no competition . What I mean ? The action is great but it is a little one-sided most of the time as Uma decimates anyone in the area without sweating .
The film is interesting though . The start is pretty interesting , as well as the bleeps . The black and white and anime scene are clever . Also , the movie doesn't go in order exactly which is interesting . All these different things make the movie a different experience , which is a good thing .
5 stars ! ! ! ! !
133 4 I wanted to like this movie very badly . I had heard the good reviews and I like Tarantino's other works , so I figured this had to be a winner . Maybe my expectations were a little too high because , while I liked it , I was a little disappointed .
Hollywood loves to congratulate itself at any opportunity . As if the 300 awards shows scheduled each year aren't enough , it has to crank out movies like this . I file movies like this under the sub-category Hollywood F * llating Itself . This movie was like a series of in jokes that nobody except critics , Tarantino , and a few other would truly appreciate .
So I wonder if there really is anything lurking below the surface . This is just a shell of a movie-it's a very pretty shell , but still just a shell . It is almost like the critics decided that this was a good movie b / c of the in jokes , and everybody who saw this movie says they like it because they are afraid of being left out . Movies like this come out every once in a while ( ` Eyes Wide Shut ' being a good example ) .
So what you are left with is a movie that is visually entertaining but regrettably forgettable . Don't get me wrong , the violence , language , and dark nature didn't bother me at all . I liked the movie-I gave it four stars . And I loved the editing , the ` look ' , the style , and the delivery . I just thought the whole thing was a little empty . This film could have been legendary if the story and plot had been as immersing as it was visually stunning . Because the plot and story were so lame , I feel like this is only a part of a film ( Kill Bill 2 was a little better ) . This is not the type of movie that I could watch over and over again . Kill Bill 1 is like cinematic cotton candy : every once in a while is okay , but making a diet out of it is unhealthy .
134 4 Crazy , hilarious , sexy , action-packed , and even artistic ! ! This describes Kill Bill vol .1 . Pretty much devoid of gentler emotions ( save that for volume 2 , which is also excellent , but for different reasons ) , this movie is just a feast for the eyes ! Two hours of non-stop action and fun , what more do theater-goers or Hd-Tv owners need ? A thrilling soundtrack plays wonderfully against the blood , taunts , sweat , death , and . . . cheers ? From the audience , of course , who are sitting on the edge of their seats , staring with awe at the massacre going on in front of them , and finding it grossly amusing . Indeed , the gory parts are so over-accentuated ( that was Tarantino's intent ) , that they ( partly ) cease to be disgusting . Instead , Tarantino focuses on making the movie as cool as it can be , directing a great cast who really knows what they're doing - entertaining !
I REALLY enjoyed the dialogue . Some of it was ridiculous , but fun nonetheless . Verbal sparring ( go Hattori Hanzo and his bald friend ! ! ) and character interactions not in the form of violence were very appropriate in context , and shed light on the actual character of the characters , which was definitely useful . Favorite character is The Bride of course , but I really found GoGo amusing . Too bad they cut out the part with her sister trying to avenge her death ( Yuki's Revenge ) , that would've been crazy fun .
So , as you can see , I enjoyed this movie very much . I can say the same for the excellent soundtrack ( in the movie itself , because some great songs were left out on the CD ) . If you're not grossed out easily , watch this incredible movie ! And the second one too , because it reveals the depth of all the characters . . . those remaining alive , that is .
135 4 Kill Bill is a very rare phenomenon : a fun , thrilling , exciting action film that also contains a genuinely poignant emotional core .
It's COOL when the Bride kicks the crap out of Vernita Green in her idyllic suburban home . It's POIGNANT when she comes face to face with Vernita's 4 - year-old daughter after killing her . It's COOL when the Bride beats the hell out of the disgusting orderly who's been pimping out her comatose body . It's POIGNANT when the Bride wakes up from her coma , and , after realizing she's lost her baby , cries out in acute pain and loss . It's COOL when O-Ren Ishii beheads a fellow crime boss at a dinner banquet . It's POIGNANT when an anime flashback shows how she witnessed the death of her parents as a small child .
Brilliantly written , acted , and executed , I LOVED this movie . And extra props to Tarantino for not using ANY CGI in this film ! !
PS Go-Go rules ! ! !
136 4 If you liked Pulp Fiction , Jackie Brown and Resevoir Dogs , you know you'll love Kill Bill .
Tarantino takes a stab at making the ultimate exploitation film , borrowing from as many genres as he can . Only , instead of making it exploitive , he makes it empowering . Uma Thurman is an ex-employee for a team of expert assasins , and she's hell bent on revenge for the murder of her fiance and her attempted murder . She is anything but a damsel in distress . She's a hand-to-hand combater , a samurai warrior , a master escape artist and a crafty detective . ( . . . ) If this movie isn't modern day feminism , I don't know what is .
Like any Tarantino film , this movie has brilliant , inventive cinematography , great dialogue , amazing action scenes and choregography , fantastic music and just bursting with wit and well . . . it's just hip .
Not for the queemish and weak-stomached . And look out-there are subtitles . But then again , if you're not the reading type , the sheer brilliance would probably go over your head anyway .
137 4 I didn't really know what to expect from this film , and when it started with its ' ShawScope ' logo , its ' Feature Presentation ' card , and its opening statement ' A Band Apart ' I thought I was watching a completely different movie . But when I finally released that yes , it WAS Kill Bill Volume 1 , I loved the whole thing . And is it just me , or is the warning of requirements for strong stomachs just added to praise the excellent Quentin Tarantino ? There's no denying it is gory , and graphic , especially when the Bride cuts a woman's arm off with a samurai sword , but I never felt the urge to leave the room and go throw up . Anyone under 12 probably will though , so don't let kids watch it . But Tarantino has still created another flawless masterpiece filled with action and great acting , which satisfies me right now because I haven't seen Volume 2 yet .
138 4 The Bride ( Uma Thurman ) awakes after 4 years in a coma to the realization that her entire wedding party was massacred and her unborn child lost , when she chose marriage over her career as a professional assassin . Bent on revenge , she sets out to track down her former employer , Bill ( David Carradine ) , and her former comrades in the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad , O-Ren Ishii ( Lucy Liu ) , Vernita Green ( Vivica A . Fox ) , and Elle Driver ( Daryl Hannah ) , who were responsible for the bloodbath that put her in a coma .
Kill Bill is ceremoniously billed as The Fourth Film by Quentin Tarantino , and this time the irrepressible director has set out to prove his talent by directing an action movie , which he considers to be the toughest genre . If it weren't tough enough , Tarantino has drawn on just about every action genre that ever existed to create this high energy protracted battle of a film : Hong Kong martial arts film , 1970s grindhouse cinema , spaghetti westerns , blaxploitation , gangster movies , japanimation , and film noir . And I'm thoroughly impressed . Kill Bill is possibly more an exercise in style than any film I've seen . What's more , the genres that it emulates tend toward the absurd . Kill Bill is self-consciously stylish and preposterous . Yet it is entirely captivating and exciting . It's gory . It's funny . It's in black-and-white , split screen , animated , color . . . No style is spared , and yet none is out of place . There's hardly a plot , but Kill Bill keeps the audience interested in the story - mostly by telling it out of sequence . I'm a huge fan of film noir . Quentin Tarantino's fantastically creative facility with neo-noir has endeared him to me in the past . Kill Bill is noir , among many other things . And if Tarantino can make this completely preposterous film work , I have to concede that he's a genius . He has even succeeded in convincing a large American audience to watch a movie that has subtitles . Kill Bill , Volume 1 is thoroughly enjoyable , action-packed , and not for the squeamish .
The DVD : Bonus features include a making-of documentary and 2 performances by the Japanese musical group 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ' s . The Making of Kill Bill is a 20 minute documentary that features interviews with writer / director Quentin Tarantino , Uma Thurman , producer Lawrence Bender , Lucy Liu , and Viveca A . Fox . It starts out talking about the genesis of the film and its concepts , then moves on to discussion of filming . The performances by the 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ' s are two songs from the film , but the camera focuses on the musicians instead of placing them in the background , as they are in the film .
053 4 2003 was a pretty darn good year for movies . We got Return of the King - - if not the greatest movie ever made , it's certainly one of them . Kill Bill isn't to the scale of a LOTR movie by any means . These movies are by their very nature more epic , and epic usually means better . But that's what's so great about Kill Bill . It's not epic . It's a pretty simple story . The sophistication of Kill Bill was not the story itself , but how the story was told . As a traditional Tarantino , it's nonlinear , and just like Reservoir Dogs , you never actually SEE the scene at the wedding chapel . That's Tarantino's gift ; he tells you EVERYTHING about the pivotal scene of the storyline , down to Hotaru no Hikari on Sophie Fatale's ringer ( for the outraged Americans , Hotaru no Hikari is the Japanese version of Auld Lang Syne ) , but you don't see the scene . Perhaps more brilliant is the music of Kill Bill . It's simply flawless , to the open Bang , Bang ( My Baby Shot Me Down ) performed perfectly by Nancy Sinatra , to the whistling Elle Driver tune Twisted Nerve , that literally GIVES you a twisted nerve if you listen to it for too long . That the music flows so perfectly with the scenes and evokes such emotion is what makes Kill Bill one of the best movies of 2003 . It's a must-see for any movie fan , not just fans of Tarantino .
040 4 I was so excited and happy to see this kind of good action and revenge movie . The movie's pilot is pretty simple , bad guys deserve to be revenged and die . But the director tell the story in a refreshing and beautiful way . The action scence feel so real how they make it even though I don't expect to see it in real life . It is a very good direction for action and kongfu movie . No other lame movies just make a kongfu a joke , or try to figure out how people can fight with machine .
Only one thing totall looks not real , how she can bring such a big knife on plane ?
058 4 As opposed to many other , this review is for the DVD , not the
movie . That's what Amazon's reviews are all about . If you want
to know how good the movie is , check www.imdb.com .
The DVD contains the cut version of the movie ( the b / w scenes )
and is superbly done .
If you are looking for the full version of the movie , try to
check for the Japanese version of it . It contains about 10
minutes more of footage and some scenes are edited differently .
Enjoy ,
Eric
074 4 This film was good . . . although this feels like it should have been a part 2 ( tarantino I believe already had volume 2 partly done and partly thought out ) . I don't know why but this film feels slightly rushed.Bascially you have a woman , who was going to get married but got brutally battered and left for dead by a bunch of assains . Waking up after a 4 year coma she vows revenge . The music in this movie was good ( classic stuff ) . the hanzo sword scenes weren't bad but not as good as part 2 . You have a little comedy , a little sass , and a lot of attitude . I read a few reviews were people misread the animation scene ( cause there is one and it surprised me cause you don't expect it in a film ) . Anyway some were saying it was porn . There was no sex , no talk of sex , and no sounds of it . So how can someone see it that way is a mystery . My only guess is those people didn't actually see the whole film ( you know how some are , they see 2 seconds of a one hour film and want to give a review ) .
082 4 This movie should not work . It has a razor thin plot , no real character development , no redeeming message , and hardly a line of substantial dialogue . It is pure melodrama , and pure ingenious filmmaking . I thought the title was gratuitous , and was not looking forward to yet another violent movie . I wanted to hate it but I loved the cinematic references and the nostalgiac homages . It is not merely violent , it is a mockery of violence . Nothing of what happens feels real , and the viewer begins to question why the banal concept of reality should even be expected in such an artificial artform such as Filmmaking . It is funny and engaging on different levels . Tarantino has made another Cult Classic . If you are a fan of Hong Kong martial arts movies , Italian westerns , Japanese samurai movies and Anime , the low-budget Action flick , and 70 ' s TV , then you need to see this ! It is a real Postmodern work of Art . Now I'm hooked and I need to see Volume Two . . . . Damn !
083 4 at this point , most of the people who are going to see it and would like it have already seen it . . . and like it . this is for those people . get ahold of the japanese version which has the full uncut version of the movie . no cutting to black and white for one , and about 2 or 3 minutes of added fight for your buck ( or yen ) for another . i saw that version first and then saw the american version and i noticed quite a difference . all i can say is , i thought amercians were supposed to like senseless violence ? ! well anyways . . . get it and see it as it was meant to be seen .
086 4 The movie barely made it into 5 stars according to me , obviously . It is made seemingly different than other motion pictures , and I would have changed at least one thing in the movie - but I can't give that away .
This movie is action packed with a twist of laughter that one can't get away from . Buy it , rent it , borrow it , either way this movie is a must see . If you like an action movie with a hook , then this one will sure to keep you clued to your TV .
094 4 First off I loved the film . An instant classic though some believe he based It off Hannie Caulder or Death rides a Horse . Though I believe its from his head and partially based off the kung fu movies he must have watched earlier in his life . i believe that the mans a cinematic genius just the opening the 70 ' s style with the Feature Presentation in the opening and how the movie transitions into animi was just incredible . I'm kinda supprised that some are still hung up on the cliff hanger I just don't understand . Tarantino originally wrote this movie as a three hours long epic revenge story . Though he cut it into two movies what's the big deal . I actually like the wait it just gets me that much more excited about friday .
115 4 Anyone who is a fan of Tarantino's work or just like's any action , movie see this movie now , see it even if you hate Tarantino or action films anyway it's too good . good acting , good plot , good dialogue ( It's dialogue is weird but in a good way ) , and a funny movie . The movie is good all around . see it now . you will want to see kill bill vol .2 probably right after , buy both movies or rent both movies .
123 4 If you don't like Quentin Tarantino films you might as well just move on now . This is a modern day movie with old school martial arts . The action shots were well done . You might get a little lost with the time warps but as I said if you don't like Tarantino Films just move on .
128 4 Oh , so smug . Pretty much exactly what I was expecting but with a higher degree of tongue-in-cheek humor and some stylish violent atmospherics . Brainless homage to cheap violent Asian kung-fu films based on a comic book remains adolescent and entertaining throughout . Personally I'd like a date with the Hiyeee ! girl with the spiked ball and chain .
077 4 Only Quentin Tarantino could have pulled this movie off . For this installment , he managed to make a surprisingly wonderful movie without any of his trademark dialogue , with only a fraction of the overall plot , and a plethora of horrible one-liners . Any other director would have COMPLETELY messed this up and made it just like every other movie rolled out into the theaters these days . The cinematography is extraordinary , seen by the the cutting between black and white and color in the fight scenes and the ever-moving cameras in the House of Blue Leaves . His use of music is equal to none , not only in his choices ( which are wonderful . This man has CLASS ) , but in the way the movie is built around the music . The only ones I think who have done it better are the creators of the old warner brothers cartoons , such as the Rabbit of Seville . And while this is one of the more violent movies out there , not once does it seem too much . Every bit , from the . . . um . . . realistic sword play to the ridiculous amounts of blood , is presented in such a light manner that quite frankly it's hilarious . Of course , it is most likely that this will be a movie teenagers will obviously enjoy more , seeing as they ( and unfortunately myself ) are part of the cursed MTV generation . However , if adults are willing to suspend their indignation and disbelief and realize this is a MOVIE and therefore for the purpose of ENTERTAINMENT , they may find it interesting . If you are a Tarantino fan , this is a must , and the second Kill Bill is an ABSOLUTE must . If you aren't too fond of violence and believe it to be the work of the devil or whatever , at least get the soundtrack .
092 4 MR . TARENTINO has provided us with another rare gastronimical treat - this time not only for the eye [ one or two ] but the stomach ! THE GORE ? Get over it folks [ rememeber the delicious momenent between De Niro and Fonda in ' Jackie Brown ' ? More of it here . . . ] - although I would keep the kiddies away ' finding Nemo ' while viewing this delightfully presented , mounted , executed tale , performed with such aplomb by the stellar cast - headed by Miss Thurman and the Bride ' gone ' wronged . There's always humor present , so its not that heavy [ The Great Pekinpah ! ] , and Daryl Hannah has never looked more alluring in a nurses uniform complete with the Red Cross logoed eyepatch [ rivalled only by Paula Pretisses Nurse in What's New Pussycat ? ] .
IN some instances the violence is close to MONTY PYTHON's antics and you do expect the censor to pop up and caution those faint of heart ~ but it works perectly - somehow along the lines of ' Natural Born Killers ' [ although that one is slightly too grim ] .
LUCY LIU VIVECA FOX bring that extra touch of humanity to their killer instinct ~ Great Breakfast scene with Fox and Thurman , and Miss Liu adds dignity to a role that could easily have been shrewish .
EXPERTLY lenses , perfect Art and Costume direction - who could ask for anything more ? [ The snow scene with Thurman and Liu } .
NOW , If only Mr . Tarentino would pay homage to the BOB ALDRICH movies [ ' Whatever Happened to Baby Jane ' - with a twist . . . . ]
Would be nice to see Miss Liu in possibly a remake of Love Is a Many Splendored Thing ? One can hope . . . . . .
110 4 This movie has got to be on every list of great movies . this movie is action packed with a great plot . and you can really see the art of film when your see this . you know how theres movies that seem like they were just made for money . . . like John Tucker Must Die . and you're like whats the point of this ? and then you see a good movie , like this one and you really see the art of film .
this movie makes me wanna go start a kickboxing class and move to some asian country and start fights with people for no reason and wear yellow jumpsuits . its so kicka * * .
i love the part when she's in Oren Ishii's club and she straight up SLAUGHTERS like . . .200 men like its nothing ( this is a powering movie , if you're a girl , and its good that she's kickin bootay with a purpose and not just trying to look cute , like that skank Wonder Woman ) . and then when she's fighting Oren ( that music is killer ! ! i love that music paired with this scene ) and she scalps her like she's slicing bread . i friggin love that part . personally , #2 wasn't all that for me .
go buy this movie and watch it . and go join a kickboxing class . but don't scalp anyone .
130 4 RARELY YOU SEE AN AMERICAN MARTIAL ART MOVIE THAT CAN COMPETE
WITH THE HONG KONG MARTIAL ART MOVIE . KILL BILL LIVES UP TO THAT
STANDARD.I ENJOY IT SO MUCH , I BOUGHT TWO DVDS . ONE TO SEE AND SHARE WITH FRIENDS , AND ANOTHER ONE IS TO KEEP FOR MY DVD OLLECTIONS . OF COURSE THE CHAPTERS DOSE NOT COME TO AN END ,
THE EXCITEMENT ARE ALL IN VOL .2 .
098 4 No other film of 2003 celebrated the pure joy of filmmaking with more mindless gusto than Tarantino's genre hopping , balls-to-the-wall , go-go bloodbath . Kill Bill Vol I is a big , gaudy shrine to style over substance - the cinematic equivalent of graffiti , loud , colorful & highly stylized . The film opens with a bang and doesn't stop for a breath , culminating with The House of Blue Leaves sequence - a stunning piece of action filmmaking and one that will be hard to top . I hope Vol II lives up to the very high expectation set by Vol I , but even if it doesn't , at least Tarantino has given us a nice little taste of superficial , spaghetti Western , blaxploitation , samurai , kung-fu eye candy . Sure , it's hollow but so are Faberge eggs . If you're looking for a meditation on the human condition , look elsewhere . But if want to see a filmmaker practice a masterful exercise in visual stimulation , Kill Bill Vol I is definitely for you .
026 4 I ain't picky regarding looking for tiny little flaws . I just like Kill Bill 1 and 2 .
030 4 What can I say about Kill BILL vol 1 ? It is simply the best Quentin Tarrintiono film ever made . It is a film that shall be remembered for a long time . Uma Thurman plays the bride who is out for blood and revenge on her former partners in crime after they beat her senseless and leave her for dead on her wedding day.Luckly the bride survives and wakes from a coma four years later and will not rest until her former partners are dead . The movie has awsome dialogue and Uma's performance is spectacular . The action sequences are brilliant and just plain cool . The film has a very martial arts syle feel to it . If you are a fan of the action genre than this is a must have DVD .
032 4 I love this movie . Tarantino really captures the spirit of the old school kung fu movies , while weaving an original tale of revenge utilizing an almost entirely female cast . The music is great , the cinematography is better , and the women are hot .
075 4 A great film on its own , even greatter when you watch Kill Bill Vol . 2 . Kill Bill 1 is the questions , 2 is the answer .
088 4 I liked this film so much more than I thought I would . It clearly does not take itself too seriously ; the trademark violence found in every Quentin Tarantino flick is present here also , but it's so over the top , it's cartoonish . Supposedly , gallons upon gallons of fake blood were used in the making of Kill Bill , which was originally intended to be released as one complete , 3 + hour movie , but then it was split into two volumes so as not to make the moviegoer sit through a marathon , as in the case of the three Lord Of The Rings films .
097 4 I'm going to be honest . The first time I saw Kill Bill I thought it was a good movie but I didn't understand what the big fuss was about . After my second viewing I realized how dazzling and inovative the movie really is . The movie still has some vises that I can't get over . I found that the acting a little lackluster and that Vivica fox's character wasn't devolped at all . I'm sure we are going to see more of the history in Vol . 2 and things will become clearer . With that aside , the cinematography was vivid with color , The action was superb , and the plot was a great ode to the spegitti westerns of old . This is a must see for fans of Quentin's or of action flicks in general . Easly one of if not the best movie of the year .
107 4 Kill Bill is utterly enjoyable in all ways . It has the most clever dialouge , has the best directer in existence , and is quite humorous yet sophisticated . This movie is pure LOVE !
113 4 This film zips by so fast because it's full of interesting dialogue and intense action . If you like comic books , you are bound to enjoy this film ! I personally prefer Kill Bill 2 , but this is classic Quentin with a whole lot more action ! Part 2 really opens up the characters and dialogue , while still keeping the action intense and prevelant .
116 4 The first thing you must know about the Kill Bill movies are that they are spoofing all the old westerns and martial arts films . the blood and gore are kept at a relatively decent rate mostly because the gore scenes are in animation . When watching this movie you will see the sherrif and his son , black and white scenes for some of the flashbacks and some martial arts that are reminders of Charlie Chan mixed with Crouching tiger Hidden Dragon . All in all it is a fun movie to watch but don't let any kid age 14 and under see it , they won't understand it and might find it a little scary .
