I’m not a huge fan of Quentin Tarantino. I loved “Pulp Fiction,” but “Reservoir Dogs” was a complete rip-off of Ringo Lam’s “City on Fire.” “Jackie Brown,” although well crafted, proved too slow for my tastes. I didn’t know how I would end up feeling about “Kill Bill.” But I had hope, as Tarantino is a professed admirer of the Hong Kong cinema to which “Kill Bill” is a tribute.
When the lights went down, the movie started with a very familiar sound and the Shaw Scope logo came up, and I knew I was in for a treat. Most people didn’t get the reference, as I think I was the only one who chuckled at it. Quentin doesn’t stop there with his genre-film references, as the logo is followed by a proverb credited to “Star Trek II:” “Revenge is a dish best served cold.”
The quote sums up “Kill Bill” quite well. The plot is a simple revenge story. When The Bride (Uma Thurman, “Pulp Fiction”), tries to leave her professional assassin group, the group’s leader, Bill (David Carradine, “Kung Fu”), orders her and the entire wedding party killed. The Bride isn’t killed, but she falls into a coma. Awaking four years later, she is pissed off and out for revenge.
Tarantino’s trademark non-linear timeframe is present, with Chapter one actually occurring after two through five. Each chapter is fairly separate from the others, with a specific goal for each. The structure of the movie is what makes its split into two parts possible, despite what critics might say. The chapter structure creates a very episodic feel to begin with, almost begging to be a two-part movie.
The cliffhanger is perfect and made me want to see “Vol. 2.” I love episodic filmmaking and the idea that I have something to look forward to in February is a bonus.
As far as performances in this movie go, they’re great considering the material. A simple revenge plot doesn’t lend well to character development. Uma Thurman plays The Bride with a determination to kill. To her, revenge really is a dish best served cold, and she is as cold as you can get. However, she’s not without her rationality or honor, especially in her final fight with O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu, “Shanghai Noon”).
The rest of the cast is fun. David Carradine is only seen as a Dr. Claw-like figure in this volume. We never see more than his hands. Lucy Liu nails Ishii’s polite Japanese mannerism and is equally ferocious when insulted. One must also give special props to Sonny Chiba as Hattori Hanzo the sword maker. His chapter is quite entertaining.
For the most part, the cinematography is beautiful. The final duel between The Bride and O-Ren Ishii is set in a snowy Japanese garden. Most of the fight is framed in long shots, emphasizing the violent conflict and the tranquil surroundings.
I really want to give this film an A, but the fight scenes leave something to be desired. The duels are shot fairly well, but the battle with the Crazy 88 fighters (Ishii’s well-trained gang) is often shot too close and not steadily enough. There are a few too many shots where you only have a vague idea of what is going on. Still, it is much clearer than most Hollywood action films. There are more than enough shots that will make you cringe.
I do give it points for not using computer graphics, but considering that this is a tribute to Shaw Brothers films, Tarantino could have done better to shoot further back from the action. If it weren’t for some excellently shot duels, I’d drop it a whole letter grade. It does achieve the Shaw Brothers violence level, as it is the most violent Hollywood movie I’ve ever seen. In that respect, then, it does well in its tribute.
“Kill Bill” is a fun action film with interesting structure and style. And with the exception of certain fight scenes, I really have nothing to complain about. Enjoy!

Rating: A/B