Revenge: to avenge (as oneself), by retaliating in kind or degree.

Quentin Tarantino’s latest flick, Kill Bill, takes that definition to a whole new level. Revenge isn’t simply dished out, it is served up in a fury of Super Sized Big Gulps of Whoop Ass!

As with Tarantino’s 3 previous films, we have a cast of eccentric odd balls, which are so bizarre, that they have to be seen, to be believed. Uma Thurman plays our heroine, The Bride. The Bride was formerly a member of the Deadly Vipers Assassination Squad (aka The DiVAS), a deadly hit squad of beautiful women. It’s not really the type of group that you just retire from. Once a member, always a member. The DiVAS work for a man simply known as Bill.

The Bride, believing she can simply quit and thinking she is free from the DiVAS, is pregnant and about to marry, when the remaining DiVAS crash the wedding and massacre everyone in the chapel. Bill makes an appearance to finish the job, and makes it perfectly clear to The Bride, that if she is leaving, it will be on his terms. Specifically, a bullet to the brain… But wait, the bride isn’t dead after all!

Turns out our blushing (and bloody) bride has been in a coma for four years and has suddenly awakened, with only one thing on her mind… to Kill Bill. (OK, she also wants to catch up on old times with the rest of the DiVAS.). I am hesitant to get deeper into the plot, because I would hate to give away any more than just the basic set up.

Tarantino plays his favorite card on the viewers: Can something so repulsive, be funny? The classic example was Pulp Fiction when Vincent shoots the kid in the head, in the back of the car. It’s totally gross, but very funny in the context of the film. In Kill Bill, there is enough swordplay to give a wicked hard-on to even the most jaded Kung-Fu movie fan. If it can be hacked off with a sword, it’s hacked off in Kill Bill. There is more blood in this movie, than the hallway of the Overlook Hotel. It is obvious that Tarantino loves these movies very much. You can feel the passion he put into the making of this movie.

As we have come to expect with Quentin, the story is told non-linear. So, there are lots of flashbacks and out of order chapters. This technique still holds up well. Careful editing also helps to keep the viewer guessing and wanting more. In lesser hands, this movie would have been an utter mess from the opening credits.

There are a few “How did they do that?” moments in Kill Bill, so some might enjoy a second viewing. Plus, it’s worth $8 to see again, just for the soundtrack. Taratino even rips off himself, with an homage to a famous scene from Reservoir Dogs (probably not the one you are thinking of…).

This movie definitely rocks. Much like Pam Grier in Jackie Brown, Uma Thurman plays a very smart and sexy character. She knows exactly what she wants, and neither the character, nor the movie’s director make any apologies for it. It doesn’t have that saccharine feel like the Charlie’s Angel’s movies.

The last 5 minutes are a fantastic set up for the second movie. Too bad we have to wait until February to see it.

An aside: Tarantino has caught a lot of flack, for releasing this as 2 movies, instead of one. His (and Miramax’s) argument is that it would be too long as one movie. Many people cried foul (but are willing to see LOTR, Matrix or Star Wars as multiple movies……), and that it was a ruse to simply make people pay twice to see the movie. Others (ahem, Bret) suggested cutting 30-45 minutes from Volume 1, to accommodate Volume 2 in the same film. I think that would be a huge mistake. Volume 1 is long (1 hour and 50 minutes) and might be a little deliberate at times, but cutting it down would be a huge mistake. I never really got the feeling that there was any filler in it. It is well put together and beautifully photographed. Why sacrifice that, to placate impatient viewers? I personally thought the movie flew by.

Review by Minied

Category: Kill Bill
Comments: 7 (closed)