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October 11, 2003
Frank Reviews: Kill Bill: Volume 1
I love cinema, so I don’t' know why I don't do these more often. Well, Kill Bill: Volume 1 is one of those movies you want to talk about. It starts off with the quirkiest of humor, and then gets serious. After that, it's a completely unpredictable ride... and an extremely violent one. Half the budget must have been fake blood, and it spurts with intentional ridiculousness near the end. This movie isn't for everyone, but for the right, people, you'll hardly find any movie as jammed pack with action and humor. Well, half a movie. In a late decision, the movie was split in two with the second half coming out in February. This seems like a cheap ploy to make twice the money on the film, but, by the end of the first half, you'll be so tired out from all the actiona an imagery thrown at you, you'll be wanting a break… and I mean that in a good way. The story can be summed up in one word: revenge. The movie is all style, and there's no reason to dwell on the deeper meaning of it. And while there is a lot less dialogue in this film than the previous Tarantino films, the dialogue that is there is great. Better than the dialogue, though, is the action. It’s pretty much all martial arts and, of course, there is an extended samurai sword fight at the end. As for the realism, it's more brutal than something like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and looks like the people are trying to really kill each other instead of just dance. Still, it's pretty stylized at times, and the sword fight as too much "clang clang" to be like real samurai sword fighting. Unlike in the imported samurai flicks of old I've been watching where the evidence that someone is cut is just seeing the sword connect and hearing a yell, though, blood and limbs fly in this fight. After slaughtering like a hundred underlings, the final showdown between the heroine, The Bride, and one of the five on her death list, Cottonmouth, I thought was particularly well done as an aficionado of samurai sword fights. BTW, you don't even see his face in this first half, but the main villain, Bill, kicks ass. Apparently he's an old fashioned killer, a regular cowboy/samurai) preferring a katana and a peacemaker (I may not have gone to some fancy film school, but let's see Ebert identify a gun when the only view you get is the barrel pointed at the screen). From the little teasing we get of the character in this (mainly just his voice and seeing nothing more than his hand), I can't wait to find out more about him in the second half of the movie. And, when the Bride finally gets her chance to kill Bill in February, it better be the actions sequence to end all action sequences to meet the hype carefully built in this first half. Four and a half out of five stars, and, for God's sake, leave the kids at home. 19 Responses To "Frank Reviews: Kill Bill: Volume 1"
Sounds like a new classic. Can't wait to see it. #1 - Posted by: Tim E on October 11, 2003 01:13 PMI just got the phone with my mother, and she's going to go see this soon. After reading your review, I'm guessing she's probably not going to like it as much as she suspects. I asked her if she'd seen Reservoir Dogs or True Romance, and she said, uh, no. She has seen Pulp Fiction. (And that's probably a TV edit). Promises to be amusing. hln #2 - Posted by: hln on October 11, 2003 01:21 PM...or painful #3 - Posted by: Tim E on October 11, 2003 04:19 PMWhoa. Are you channelling my nephew and brother-in-law? 'cause that is exactly what they both said about it. Now, do you think it was better than Pulp Fiction? #4 - Posted by: lane on October 11, 2003 04:38 PMlane, I hope they just release one DVD for the two movies. #5 - Posted by: Frank J. on October 11, 2003 04:43 PMActually, you DO (briefly) see Bill's face in the first half. There's a "group picture" of all the assassins including Bill at one point. But if you blink you'll miss it. Bill is actually a "real" martial artist and has had a long career behind him playing those kind of roles. Glad I have no kids. #7 - Posted by: O. F. Jay on October 11, 2003 06:16 PMI hope they just release one DVD for the two movies. Nah. It'll be a 4 DVD set of the first movie released right before the second comes out. Then, 6 months later, #2 will be released. 5 years later they'll do the single DVD with all the info on it. No, really, I'm not cynical. #8 - Posted by: lane on October 11, 2003 07:38 PMUmm but my kids *like* action movies with blood and killing. I thought you, of all people, would be supportive of that. #9 - Posted by: Elliot Temple on October 11, 2003 08:20 PM....Lucy Lu ( major 'Schwing! ) and Brittney Spears get off'ed ? What more does a film need??!! I just saw, moments ago, the old guy on CBS say basically it's a piece of crap. That's why I'm gonna see it. Never listen to a critic. Besides, I must see it: I am in Minnesota and everyone knows the rivalry of the Vikings and Packers, and my co-worker, Bill, is a cheesehead. Go Vikes !! #10 - Posted by: Paul on October 12, 2003 11:11 AMJust got back from watching this movie. DAMN! What a flick! I cannot wait for the second part. Some of the symbolism is fabulous...(ie: the cereal...in the afternoon...you just know that ain't right...) #11 - Posted by: serenity on October 12, 2003 08:39 PMYah that sure was something of a movie. You could recognize the varioius classic samurai flick influences and I couldn't help thinking of that blood spurt at the end of Sanjuro. Those swords were pretty well crafted too. The whole thing was happily cliched and enjoyably over the top. #13 - Posted by: Andrew on October 13, 2003 12:18 AMI thought of Sanjuro too, but the big difference was that the blood spurt at the end was the only blood in the movie and thus it stood out quite a bit. #14 - Posted by: Frank J. on October 13, 2003 04:38 PMNo doubt, and the purpose there was to actually horrify you wheras in Kill Bill the purpose was to go so over the top as to not be horrible. Dunno if you're familiar, but if you can get ahold of it I suggest Kobayashi's Harakiri, which is also a cool movie about revenge involving Samurai. Not quite as fast as Kill Bill, but a really good movie. see this film for the sword battle toward the end of the film, if for nothing else. I told you to bring your kids. Now do it, or, I swear, it won't be Hillary Swank I call for the lead roll in my next flick. If you don't get my drift, I will still find a way to recruit your preteens. #17 - Posted by: "Q" Tarantino on October 20, 2003 01:27 PMDit anyone notice the symbolism of the wooden water feauture like a "tippeng of a scale" or Uma's Yellow suit (light,goodness) against the cold of Lucy ? any more symbolism please reply #18 - Posted by: theo on February 16, 2004 05:03 AMHaving a big kill bill party this weekend, swords and all #19 - Posted by: on September 15, 2004 12:49 PMPost a comment
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