Kill Bill

Volume 1

One thing you have to respect about Tarantino, is that he is willing to push the envelope, and Kill Bill certainly does that. Volume 1 is as close to wall to wall violence as you can get, without dropping dialogue all together. As with all of Tarantino’s films the two part Kill bill is rich with homage (pronounced theft), but if you’re a fan of his movies, or just love a good action movie, Kill Bill is worth watching.

The Cast: Uma Thurman Stars as The Bride, and gives an excellent performance in not only the character scenes but she really surprises in the lengthy and intricate action scenes. Uma really carries the film, with Lucy Liu and Vivica A. Fox also putting in good performances but their roles are small. David Carradine is never actually seen in Volume one, but his impact on the scenes he is in can be felt throughout, although that may have more to do with the writing than the acting in this case.

The dialogue is always what stands out for me in a Tarantino film, but what we get here is wall-to-wall action, with tons of over the top action and buckets of blood spilled. While more plot development would have been nice, Kill Bill Volume 1 is still fun to watch.  The film is visually stunning from beginning to end, even with the gratuitous amounts of blood spattering about. The inclusion of animated sequences helps the film achieve a certain refreshing style.

If you like Tarantino, or are just a fan of action movies check out both Kill Bill Volume 1 and Volume 2.

Run Time: 111 minutes

Volume: 2

The second half of what was originally one uber long action film, Kill Bill: Volume 2 picks up right where Volume 1 left off. The second installment though includes a little more dialogue and character development than the first chapter, and dialogue is where Tarantino films really shines.

The Cast: Uma Thurman continues strong in the second half, and considering it was shot as one long movie that just makes sense. Luckily the second half also allows for other actors to step up and carry some of the load. Michael Madsen seems to do some of his best work for Tarantino, just look at Reservoir Dogs. Madsen’s turn in Kill Bill is no different as he plays the role with an understated strength that manages to dominate his scenes without trying. Daryl Hannah also delivers a strong performance. David Carradine fit the role, but really as an actor the guy only has one speed. Had the part not been written specifically for him, it wouldn’t have worked.

As expected Volume 2 is just a continuation of the first part, only in my view it is the superior story, or at least it is the half that actually tells the story. The fight scenes are still over the top (in a way that suits the film) but this time with the Brides interaction with Bud, Elle Drive, Pai Mei, and especially Bill you see more of the characters, and are able to connect with them better, which makes the film that much more interesting that Volume 1.

Run Time: 136 Minutes