Prior to Kill Bill Vol. 2, I've insofar watched only two movies directed (& written) by Quentin Tarantino, namely Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill Vol. 1, yet already I believe that he is someone with great artistic vision. Nowadays, many fans consider him as something more than just a celebrity; he is a genius, a cult-figure and an icon. Not bad at all, for someone who had his beginnings as a video store clerk...
Those expecting Vol.2 to be choke-full of fast-paced action sequences and buckets of blood and gore like its predecessor, were surely disappointed by its laid-back, mid-tempo pacing. For this instalment it seems, Tarantino had reverted back to his original storytelling style, evocative of Pulp Fiction; so what we get is his witty & satiric dialogue, unusual plot-twists and unpredictability. When contrasted with Vol.1's simplicity of plot and non-reliance on dialogue, the dramatic whole of Kill Bill is admirable although it does careen from one cinematic influence to another like a truck high on ecstasy. Detractors may claim that a Tarantino film is simply a hodgepodge of borrowed ideas but these tongue-in-cheek references to other films (which he loves and pays homage to) are the very stuff that elevates his work from the commercial fodder churned out by Hollywood year after year.
However, Vol.2 is not all style and no substance. Uma Thurman is resplendent (as per normal) in her role as the avenging bride and her supporting cast are equally excellent. Her claustrophobic duel with resident bitch Elle Driver (played with aplomb by Darryl Hannah) is definitely a highlight of the movie and worth every cent your cinema ticket price. The only grudge I have with this movie is that Lucy Liu was not in it (her character was killed off in Vol.1). In sum, Kill Bill is a glorious throwback to western & wuxia films of yore but only the open-minded will discover sheer, delirious fun in Tarantino's rather morbid tale of vengeance.
movie trivia
- The character Pai Mei appears in several Shaw Bros Kung Fu films from the 1970s-80s. Pai Mei means "White Eyebrow".
- Warren Beatty was considered for the role of Bill before David Carradine got the part.
- Elle Driver wears the same outfit that Uma Thurman wears in Pulp Fiction (1994). It was also worn by Pam Grier in Jackie Brown (1997).
- Bill's apartment in Mexico is number 101, the same as Neo's in The Matrix (1999). The fights in both films were choreographed by Woo-ping Yuen.
- The film's entire first reel is presented in black and white.
Quoteworthy
"You're not a bad person. You're a terrific person. You're my favorite person. But every once in a while you just can be a real cunt..." ---- Bill (David Carradine) to the Bride (Uman Thurman).
