In a nearly 20-minute scene, Tarantino gives a wonderful homage to 70's Chinese kung-fu films with Gordon Lu playing the old and wise martial arts expert. While certainly a well produced segment (probably the best in the film, including the classic quick-zoom camera shots) it's only purpose is to give an explanation for how The Bride finds her way out of an early tomb in ridiculous fashion.
Most of the character-oriented segments here are not the least bit entertaining, funny, or dramatic. The characters that were so wild and fun in the first film are nowhere to be found. Gone is the dark comedy from the opening scene from part one. Gone are the wonderfully over-the-top and wonderfully shot fight scenes. All that's left are some minor conversations that really have no reason to be included.
In this one, we get a drunken bouncer and a woman who's only purpose is to add a minor piece to the Gordon Lu segment mentioned above. Nearly all of their conversations are useless. Towards the end, Thurman makes a stop in Mexico, which I see absolutely no reason for. Usually in a Tarantino film this is welcome pacing, but here they just don't have underlying comedy that fills his other films like "Pulp Fiction."
Admittedly, the final 30-minutes are great, if only for David Carradine's outstanding performance. This is the point of the movie where the dialogue finally kicks into the Tarantino style. It just works, even if he does drag on a bit too long. Carradine rambles on about a dead, stepped on fish, and other completely insane topics, all the while making his character even more inherently evil. THAT'S what this movies dialogue needed for the entire running time: Purpose. (** out of *****)
Miramax presents "Kill Bill Vol. 2" in 2.35:1 widescreen, preserving the wonderful cinematography the way it should be. The color is here is way over the top, but it looks gorgeous and it all holds together. Some severe edge enhancement is noticeable early on, but about a half-hour in, you won't notice it again. A few of the scenes have excessive grain, but this is usually for effect. The black-and-white segments have excellent black and contrast levels. Compression is never an issue, making this one just shy of reference quality. (****)
Article comments
1 - devon
matt
through this post it is importand to remember that kill bill is one movie.
when i first rented kill bill volume 1 i thought i knew what i was in for, from the previews and such. i was wrong. the same thing happened when i rented kill bill v.2. i (like you i think) expected to see kill bill 2 not the second half of kill bill.
kill bill v.1 was action for no real reason. v.2 is the reason for the action.
i liked how the movie never asked you to believe that the bride would die. and the movie never asks you to care if she does die. actually she should die, she is no better than the people she wonts to kill. but, O, right she was trying to start a new life away from all the killing with new friends and a new lover. but, wait, what do ya know? so was the first women she wiped off her list.
in v.1 you don't really know anything about any of the characters, in v.2 each secen tells you something about some character.
some people will find it boring though. it's not the same kind of movie as you would expect from seeing v.1.
there is humor in it though ever if it isn't funny. like how bill explains his actions at the wedding rehesal as the "Consequences to breaking the hart of a murderious bastard" if you think about it the whole movie is based on the consequences to breaking the hart of a murderious bitch.
kill bill has a lot more story in than most people think.
p.s. did any one else like budd? i found he was the only character i cared about and the supence around him was unbearable.