Kill Bill volume I and II are the modern day version of spaghetti westerns played out as Hong Kong action flicks. Uma Thurman “Bride” character begins as a nameless assassin seeking revenge from her former boss, Bill. We don’t know her know any more than we knew about man with no names in Clint Eastwood’s spaghetti westerns of the late 60’s. It is in the second volume that the Bride ceases to be the anonymous killer but a person with a past and a name.
Kill Bill volume One, is a slash and cut movie that moves with typical Tarantino fast pacing along with mesmerizing dialogue. The Bride follows the code of the old West as she gives her victims an even chance. Her fights with the Copperhead played by Vivica Fox and Oren played by Lucy Liu resembles old fashion western gunfights. The combatants face each other. It is High Noon.
The first volume does very little to shed light upon the Bride but we are given quite a bit of details about Lucy Liu character. We see a little girl who witnessed the death of her parents and her rise at the head of the Tokyo underworld. The Bride own fight with Liu is reminisce of the various Hong Kong action flick combined with Tarantino blood lust. Volume One resembles a Super hero comic book as the Bride chops her way through an army before slicing the top of Liu’s head.
The second volume goes in a different direction. In Volume one, Bill is more of a myth and man hidden from view. He is a killer with no mercy and no compassion. In the Second Volume, we see Bill as a killer with feelings, feelings for his brother and his ex-girl friend who he tried to kill. We see the depth of Bill’s relationship with the Bride and we learn the name of the Bride-It is Beatrix Kiddo. If the first volume is a live action slash and cut flick, the second movie is a more serious movie as we explore what makes both Beatrix and Bill tick. We see the Bride own transformation into a warrior including her training under the master Mei Pei. In warning his brother about the Bride’s coming apocalypse, Bill shows some love for his wayward brother. We even gain some empathy for Bill. The very last fight between Bill and the Bride is more bittersweet as it is satisfying. The Bride gets her final revenge and her Child back but she also feels the pain of Bill’s death. The Bride and Bill are much alike.
Article comments
1 - MrPC
Did you watch Kill Bill in one sitting, ever?
It shocks me that everyone conveniently forgets that this was ONE film that the studio chopped into two.
If it is to be reviewed properly, it should be considered ONE film.
Just because it CAN be chopped up (and even actually is chopped up), does not take away from the fact that the artist (Tarantino) create ONE film: KILL BILL.
The Vol. 1 and 2 garbage is not Tarantino, just the studio.
Kill Bill deserves a review as a single piece of work.
2 - Tom Donelson
Mr.PC,
You make a valid point that Kill Bill should be reviewed as one movie. I saw both movies back to back last weekend and I would love to see the movie as it was intended.
Studio released this as two movies and both movies that were released differed in style. As single flick, it is impressive in my eye and still not bad as two seperate entity.