Kill Bill - Volume Two
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Movie Reviews of Kill Bill - Volume Two
Movie Review: Simply the best!
Summary: 5 Stars
Quentin Tarantino has dalzed us from the moment his first film "Resivoir Dogs" appeared on the big screen. In between sceens of intense action/violence we are given great dialogue, unforgettable characters, and films that hold our attention. Possible the most intreguing filmmaker since Alfred Hitchcock, or Stanley Kubrick. And like those master filmmakers he never fails to lead us into places others would not, or simply could not go. Kill Bill VOL 1 is a fast paced action film that used the tired revenge cliche, but made it work. Although in VOL 1 the usual Tarantino dialogue is kind of overshadowed it brilliantly sets up VOL 2.VOL 2 sucks us deeper into the world of the "Deadly Viper Assassination Squad." Here 'The Bride'(Here name will be heard this time, but not until about half-way through) will become more then just some nameless killer. I think Umma Thurman really does a spectacular job here as she is able to make herself appear as a believable assassin. There is no 'superman' invulnerablility here, the hero accomplishes much, but she must bleed for it. Her training with Pei Mei(who is probably the best supporting character in the film) is harsh, and slightly reminiscent of Yoda in "Empire Strikes Back", and Jackie Chans training in "Drunken Master". Of all the former D.V.A.S. assassins it is Bill's brother Bud who has fallen the lowest, and the most pitiful. Yet with the exception of Bill he is also the most philosphical. He is however in the end still a slimely S.O.B.
Elle Driver played brilliantly by Daryl Hannah who's personal evil is so menancing it is almost impossible not to focus on her. The fight scene between 'Black Momba'aka 'The Bride' and 'California Mountain Snake' aka 'Elle Driver' is the best of either film. This all sets us up for the moment we have been waiting for, the confrontation with BILL. David Carradine's 'Bill' aka 'Snake Charmer' is possibly the perfect villian. Bill is a likeable character who is also in his own words, "A murdering Bastard."
The end of the film does not disappoint, and throws us some curves that make the ending emotional, exciting, and leave you craving for more. However there is good news. Tarantino wants to make a third installment in fifteen years or so about the child of Vivica A. Fox character Vernita Green aka Copperhead. As she goes on her own quest of revenge against the 'the bride' for killing her mother. This movie might be longer than VOL 1, but you probably won't notice it. Tarantino pulls you in so well that you enjoy yourself too much to realize you been there longer. This film is simply amazing, and the best Tarantino has ever made.
Movie Review: "That woman deserves her revenge... and we deserve to die."
Summary: 5 Stars
All grown men have a little boy in their heart that still surfaces every now and again...some fellows more so than others, and it's always so much fun to go back. That is one of the many reasons I enjoy having a son waiting to greet me when I come home from a day of work or a long business trip. On the flip side, Quentin Tarantino gets to go back to being a boy every time he goes to work, and I say good for him.
The Kill Bill movies are a potent effusion of likely all the things Quentin grew up with. Westerns, Kung-Fu movies, Samurai movies and other action films that helped mold and create his robust imagination. Now, he can take the ideas that inspired him as a child and make them even better for the next generation of action-craving bloodthirsty little children. Kill Bill volume 2 is more than a derivitive tribute film, it is an elicitation of massive nostalgia, excentuated keenly by incredible dialogue. Other than function well as a conclusion to the series, it is actually quite different from Kill Bill volume 1 in a few ways. Kill Bill volume 1 contained mostly introductions, followed by bloody action as Beatrix Kiddo took on and took out Vernita Green, O-Ren Ishii, Go-Go Yubari and of course the Crazy 88 (yes, all 88 of them). But in Kill Bill volume 2, I felt like those were merely the supporting villains as Kiddo takes on the more resourceful and profound antagonists in this film; Elle Driver, Budd and of course Bill himself. The sequel, unintentionally perhaps as the two were written and filmed together, possesses more depth than the first part. There is more room for dialogue and that is of course a great thing because outrageous and unlikely dialogue is one of Quentin's strengths, and it serves here to make the characters even more unearthly and super-hero-like then in the first film.
Overall, in volume 2 we get to see how Beatrix learned her skills and we learn more about the relationship between her and Bill. It all leads up to an often criticized climax between Bill and Beatrix. Between the dialogue and David Carradine's performance, the climax helped me enjoy this film a bit more than volume 1. So, if you prefer action and violence you will like the first movie better, but if you just so happen to get caught up in the characters along the way and have an appreciation for the kind of concentrated cultural yearning crossed with mythical level characters that only a Tarantino film can deliver, then Kill Bill volume 2 is a great cap to the two films. For me, simply put, together they make one amazing movie.
Movie Review: Vintage Tarantino!
Summary: 5 Stars
Tarantino's many, varied, and devoted fans had to get used to a slightly new Tarantino film in "Kill Bill, Vol. 1." While Tarantino has always had a love for action sequences, most of his films were heavier on the dialogue than the fisticuffs. Not so in "Vol. 1," which skewed much more towards the action side of the scale. Sure, the trademark quips and pop-culture references were there, but the movie was defined by its over-the-top violence.
"KB Vol. 2" represents a return to form for Tarantino (yes, it's an extension of the same film, but since had to pay two ticket prices, they are two films), with the dialogue once again returning to the forefront. From the opening narrative, essentially working as the Chorus reintroducing the audience to the film after a long intermission, to several great scenes with the lethal Bill (David Carradine, in a performance that makes us wonder why we haven't seen much, much more of this guy), this film is a refreshing return to Tarantino's incredible pseudo-70's jargon and speechifying.
Tarantino's fans are also always checking his films for references to other flicks. Overt references include "The Searchers" in addition to homages to Tarantino's other movies, and they do not disappoint. While Volume 1 was entertaining, I suspect that Volume 2 will receive more replays, if only because the tale is a bit more complex.
The film does not have the audacious Japanese anime sequence used with such great effectiveness in Volume 1, but Tarantino includes an even more daring shot from inside a coffin as the occupant is buried alive (look for the exhumed corpse to play a little shadow-puppet game during the gravedigging scene).
While Tarantino has said that he is interested in the idea of bringing back Vernita Green's daughter (from Volume 1) for a future revenge drama, I think the better chance for a spin-off character is the character who finishes the film without eyeballs. The "Blind Swordsman" is one of the most beloved Japanese action heroes, and this character would be a perfect vehicle for Tarantino to give us his take on that legend.
Top-notch performances abound in this film . . . Uma Thurman remains at the top of her game, the remaining survivors of DiVAS are pitch-perfect, and (again), David Carradine just plain steals the picture as an articulate, seductive, incredibly mean s.o.b.
A must for fans of QT's previous efforts. The extras on the DVD are pretty good, but you should buy this one for the film, not the bonus stuff.
Movie Review: A Refreshing Break From The Mold
Summary: 5 Stars
Okay, first to the person who said that a great filmmaker would have told the movie in order, told the main character's name, not show the wedding scene, not use bad music etc., let me educate you:A typical filmmaker would have told the movie in order.
A typical filmmaker would have told us the character's name right off the bat.
A typical filmmaker would have put in unoriginal, crappy pop music.
A typical filmmaker would try to be original and not put in the wedding scene to try to make you use your imagination.
Quentin Tarantino is obviously NOT your typical filmmaker and I find his movies to be fresh and original takes on common themes and plots. There are revenge flicks a-plenty, told the same way, with the same type of character, same reasons, etc. QT took that and molded it to his own vision with Uma Thurman (one of her top performances), Michael Madsen, Daryl Hannah, and all in mind the whole time he wrote this movie. QT writes his screenplays around the music because that's already in mind as well. In fact, he would scrap a scene if he couldn't get the rights to the song he wants to go with the scene. You can tell too. Who else can make an Ennio Morricone spaghetti western song go along with a samurai movie scene? Using old music was part of the homage (especially using Morricone and Meiko Kaji (see Death Rides a Horse and Lady Snowblood)).
About the wedding scene, while I would have liked to see the DiVAS beat The Bride to the ground, QT pulled away at the exact moment to make you use your imagination, but still gives you an idea of what went on in there (using one of his trademark camera shots, by the way).
Telling the movie out of order works brilliantly and causes a mix of foreboding and hindsight. The chapter thing was a nice touch as well.
Not telling the character's name was a way to show the dimensions of the character. In the first Volume, The Bride is a nameless killing machine, without mercy, compassion, forgiveness, and conscience. In the second movie, she's a woman, a fighter, still a killer, a mother, a lover, with a name. She's more fleshed out, more three dimensional.
This movie was a refreshing break from the dull and unoriginal. I loved it and I appreciate it for what it is on its own and not compare it to anything else because it far surpasses anything else. As it is said in Volume Two, "You don't compare a Hanzo sword to another sword except with another Hanzo sword." You don't compare a Quentin Tarantino movie with another movie except another QT movie.
Movie Review: We've had the style, now here's the substance
Summary: 5 Stars
Kill Bill volumes 1 and 2 really work best when you consider them two parts of a whole. Combined, they tell a whole story and each one has what the other lacks. Volume 1 had style, razzle-dazzle filmmaking, a fast pace, lots of action and gallons and gallons of blood. Volume 2 lacks most of those qualities and instead gives us tried-and-true Quentin Tarantino dialog, more character development, and the biggest surprise of all, real human drama. Dialog, yes. Lots and lots of it. Tarantino makes up for the fact that there was little of his brilliant dialog in Volume 1 by making the follow-up (not a sequel) a thoroughly talky affair. The Bride (Uma Thurman) and Bill (David Carradine) in their long-awaited confrontation, duel not with swords, but with words. Both actors turn in excellent performances which I hope will be remembered next year at the Oscars.
Indeed, this film is a major change of pace after the bloody mayhem of Kill Bill, Volume 1. It has the look and feel of a western (complete with references to Sergio Leone, Sam Peckinpah and others) as opposed to the primarily Eastern feel of the previous volume. Many viewers who enjoyed Volume 1 only for its action and bloodshed will no doubt be disappointed by this. However, Tarantino obviously had more in mind for Kill Bill and intended for it to be much more than just a brainless action flick which pays tribute to many samurai and kung fu movies. In Volume 2, he gets down to the nitty gritty and shows that he's trying to make a real film of real substance. Of course, (...) as the showstopping fight between Uma Thurman and Darryl Hannah reveals, but he's less interested in wowing the audience with action and violence.
Highlights include a scene where The Bride is buried alive which is made frighteningly effective by the brilliant use of sound effects, and a flashback to The Bride's training under kung fu master Pai Mei (played by Gordon Liu). David Carradine simply lights up the screen with his charismatic portrayal of Bill, straddling the line between murdering criminal and lovable human being. It's shocking how far this character is from the samurai-sword-stroking faceless villain that we got only a peek of in Volume 1.
Quentin Tarantino just may have made his masterpiece with Kill Bill Volumes 1 and 2. He has managed to take the films that influenced and inspired him and turned them into something completely new and wholly Tarantino. Considering both parts as a whole, it adds up to a great movie that will be remembered for a long time to come.