Kill Bill - It's Merely A Misunderstanding

Volume 1 (2003) ★★★☆☆

First, the story was divided into few chapters, just like 'Inglorious Bastards', but it doesn't seem quite necessary to me coz the story itself is not at all complicated to be told. Like Roger Elbert said, 'there's storytelling but no story.' Well, it's a compliment after all coz not everyone is capable of something like that you know. It could be quite a disaster if you're not able to get it done right.

Second, nonlinear narrative. It doesn't seem so special or exciting to me, but that's what Tarantino usually does, isn't it? He puts the end right at the beginning. You may get confused at first but it's gonna grow on you, and you'd probably get hooked (mostly because of the terrific score).

Third, what seems to amaze and impress me the most is the animated sequence in the middle introducing the background of O-Ren Ishii (Lucky Liu) that, though cartoonized, still looks so violent and horrifying. And those fight scenes are so stylish and well-crafted and quick that they'd surprise you from time to time coz y'know once you think it's done, actually it's not, and vice versa. Plus, the fight at the House Of Blue Leaves might remind you of 'Bruce Lee in Matrix', but trust me, that's definitely not intentional.

Fourth, what'd you think of when you talk about Quentin Tarantino's films? Revenge and violence huh? Yeah, right, I guess he's probably the only one who could make violence and vengeance seem so much fun. You won't feel like he's glorifying anything or being hateful, but hey, this guy is presenting another great cult movie. 'King Of The Cult'? You bet!

Last but not least, The Bride (Uma Thurman) doesn't get to kill Bill yet in Volume 1. She only kills two of Bill's lackeys. There're two more to go, no, three, including Bill himself. Will check out Volume 2 later!

 Volume 2 (2004) ★★★☆☆

This time around, there're more sarcastic and long winding dialogues, and less bloody actions. Each battle, nonetheless, is pretty stylish and well-built up. Two major fights take place in Budd's (Michael Madsen) trailer home, pretty messy, tense and whether you like it or not, anticlimactic. Like I said, when you think it's done, it's not. When you think it'd be a long hard fight, you're wrong. Tarantino always loves to knock us for six like that, doesn't he?

Oh, right, how should we forget Pai Mei played by Gordan Liu? He's really a big deal in Volume 2 though he shows up for just about 10 minutes or so. Without him, The Bride could've been buried alive; she couldn't possibly get to kill 'Californian Mountain Snake' and Bill like that; and what she says in the beginning of the film would be like bullshit of course. Plus, Pai Mei speaks Cantonese in the film. He understands English but he insists on speaking Cantonese in his performance. I love this part the most though it made me laugh from time to time. It's supposed to be serious but you know it appears to be quite odd to me. Well, it could be a joke from QT, who is fairly into Kung Fu movies as a matter of fact.

Kill Bill Volume 2 explains why Bill (David Carradine) wants to teach The Bride (her name's Beatrix Kiddo in fact) a lesson at the chapel, at where she's getting married to a man working at a local record store. Yeah, he doesn't really want her dead coz if he did, he should've put the bullet right into her head instead of leaving her in a coma. And she could've been killed by Elle Driver (Daryl Hannah) in the hospital without Bill's call in time. So what do you guess? Why does Bill seem to bother so much about her? You know what, love comes with hate, naturally.

Hang on... maybe Bill does plan a massacre. He does want to kill Kiddo before he finds out the unborn baby is actually his. He thinks she's being selfish and unfaithful. So jealousy burns. Eyes blinded. A misunderstanding leads to wrong doings. What a shame!