Kill Bill

Director: Quentin Tarantino
Written by: Quentin Tarantino
Year: 2003, 2004
Genre: Action
My rating: 4 and three-quarters out of 5 (Vol. 1: 4 and a half; Vol. 2: 5)

This 4-hour revenge saga was split into two volumes for time interests, but play as one film. They follow a character known as The Bride (Uma Thurman), the deadliest woman in the world, as she seeks vengeance on her former colleagues in the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad, led by an old flame, Bill (the late, great David Carradine). The Squad broke in on the pregnant Bride's wedding to a Texas record store owner, killed the other eight people present, beat the Bride within an inch of her life, and Bill put a bullet in her head. She wakes up four years later with a metal plate in the side of her head, a plan having been aborted to kill her in her sleep. After killing a couple of rapists in the hospital, she takes an orderly's truck and meditatively regains muscle control. She then sets out to take her revenge. Her targets are: Japanese gangleader O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu), Vernita Green (Vivica A. Fox), Bill's brother Budd (Michael Madsen), and one-eyed martial arts master Elle Driver (Daryl Hannah). The beginning of Vol. 1 shows her confrontation with Green (codename: Copperhead), and the rest is told in flashback. While the Bride (codename: Black Mamba) is regaining muscle control in the truck, there is an animated sequence describing the rise of O-Ren (codename: Cottonmouth) to powerful Yakuza leader. The Bride travels to Okinawa, Japan, and meets a charismatic sushi chef and retired swordsmith named Hattori Hanzo (Sonny Chiba). Though he has sworn an oath to never make another sword, the Bride convinces him, and stays in his upstairs room for a month while he works. Then she travels to Tokyo to confront O-Ren, killing about 100 people in the process. Vol. 2 continues the story, adding more depth to the characters, as she hunts down Budd (codename: Sidewinder), Driver (codename: California Mountain Snake), and the mystical Bill (codename: Snake Charmer).

The idea for "Kill Bill" was probably born from the "Fox Force Five" discussion from "Pulp Fiction" crossed with Tarantino asking himself, "How much fun could I have with a million gallons of fake blood?" It blossomed into an expertly told saga that makes one feel as if they've seen all the old films that QT tries to emulate, which he does successfully. What makes the film so intriguing is how it works on many different levels. Images are so important to Tarantino here that each tells a story in and of itself. I have a theory that if there was no sound (save Bill's dialogue), the story would be just as easy to follow. And yet, Tarantino adds a whole new layer to the film in the way that sound and dialogue is used to complement the action. As opposed to most of his works, action forms the frame of this story, and sound is placed (either carefully or recklessly, I'm not sure which) to enhance it. So engaging is the action that we hardly notice when some changes are made. For example, the film often switches between color and black and white, but ten seconds after it has switched we have forgotten. The change is fleeting, it is the action we are concerned with. Or take the differences between the two volumes. The first introduces us to the deadliest people on the planet, showing us their skills at fighting and Tarantino's skills at directing action scenes. Then the second adds more dimension, showing us the heart and the rationality of the characters and pointing out which are evil and which are angry and which are confused. We see that Tarantino has mastered character development in his own way. We only remember what he wants us to remember from Vol. 1, and it meshes with Vol. 2 to create a truly unforgettable film.


Structure/Form:
What does the title mean in relation to the film as a whole?
It pretty much sums up the point of the movie, and Tarantino probably liked the rhyme.

Why does the film start in the way that it does?
It sort of starts in the middle of the whole timeline and expands both ways.

Are there any repeated scenes, images, dialogue, etc.?
We are often reminded of events, through flashback or dialogue.

Is sound used in any vivid ways to enhance the film?
Yes, most certainly. There's a very prominent soundtrack, and some overemphasized action sounds.

How does the film use color or light/dark to suggest tone and mood in different scenes?
It switches between color and b&w a lot, but I'm not sure if it is supposed to suggets tone and mood.

Are there any striking uses of perspective?
I noticed a few, but I suppose it's a matter of opinion. Many of the shots in the film could be considered striking.

Does the film leave any disunities at the end?
A few, but Tarantino's working on a Vol. 3, so these will probably be addressed.


Theme:
How does this film relate to the issues presented or developed? What questions are evoked by the film? Does the film present a clear point of view on an issue? How?
Well, it's a Tarantino film. He's the best of storytellers, but there's no message. This pays tribute to numerous film genres, particularly martial arts films.