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Kill Bill - Vol. 1

Kill Bill - Vol. 1

List Price: $29.99
Your Price: $19.49
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Hardcore, excellent, HARDCORE!
Review: This is easily one of the best action movies I've ever seen. As simple as that. The plot involves Uma Thurman's character seeking revenge on the gang that massacred her wedding day and "killed" her unborn child. This gang is led by a mastermind we only know as "Bill." We don't even get to see his face. Anyway, the movie gets its pace going quick with a fight between her and one of these gang members 4 years later. Afterwards we're treated to a little background on how Thurman suvived the attack on her wedding and some background on Lucy Lu's character (which is all BRILLIANTLY done in about a 15 minute anime sequence). The only person she kills (w/in the gang whom she seeks revenge) in this 2 hour epic is Lucy Lu's character, but not before one of the most phenomenal action packed pulsepounding samari bloodbaths of all time (not to mention an amazing battle scene bet Uma and sword vs. a 17 yr old Japenese girl w/ a mace). I don't want to ruin too much but let's just say if you're into gory movies and are sick of how wimpy hollywood has gotten in the past few years when it comes to violence, Kill Bill is a huge gulp of fresh air. The film never lets up its relentless violence. Characterization is also very well done, you actually CARE about them. The whole film is also done with a very old school feel, you'd almost think it was 1975 or something. A lot of the dialogue is in Japenese so have to read the subtitles. All of these traits have CULT written all over them.
It's not perfect though. For example, about half of that final bloody samari fight between Uma and about a hundred of minions is done in black and white. Sure it gives it a very pulpy feel and look but you know it was just done to avoid and X rating. Another thing that was kind of silly was that the whole movie was basically like a long anime. I mean, when someone gets their head chopped off with some Japanese steel blood doesn't gush out violently like some amusement park waterworks. It was mostly used for effect and it worked, but some people might see it as a flaw, I for one didn't, I just thought it looked a tad silly.
One top of all of this, there is a surprise ending that'll definitely get you to go see Kill Bill vol 2. This is a MUST SEE.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Bring It On
Review: Few directors show such an obvious love of the cinema than Tarantino, and his fondness for revenge and kung-fu flicks is now up on the big screen for all to see. Plain and simply, it's a revenge story concerning Black Mamba (Uma Thurman) who's wedding day is ruined when Bill and her former assasin friends gatecrash the party and massacre everyone when she tries to start a new life. Leaving her for dead, she wakes up from a coma four years later and seeks revenge. Simple. What we then get is a perfect anime and Bruce Lee pastiche dripping from the screen in a torrent of cartoon Itchy and Scratchy type blood as each former friend is sought out and eliminated.
In no other movie and with no other director would you laugh with anticipation at the sight of a hospital orderly running a bizzarre brothel using the coma patients as hookers! The pay off is typical and brilliant Tarantino.
See this movie at all costs!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Bang Bang...
Review: It's really amazing how easy Tarantino makes film-making seem. He has such a mastery over his craft that the film moves with such smoothness and grace almost unseen since...well since Jackie Brown actually.

But contrary to what most reviewers have said on here, Kill Bill is very very different from Pulp Fiction. The atmosphere is the same, but the dialogue isn't as quick-witted and the action is, for the most part, all shown - as opposed to Tarantino's previous three films where the violence was mostly implied.

But that is the whole point of the movie, it follows the great tradition of kung fu, anime, and blaxploitation films, and that is exaggerated violence. It's also a kind of 'inside pop lesson' with references from Michael Jackson to Bruce Lee. The anime sequence in the movie is truely a beauty to behold, expertly done in all aspects. And a brilliant idea to have an anime sport a scene that otherwise would've very likely given the film an NC-17 rating (given the pedophile subject, etc.).

Now to the great soundtrack, which Tarantino has always delivered in every one of his films. The opening credit sequence has probably one of the best opening songs ever played on a soundtrack, Bang Bang by Nancy Sinatra. The tremolo guitar and Sinatra's curious 'almost out-of-tempo' singing summarizes the entire movie, not only in story but in expert execution. Tarantino wisely opens his movie with such a simple arrangement played over credits for over two minutes - a good example of Tarantino loving art more than action.

Though of course the film has more action than any of Tarantino's previous films, but it's almost artsy in the way he goes about the action. Every shot has some kind of quirky setup that is purely his. He references countless '70s movies to great effect.

Is so many references to other movies plagurism? When it's done as good and professionally done as this, plagurism ceases to be plagurism and more like a really good cover song.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: breathtaking entertainment
Review: I believe this movie makes fun and at the same time pays homage to all martial arts movies (which are usually very violent in their nature). It is a work of a fan of the genre and a talented filmmaker. To fully enjoy this movie one should relax and let himself/ herself be taken on a trip. On your way notice beautiful cinematography, breathtaking fighting sequences and music. Call it a compilation of some of the best action sequences in movies.
Call it "A Journey with Quentin Tarantino through Action movies".
hihuymsn@attbi.com

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: It's an Amazing Film
Review: Quentin Tarantino is a genius! His Book format he uses is awesome. Amazing script. One to See Twice and Own!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: a simple plot, but it was a blast to watch
Review: A film by Quentin Tarantino

Kill Bill is Tarantino's fourth film, and it is his first film in at least 5 years. He is known for his stylistic dialogue and pop culture references built into an interesting story. Kill Bill is a variation on that. Tarantino is paying homage to the B-Grade Kung-Fu movies of the past. This means that Kill Bill is extremely violent (as opposed to the usual Tarantino perception of violence), but it is an exaggerated, over-the-top style of violence. Originally slated to be a single, long, three and a half hour movie, Kill Bill has been cut down into two parts. Volume 1 sets the stage for what is (thus far) an extremely simple story.

Kill Bill is a story of revenge. That's it. That's the entire plot. A woman is at her wedding, is beat up, shot, and left for dead. Four years later she wakes up from a coma with revenge on her mind. We don't know her name, because her name is not important. She is known as The Bride (Uma Thurman). She has a list of people to kill. There are five names on this list. The last name is Bill (David Carradine), the man who shot her. Bill was the leader of a group of assassins, of which The Bride was once a member. The other assassins were the ones who attacked her at the wedding. The film opens with The Bride going after the second name on the list, Vernita Green (Vivica A Fox). Kill Bill plays with chronology a little bit as the first name on the list, O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu) is the second person we see The Bride attack, but comes later in the film. This is a typical Tarantino storytelling technique.

We have an amazingly simple plot for Kill Bill, so what is there to recommend in this movie? Tarantino's movies are usually love/hate with no middle ground, but I've loved them. Honestly, what you'll get with Kill Bill is a stylish, over-the-top, action movie laced with Tarantino's dialogue. For all the hype that The Burly Brawl got for The Matrix Reloaded got, I felt let down by both that fight sequence as well as the entire movie. Kill Bill has a fight sequence that eclipses both the potential of the Brawl as well as the execution of the fight. Kill Bill is almost all action, and it works incredibly well. There is quite a lot of blood, but I wouldn't say this is a gory movie at all. There is not a lot of realism in the blood, yet it doesn't take you out of the movie because of how well done everything is.

I loved the movie and eagerly await Volume 2, but I can only give a qualified recommendation because I know that Tarantino's work is not for everyone. If you are already a fan of Quentin Tarantino, then by all means, this movie is for you. If you are not, nothing in this movie will make you like him more. If you have never seen a Tarantino movie, and you like action, give this one a shot.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Vintage Tarantino, never disappointed the fans
Review: It worth to wait for many years. Mr. Tarantino never disappointed his fans. I am in luck that I can see the "more violent" version in Hong Kong (where the Crazy 88 Fighting scene is in color). First, I appreciate Mr. T's admiration to HK movies, especially the Kung Fu oldies. Much of the fighting scenes - though handled by Yuen Wo Ping - are different from the wired scenes like those in Charlie's Angel or Matrix. I would like to say that, believe it or not, the body cutting action is very very common in the 70's in HK's martial arts movie. In one famous movie, the hero even carried his intestine hanging outside his torn abdomen. Ridiculous? No. On TV screen, we once saw a sword fighter to cut half vertically an enemy. Violent? You've only seen little in Kill Bill.
Also, the storyline is quite a common revenge story in Chinese martial art story. So common that what this story still shines is Mr. T's superb story telling ability. I am sure that no other director can present such a standard story in such a stylish way. This is a cult/classic example how movie can bring magic to us.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Kill ME instead.
Review: Okay- MY fault for looking for something of the "Pulp" or "Reservoir" caliber - this was my first and most fatal mistake. I was checking my watch 20 minutes into it, wondering when it was going to get good. After two hours, I was still checking, trying to keep from sighing and groaning with boredom. But few movies are all bad: Kill Bill is campy and cute in places (the Japanese Girl Band alone is nearly worth the price of admission,) and you can't beat Uma, even in a bad flick such as this. But the interminable sword fights quickly became tedious, to say nothing of the endless close ups of Lucy Liu (are she and Quentin an item? One would think so from the movie's obsession with her- her character is over developed, while other memebers are barely more than introduced.) The whole film smacked of a freshman art school film project- and if it were that, I'd say the student had great promise. But from Tarantino? I felt ripped off and disappointed.
Of course, everyone else I talked to (including the audience, at the time,) apparently LOVED Kill Bill. So perhaps I am finally really getting old. My advice: see the matinee at the lower ticket price and form your own opinion.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Wow.
Review: Another masterpiece by Tarantino.

A purposefully over-the-top samurai flick with standard Tarantino sadistic humour and violence.

The Bride (Uma Thurman) seeks out revenge on five former memebrs of her assassination squad "The Deadly Viper Gang"

From the extremely well done non-CG fight scenes with a black and white effect for extra measure to the "Wiggle your big toe" seen to the magestic final battle this movie keeps you wanting more.

Memorable quotes can be found throughout movie from the initial perverse introduction to the film to the final speech by The Bride. You will remember quotes from only one viewing of this film.

This film is nothing more of a wonderful blend of modern day action with old style samurai fighting and movie techniques. Also, as typical with Tarantino, a fantastic musical score.

As has been stated over and over Quentin Tarantino has done it again.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Bride Wore Yellow
Review: The big hubbub about the violence and blood in Tarantino's "Kill Bill" is pretty silly in that all of the scenes featuring blood and violence, which come to think of it is most of them, are played for whacked out, cartoony fun: not to be taken seriously at all.
Still, at the core of this film is the ultra serious quest of The Bride/Black Mamba (her code name...actually Uma Thurman), who looks fantastic and who plays the role straight ahead for real and without much irony, which in this context works. And if you think about it, the core role/character and her plight to avenge her attempted murder and the murder of her child and 8 others, had better be played seriously because the entire movie would fall flat without it. Even Tarantino movies need a strong central hero(ine) to act as a repository of our desires, wishes and hopes to make the world a better place. He realizes that we all need heroes: even a left for dead, steel plate in the head, revenge wracked, blond, leggy one like Thurman.
Tarantino has never been one to be bashful about letting his influences show: 70's films and music, Karate movies, etc, and once again here he lets these out, style and mise en scene wise.
But Tarantino has the talent and filmmaking know how to limit how much to foist upon us and here, as in all of his films, he doesn't merely recreate, he uses this stuff to create something new, something fresh, something dynamic and interesting.
I could quibble about the fight scenes going on too long and that we must wait until February until Vol 2 is released but these are minor things. The major thing is that Tarantino has once again slapped the butt of contemporary movie making and shown us what movies should look and feel like, he's made a film that is fun to watch and actually participate in, he's given us a heroine to root for and a reason to look forward to 2004. And if you've noticed what has been released lately to your local theaters, this is a big, big deal.


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