A poetic splatterfest

Rating: Null/10 (15 December 2003)

As being one among many that waited quite impatiently for the release of 'Kill Bill Vol.1' being in less than well tempered expectation, hearing what buzz I could lend my ear to about what was to be of this film, When all was said and done I found this film both refreshing and disapointing at the same time. It seems that Tarantino has been plagued with heavy expectations from audiences ever since 'Pulp Fiction'. Just as most fans of 'Pulp Fiction', I keep hoping that somehow Quinten Tarantino could top that masterful achievement. But I have come to the conclusion that Tarantino found the right chemistry, actors, and ideas that put 'Pulp Fiction' in the category that many other films have been placed in. That rare film that becomes a classic against all original odds. 'The Godfather' would be a prime example of this. Francis Ford Coppola had little experience, he was in constant danger of being fired from the project, Al Pacino was bitterly hated by Paramount executives early on, Danny Thomas wanted to buy Paramount pictures so he could play himself as Don Vito Corleone, Studio executives constantly butted heads with Coppola on just about every detail, Time was rushed every day of the shoot back in 1971, and the budget was very tight. Nobody including Coppola himself ever expected that he would pull it off with anything less than b-film results. All is history now and 'The Godfather' has served as a blue print for countless projects that were to follow. Yet even more amazingly Coppola pulled it off again and did an even more impressive job with his handling of 'The Godfather pt. II'. The interesting point of this is that situations, examples like Coppola's two Godfather films and the success there of is seldom achieved. Of course who can argue with the success of other classic achievements as well like the films that George Lucas, Stanley Kubrick, and Steven Spielberg. That being said it is becoming tougher and tougher for rising new directors to cut a true place in the history of film now days. Then along comes Quinten Tarantino. A director who has made the unconventional-conventional. Just as Kubrick did with 'A clockwork orange' and '2001: A space odyssey', Tarantino achieved this with his first two outings. However in Kubrick's case as an example, most of his films have been percieved as classics and rightfuly so. Since the first two Godfather films and possibly 'Apocalypse now', Coppola hasn't made anything that has managed to reach those lofty hieghts since. These films are perfect examples of pure directorial magic. Once a director makes a strong impact in hollywood with an exceptional film, the gloves are off and the true challenge begins. That is to say-"can this guy top his opus?". Perhaps 'Pulp Fiction' may remain tarantino's opus, perhaps not. But until then we have the refreshing talents of a cutting edge director to debate and marvel over. That being said...
I held my excited expectations for 'kill Bill vol.1' to a minimum as best I could hoping for a real masterpiece and a true winner of a film. I bought my ticket and kept my fingers and toes crossed. As the film opened it seemed that my expectations might just get met. The opening credit sequence was absolutely wonderful! And from there on there was allot more magic. But the bottum line is that it was for the most part not the sort of magic that makes a movie a legend. what I saw was refreshing, exciting, and beautifuly executed. But yet there just seemed to be something missing. I pondered this for a minute at at time even as I watched the film further. I noticed alot that wasn't there. Allot less humor, less interesting characters, and over all allot less of what made 'Pulp Fiction' a classic. I left the theatre both fulfilled and dissapointed at the same time. Once I dedicated myself to expect both less and more from Tarantino and excepted the film on it's own terms, I went to see it again and really loved it. If you look at it as a whole the entire movie is a homage to everything from sleaze cinema to martial arts b-films, yet it never wavers in originality. I was particularly impressed with the animation sequence, it caught me totally be surprise, and let's be honest, how often do we see films anymore that can achieve the element of surprise with any real success? I think Tarantino deserves at least a peanut butter cup for that .Looking at it in one way I might feel compelled to suggest that perhaps 'Kill Bill vol 1' deserves four stars, on the other hand the whole affair still seems less impressive than a true classic. In my opinion critics should see this movie more than once before rendering any judgement. I would have originally have felt compelled to give this movie 2 1/2 stars, but the way I see it now anything less than three of them little twinklers would be a harsh example of poor criticism.
See the movie twice and then throw your stones if need be.