An Exciting Joyride

Rating: Null/10 (22 March 2019)

Kill Bill: Volume One is a film about cold blooded revenge. It's a classic Quentin Tarantino flick complete with extra gore, over dramatic Kungfu sound effects, and an eclectic soundtrack. It's a story that matches that of a lost Japanese Ronin warrior seeking revenge for the loss of their master. Only in this case the master betrayed the Ronin themselves. The film is outrageously fun from beginning to end, and keeps you locked in the entire time. The editing techniques bring back memories of old school Kungfu flicks, and yet lets us know that they are top notch for the year this film came out.
The editing in this film is amazing. The story starts out with Uma Thurman's character "The Bride" (her real name isn't discovered until the second film) being brutally beaten and shot in the head. It locks your attention in with this and then bounces back and forth in her timeline. It engages immediately and locks you in for the rest of the ride. This film's use of flashbacks and cut scenes makes it what it is. At one point the main antagonists back story is told in an anime format that is unexpected, and yet fits this film so perfectly. It pays respect to Japanese culture in throughout the entire film in a way that's feels unobtrusive.
The use of close ups in this film are extremely important to its motif. It makes it all feel so personal, as if you were betrayed yourself and are seeking vengeance. Every time the camera pans into The Brides face you can feel her hurt. You can literally see the rage on her face, and want her to complete her mission so desperately. I can't remember a time I was this engaged with a film like this.
Finally, the eclectic soundtrack makes for an exciting joyride. It bounces from a playful teasing feeling, to a dramatic overtone that helps you understand how each character is feeling, and yet lets you know how out of control this film is. At one point The Bride engages in combat with 88 Yakuza gang members at the same time. The music flips from Japanese Go-Go music that excites you to a theatrical song several times in the same fight sequence. It is jarring, and funny, and yet so severe that it helps you to understand that this film is here to rock you out of your seat.
This film draws its roots from 70's Kungfu films. She even wears a yellow jumpsuit that resembles Bruce Lee in Game of Death. All in all this is an instant classic, and I encourage anyone who wants a gore filled rollercoaster of an action film to watch it.