In one word  WOW!!!!

Rating: 10/10 (25 April 2004)

This is an incredible movie  smart, witty, sexy, sharp, and beautiful all at the same time. There are some gripes about this story not having a story, which is totally not true. The plot revolves around The Bride (a superb Uma Thurman), who was shot and left for dead during her wedding. `Kill Bill' tracks her revenge on two of the five assassins: Vernita Green (Vivica Fox) and O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu, who totally redeems herself for her two mindless `Charlie's Angels' movies). I concede that so far, it looks like a revenge movie; however, I haven't seen Volume 2 yet, which develops the story even more and fleshes out its characters.
Still, even if Volume 1 just shows Uma Thurman getting her revenge on her assassins, it's a great film. Quentin Tarantino, a master of technique, uses his knowledge of 1970s Shaw Brothers Hong Kong kung-fu movies to create a beautiful work of art. It isn't meant to be realistic; it's meant to be extraordinary. The fight scenes are over-the-top and the fruit-punch blood spurts like geysers but this movie isn't really `violent,' per say. It's so unrealistic (in a good way) that it's ironic, satirical, and funny. Tarantino's style pokes fun at, celebrates, and transcends the kung-fu movies. His writing is also often quirky, colorful, funny, and sometimes dead serious. It's a lovely combination.
If you want more examples of Tarantino's total dedication to his work, look at where he chooses to set his scenes and what kind of music he picks. Just because the movie is violent doesn't mean that Tarantino doesn't have a sense of beauty. He knows what he's doing, and one only needs to look at his use of an elegant, quiet, snow-covered garden for O-Ren Ishii and the Bride's final fight. There is also an incredibly moving and exciting anime sequence in the movie. Also, the use of the MUSIC is absolutely incredible, and one of my favorite aspects of this movie. I can't say enough good things about it. In one scene where O-Ren is being driven to the restaurant, the trumpets in the background music perfectly match the light that passes on O-Ren's face. Everything is timed so perfectly. Music is so important to this movie; you'll feel your adrenaline go right up just hearing it. It's really that good.
There is great acting in this movieI can't think of a single character that didn't intrigue me. To single a few of them out, though: Uma Thurman gives an amazing performance. I loved how she could alternate from being funny, sexy, serious, charming, and deadly so easily She kicks major butt in this movie, but she isn't exactly just a stereotypical, generic, tough action girl. There's a real brain and a real heart behind her character. Also, Lucy Liu (O-Ren Ishii) is so good in this movie, I personally think Tarantino should make another movie just about her. She is a character so rich and so complex, it would be a travesty to just call her only a `villain' or `The Bride's adversary.' And besides, some of the best scenes in `Kill Bill' featured O-Ren Ishii and her posse. My personal favorite character in `Kill Bill' has got to be Gogo Yubari (Chiaki Kuriyama), O-Ren's teenage bodyguard. Kuriyama plays Gogo with fun menaceI loved the fact that she was young, beautiful, and crazy. Just watch her in the few scenes she hasshe just oozes coolness. It's that combination of the school-girl outfit, smallish stature, youngish face, long straight black hair, and beautiful deadly eyes that is just awesome. Suffice to say, I also think Tarantino should make another movie about Gogo, too. Heckmost of the main characters are so awesome and complex that Tarantino could make another movie out of any of them.
`Kill Bill' is one entertaining, beautiful, smart, exciting visual bonanza. Don't pay too much attention to the people who gripe about the lack of story and excessive violence. Whatever it may be, Tarantino has presented pure storytelling at its finest. It's now one of my favorite movies ever. I loved it very, very, very much. 10/10