An adequate film, but nothing special.

Rating: 7/10 (27 October 2003)

Hi,
I'd have to say that this film is merely adequate, and far from the revered masterpiece that some people would argue it to be. The plot is hideously simple and involves Uma Thurman gaining revenge for past misdeeds. Within the storyline there are also many gaping holes that are so damning that you have to accept them as part and parcel of the film. In essence therefore, this a simplistic revenge film that is partially a homage to samurai/sword movies but mostly an exercise in cool. Quentin would certainly like to sell himself as the ultimate purveyor of cool and in this film he has picked out the right music, genre, camera angles, close-ups, etc to make a 'cool' film. But viewed objectively, is a cool film actually a good film? Well, not really; as I said before, the plot is terrible, the acting poor and those elements that denote cool have been done better in other films.
Putting all these comments aside and ignoring it's failings, it's an entertaining swordplay film that has a good soundtrack and if is going to be watched, should be watched in a cinema with the biggest screen and best sound system you can find. I cannot say however that it's a good film; it's an adequate film that merely combines good elements from other genres and films, but whilst at the same time sacrificing the story - this film is certainly less than the sum of its parts.