Ok, so some people will not appreciate it...

Rating: 8/10 (13 October 2003)

It is clear that this movie was not designed by committee to appeal to everyone and their little old auntie. I think most fans of QT will like this movie to.
Plenty of people have explained what is good about this film. There is no need for me to repeat it. Instead, I would like to respond to some of the negative reviewers who appear to have missed some major points or simply went to the wrong movie (for them).
For those who do not understand the use of animation in the middle of the film... The young girl of eleven kills the man who murdered her family. To do so she preys upon his pedophile nature to get close to him and kill him. How could this important back-story have been filmed any other way? With a real 11 year old girl? No thank you. The use of animation allows QT to examine this subplot without flinching. I thought it was very effective and the animation was very well done. The animation also served to highlight how those scenes might be perceived by a child... Surreal.

As for QT just cashing in, I would say the opposite is true. This film shows such loving craftsmanship in every second on the screen that even if I hated the film I would feel like it wasn't due to a lack of QT trying. Every detail, every scene, every musical note seems hand selected for effect.

The bleeping of the character's name makes poetic sense. She is nobody. She is vengeance. She is the weapon as well as the wielder. Her individual name will not be hers again until she has done what she must do, or perhaps it never will be. Bleeping her name highlights this fact better than simply not saying her name. It is done to make a point. (she who must not be named?)
We are not necessarily supposed to be sympathetic with the bride. She was, after all, a hired killer herself. Instead, we are supposed feel sympathy for what she represents. Or perhaps we are to fear what she has become. Perhaps a little of both.
For people complaining about the lack "reality" (yakuza using swords, etc.) I really think they went to the wrong movie. This movie is a visual portrayal of the fury of pure vengeance manifest as the human we know only as "the bride". In kabuki the bride would probably have been wearing a demon mask! It is not supposed to be realistic in the physical plane at all. It is realistic on an emotional / metaphysical level. It is not about the physical appearances, it is about the feelings and the motivation. (besides, do we really need ANOTHER gun shoot-em-up movie?)
I will agree with the detractors on one point. This film does not have the punchy dialog and snappy pacing of Pulp Fiction. I was slightly disapointed in that area. However, this might not have been a mistake, but rather by choice. The bride is alone. She does not have confidants or friends. Even the sword maker (sonny Chiba!) who helps her has very little to say to her. Having been "killed" and reborn as a demon of vengeance she is now apart from the world. Perhaps the lack of dialog was intended to add to that feeling.
Lastly, to those who are preoccupied with the notion that there was too much blood.... What did you expect a sword fight to produce? Puppies? When people fight to the death with swords I think the ONE thing you can be sure of is that there will be blood and gore. Modern movies and television skirt this issue and perhaps have tainted people's expectations.