Tarantino slums it.

Rating: 8/10 (12 October 2003)

Kill Bill vol. 1 sadly isn't a movie comparable to Quentin Tarantino's masterwork Pulp Fiction. Where Pulp Fiction polarized audiences who either thought it was great, unlike any movie they had ever experienced, or just too violent, disturbing and not their cup of tea, Kill Bill lowers the bar and expectations of what Q.T. can accomplish in a film. Volume 1 will have fanboys loving it, fundmentalist hating it for the violence, and people like me who just think something is missing. Pulp Fiction was long on great dialogue, memorable characters, and ingenious interlocking stories and fates. Kill Bill Vol. 1 is a comic book full of cool looking over the top violence played for laughs, cardboard characters, and an entirely uncompelling story. Despite decent acting and beautiful style and cinematography, Kill Bill's main appeal is its action packed battles, meant to be homage's to crappy Kung Fu flicks, and jokes based on long blood spurts after heads and other body parts are cut off. I like that stuff, but I need a good story too, and Kill Bill Vol. 1 for all the love and skill that was used in making it, just feels empty. Q.T. seems to be taking the pressure off himself by aiming low.