Hold On To The Edge Of Your Seat

Rating: Null/10 (10 October 2003)

I saw this flick at a sneak preview on Tuesday October 7th. Some background here: I Love Quentin Tarantino. I loved 'Reservoir Dogs', and 'Pulp Fiction', and 'True Romance'. 'From Dusk 'Til Dawn' was kind of lame (it started out cool), but I thought perhaps he and Robert Rodriguez were sort of screwing around after their new found power. Next, I didn't really like 'Jackie Brown', and I Hated 'Four Rooms' (except for the Robert Rodriguez segment). I became worried. He didn't make anything for a long time, and I figured since it seemed like 'True Romance', and 'Pulp Fiction' were essentially vicarious cathartic childhood fantasies exercised through film (even though I loved them), I feared that Tarantino had graduated to the lifestyle of the rich, famous and creatively dormant. It's like he didn't have anything to fantasize about anymore, because he had enough money to live it for real.
So then we all hear about this "Kill Bill"...The story line sounded lame. Some chick goes around dispatching revenge on her enemies for the ENTIRE film?... and I wasn't impressed with the Trailers for 'Kill Bill'. It looked to me like Charlie's Angels and that scared me. Tarantino's movies are close to my heart and I didn't like the last few pieces in his body of work. As I stood in line for the movie I had the lowest expectations because I didn't want to be disappointed, and although I was really rooting for it too be awesome, I felt underneath the movie was NOT going to be very good. I jokingly told my girlfriend "be ready, because if this movie isn't good there might be a riot up in here when it's over".
So there we were... the movie starts, and I have knots in my stomach. I am looking up at the screen wincing and cringing, afraid to laugh wholeheartedly at the first few funny lines.... The kitchen fight from the Trailer plays in full -totally different music then what is shown in the preview, different pace, and rearranged lines. Better... Compelling...Well Timed... I begin to breathe a little.. I fear that I am going to be fooled into liking it for a moment, and that suddenly something LAME will happen.... My stomach is tight, my nerves are a wreck.... More of the movie unfolds... About one third of the way in my skeptism is being beaten into submission.
If you are a fan of Tarantino and have yearned for the freshness of 'Reservoir Dogs', 'Pulp Fiction', and 'True Romance', then I warn you that this movie is so wonderfully perfect, so skillfully woven in Tarantino's trademark style that some moments you will be close to tears of rejoice. This movie is an instant classic. I will say to the film buffs who complain Tarantino is trying to rip off Bruce Lee's yellow 'Game Of Death' outfit, and 'Green Hornet' Mask, and various other notables by watching the 'Kill Bill' Previews, that you WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED when you see how these elements play out in the film. This movie is like a long lost friend! This movie is like finding a diamond in the rough during a drought of long spell of unimpressive movies, where audiences are left with the likes of 'The Fast and Furious'. This movie is love at first sight!
I can't speak for the rest of the audience but EVERYONE seemed to love it as much as me AND everyone lingered around until the end of the credits like they wanted to lick the bowl afterward. Take my word for it, if you are old you will feel young again. If you are young, you will feel like you are watching a part of cinema history.... Vol. 1 is so good that I don't even mind waiting around for Vol. 2. (even though that idea still sucks, you will see what I mean.) And though I despise the idea that I will like something that EVERYONE IS GOING TO SURELY LOVE and will be so hyped it will make me sick, I cannot deny the kick assityness of this masterpiece!