New Genre, same old Quentin

Rating: 9/10 (7 March 2004)

From start to finish, it is abundantly clear that this film was made by and for avid fans of 70's martial arts films. Kill Bill is an homage to the Hong Kong cinema of that era, and as such it oozes with references to signature films of the genre. Uma's costume during the restaurant battle scene is a duplicate of that worn by Bruce Lee in Game of Death, his final film. The swordmaker, Hattori Hanzo, is also the name of Sonny Chiba's character in the "Shadow Warriors" series. As a result, Kill Bill is best appreciated by those well schooled in Kung Fu films; however, that does not prevent those without such a background from enjoying the experience.
The movie is also very characteristic of Tarantino. Several of his screen signatures can be observed, including some reference/appearance of feet, the camera following a character for a long time without breaking, and the infamous car trunk POV shot. In addition, Kill Bill carries a 70's aesthetic similar to Tarantino's earlier films. Just as the others were inspired by the film noir, gangster films, and blackspoitation, Kill Bill shows the filmmakers love for the martial arts genre. In addition, the film renews my enthusiasm for Tarantino by demonstrating that he can work in multiple genres. One can only wonder what else he might decide to do next. I hear he likes westerns.