Hollow and unengaging

Rating: 7/10 (10 August 2005)

Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the cinema, the master of decadent violence is back. Quentin Tarantino returns after a six-year lull with Kill Bill, his homage to kung fu revenge flicks from the 1970's.
The plot? Not too taxing for those of you who were left reeling by the non-chronological approach of his previous three films.
Uma Thurman, looking gorgeous in tight fitting outfits throughout, plays well, I'm not really sure who she plays. For some, inexplicable reason whenever she is referred to by name there's a high pitched beep on the soundtrack. Anyway, I digress. Ms Thurman is credited as being The Bride. Probably because the movie opens with her assassination on her wedding day. She's left for dead after being viciously attacked, kicked, beaten and shot several times by a team of 5 deadly (well, nearly) assassins lead by Bill. She survives and, after regaining consciousness from a 4 year coma, embarks on a mission of revenge against the 4 team members and, of course, it's leader, Bill. Get it? Kill Bill. Well, come on, Kill 4 Assassins And Then Bill is a bit of a long-winded title, isn't it? So is the much-hyped 4th movie by Quentin Tarantino any good? The straight answer is I don't know.
Let me put it this way. Take Richard Burton. Not a bad actor but had an outstanding voice. My old grandmother used to say that if they ever released a record of Mr Burton reading from the telephone book, she'd be the first in line to buy it. Well, I was one of the first in line to see Kill Bill and I saw the movie equivalent of the Greater London Residential Directory A to D.
Kill Bill is a stylish treat for the eyes. Black and white, animation and a visually stunning blast of colour during a night drive through Tokyo all used to great effect; but the movie is empty. We care about The Bride's motivation and need for revenge. She lost everything at the hands of these 5 people; her unborn child, 4 years of her life and presumably The Groom. But the way she goes about it is hollow and unengaging.
The nonlinear style to storytelling that worked so well for him in his other films lets him down here. The climatic showdown between Uma and Lucy Lu is rendered dull and unsuspenseful with the revelation (in the first half-hour of the film) that Lu's character has been killed! Some parts of the fight scenes were excellently choreographed, others weren't. Some of the humour was used to great effect, some of it wasn't. But lacking most of all was the razor sharp Tarantino dialogue that slices through each of his previous movies. There were glimmers of it there but it was vastly over shone by the glimmers of light of sword blades.
You really do get the feeling that this film might've worked better had Tarantino stuck to his original plan of a 90-minute revenge flick. But instead he's been talked into splitting the flick into two volumes, doubling its original intended length. Sure everything might make greater sense once Vol. 2 is released but I resent having to pay twice to see what was always designed as a single film.
This is by far Mr Tarantino's most violent movie. The violence is comic book like in parts and gritty and unnerving in others. Tarantino fans won't be disappointed so long as they don't expect too much. This film will disappoint if you're expecting the next Pulp Fiction but with added Kung Fu.
If you don't like blood, and gallons of it squirting from severed limbs and heads, this movie is not for you. Save your money and go and rent Quentin Tarantino's first two movies on DVD. You'll have a great night.