Tarantino Magic

Rating: 9/10 (26 October 2003)

Kill Bill Volume 1 is the 4th (well known) film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, and it has his mark stamped all over it, and that is by no means a bad thing.
It has a very Tarantino cast, with "washed up" celebs, and (of course) a few of Quentin's faves, Michael Madsen (Budd) and wonderful Uma Thurman (The Bride). It also has a very unique soundtrack, and every track fits in perfectly, from the spine-chilling revenge song to the brilliant western-style music during the standoff at the end.
It is well documented that the film is violent, and I reckon that it is the most violent film that I have seen. However, the violence is done brilliantly. It is wonderfully sickeningly funny in parts, and terrifying in others (the anime section is tense and splattered with fountains of crimson). It has even been "toned down" for the Western release, as the action becomes black and white during the incredibly violent fight at the end (Eastern audiences are given it in its full colour glory).
Therefore, I must recommend that if you cannot take violence, then this is not for you. Fight Club and Reservoir Dogs are tame by comparison. However, if you are able to take the gore as being a part of the film, as being funny and dramatic, then you really must see this film.
I have heard comments that the film has no plot, and I have to disagree. True, it does not have a very complex plot, and it does not make any witty references to pop culture, but it was always going to be compared to Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction. However, the majority of the first hour of the film is devoted to the (back)story about the Bride and the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad, including a wonderful anime sequence.
You DO NOT have to have seen Sonny Chiba films, spaghetti westerns or have any real background knowledge aboutEastern cinema. All you need to be able to do is appreciate it, and maybe notice the odd reference (eg. standoff with western-style music).
There were very few things wrong with this film. There was the odd moment of dialogue which was not up to Tarantino's standard, it was a little slow in places and I didn't like the way they bleeped out The Bride's name, but these are small points.
Well, you may have guessed that I really enjoyed this film. It is as good as anything Tarantino has made, though it isn't quite Pulp Fiction, but I think that is the point. Watch this in a cinema with good sound (superb use of surround sound).
9