The Disneyland of Asian action films, or Welcome to Quentin's World

Rating: Null/10 (13 October 2003)

For fans of Hong Kong kung fu, Japanese samurai and yakuza, Italian westerns, and other disreputable (usually foreign) genres, Quentin Tarantino has fashioned an alternate universe in Volume 1 that will feel wonderfully familiar and comfortable, yet not without a host of constant surprises. He does it all with a cinematic flourish that is almost nonexistent in Hollywood anymore, which might explain why he had to go to China and Japan to do it. There isn't a single wasted shot or motion or edit in this film. Those of us who "get it" (and by that I mean those for whom it plugs right into the subconscious region of our brain) are immediately swept up in Quentin's world and taken along on a wild, gripping, compelling ride.
I would argue that Volume 1 marks the first true Asian/Hollywood film hybrid in that it represents a complete fusion of Asian and American sensibilities and styles. Moreso, I would argue, than ENTER THE DRAGON, THE YAKUZA, FACE/OFF, and THE MATRIX, to name a few you might suggest. For one thing, Tarantino is one American director who truly loves the Asian action genres he recreates here (anime, samurai, yakuza, kung fu, etc.) and has totally immersed himself in them. He has also surrounded himself with distinguished Hong Kong and Japanese collaborators, not to mention a Chinese crew. When he shoots Asian-style action, he gets it right (or almost right, which is still more than any other American filmmaker has managed to achieve). Nor does he ever stop to explain anything (as THE YAKUZA, admittedly, had to) or condescend to the American mall audience. He just says, "Welcome to my world" and plunges us all into it. Not everyone will want to take this ride nor will everyone understand its appeal, but some of us will need no map to follow it nor have to stop and ask for directions--the route is already imprinted in our subconscious.