I think it's a damn good flick.

Rating: 7/10 (17 November 2003)

Don't read this if you don't want the plot spoiled a little bit.
Well, it's definitely Tarantino. And as it goes I also think it's a little too "stylized" in the words of my roommate. The bloody action scenes are a cross between old school kung fu films like "Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky" and Monty Python. In essence, I think it was overdone in some places ... an attempt to make the film too campy. It was obvious the director (Tarantino) was striving to achieve the campiness of originals.
Also, that whole thing about the coma-raping and Buck - unnecessary. Albeit, it does explain how she got out of the hospital and overcame atrophy, but that could have been done in dozens of other ways without such gratuitous sex-and-violence nonsense. And if I thought it was excessive (and I don't mind the intestine scenes in any of the kung fu films I've seen), then I can only imagine what other folks thought ... especially the Italians I was with in Firenze who don't mind all-out sex scenes, but edit the least bit of blood from everything.
However, this didn't mar the cinematography or story. I came away knowing I had seen a movie, and, even if I never suspended disbelief enough to fully lose myself in The Bride's suffering or whatever, I did enjoy a great revenge story. Plus, it had all the classics: the one man (or woman) army against incredible odds, the sword-blade reflection shot, the ridiculous Asian weaponry (the chain-ball-sickle minus the sickle that Go Go Yubari had), and that shot of Uma from underneath the glass dance floor was cool, too.
Yes, this movie was a great time and I highly recommend it to anyone who thinks that they can stomach it. It's well done and enjoyable, so go see it or if that's not an option, at least rent it when it comes out on DVD or video.