Tarantino blends beauty and carnage to create something just short of genius

Rating: 7/10 (27 April 2015)

In Kill Bill vol. 1, Tarantino uses amazing artistic technique and cinematic skill to create some of the most poetic moments in film. However, Kill Bill is shockingly violent. Unlike Tarantino's Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill's violence does not always contribute to the movie's greatness. At times, the movie's carnage adds to the art, increasing the visual and emotional power of the movie. At other times, the viewer must wonder about Tarantino's intentions, as the director pours bucketfuls of blood on shiny floors. Kill Bill floats in and out of the realm of greatness, the opening scene is a symphony from Beethoven, yet occasionally Tarantino gets caught up in the carnage and the movie temporary loses everything else. That Tarantino can masterfully juxtapose this violence with his artistic ability is only half-way redeeming. The dialogue, usually good, sometimes stunning, sometimes passable, reflects Kill Bill's tentative grasp on greatness. Kill Bill is overall, a great movie that fell short of greatness, yet definitely worth the watch.