Tarantino's Amazing Comeback!

Rating: 10/10 (2 April 2005)

For about 100 years (well actually six), we anticipated the return of Quentin Tarantino to cinema. Many people didn't know what he was doing, and there was some ill-conceived rumors going around that he was dead. In 2000 or 2001 Tarantino was involved with a Broadway production with Marisa Tomei, but most of us don't want to see Quentin act. He was put on this earth to direct. I was immensely excited when Kill Bill was announced, yet very critical when I found out that it would be split into two parts; Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Kill Bill Vol. 2 (due out four months after the release of Vol. 1). When I walked into the theater on opening day for the first showing in Arizona (I believe it was 10:50) I didn't know what to expect. I wanted to expect an awesome tour-de-force film filled with mind-blowing visuals and unlimited coolness, but I had a pretty good idea I'd be let down. Well as soon as the credits started to role, I realized I was wrong. This was not an excellent film, it was something even better. Kill Bill Vol. 1 is a masterpiece, a surprising masterpiece.
There are so many magnificent qualities of Kill Bill Vol. 1. The visuals are to die for, the action sequences are exquisitely choreographed (especially the one at the House of Blue Leaves), the writing is crisp and not repetitive, the directing is top-notch and the acting for the most part is very good. Uma Thurman delivers perhaps her finest screen performance as The Bride, an ex-hit woman gunned down at her wedding by her previous boss, Bill (played by Kung Fu's David Carradine - in a terrific role) and his other protégés including O-Ren Ishii aka Cottonmouth (Lucy Liu), Vernita Green aka Copperhead (Vivica A. Fox - in a tiny role), Budd aka Sidewinder (in an even tinier role) and Elle Driver aka California Mountain Snake (Daryl Hannah - in an interesting role.) During the process of shooting up The Bride's wedding, The Bride miscarriages and goes into a coma for four years. After she awakens she goes on a kill crazy rampage to get revenge on those who tried to kill her and murdered he would-be baby girl.
In Vol. 1 the Bride only gets to numbers 1) and 2) on her hit list which are Vivica A. Fox and Lucy Liu, but in Vol. 2 Carradine, Hannah and Madsen are said to have way bigger roles.
All in all, Kill Bill Vol. 1 is a masterpiece of a film and a hell of a way to start a film saga. Although it isn't nearly as groundbreaking as 'Pulp Fiction' or 'Reservoir Dogs', I think it will be more widely popular because of it's more mainstream attitude (not to mention it's not an independent feature like 'Pulp' and 'Dogs'). If you haven't already, go out and rent this along with Vol. 2. Thank you Tarantino, Kill Bill was worth the six year wait. Grade: A (Screened at AMC Desert Ridge 18, Phoenix, Arizona, 10/11/03)
MADE MY TOP 300 LIST AT #39: (The 4th Best Film of 2003)