Left me feeling underwhelmed....

Rating: 2/10 (25 February 2004)

( SOME SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW )

Don't believe the undue hype surrounding this movie.
"Why? It has many good aspects", you may say. "Tarantino, Yuen Wo Ping choreography, Uma..."
Well, it may have these aspects, and the fight choreography is excellent, but a film does actually require things like 'plot', 'character', and 'script'. This movie is sadly lacking in all three. Yes, there may be a whole heap of 'cool' references, OTT fight action and extreme violence, but without a grounding; a film without a framework.
Does anybody care about this 'Bride' character? Not really. After all, we all know there is a follow-up movie.
"Ah," You again may say, "willing suspension of disbelief is required". But how can you 'believe' in a film, which makes no attempt to justify it's own 'reality'? In the 'Matrix' films for example, the characters were capable of such incredible kung-fu, because they had disconnected from the artificial 'real' world we live in, and were able to 'bend' reality.
Can Uma Thurman do this? Apparently she is able to defeat forty men, perform impossible acrobatics and be virtually indestructable. How? You tell me.
Tarantinos' obsession with base topics ( Rape, Murder, contract killings...even peodophillia in the 'Anime' section of the movie ), are also on show. There is just no contrast in this film. No light and dark. SPOILER*** When Uma kills one of her rivals in front of her young daughter, there seems to be little reaction: a total lack of humanity pervades the movie....
"Comic Book stylings" would be your exasperated reply. Yet even comic-book tales have pathos and emotion. Superman doesn't cold-bloodedly kill Lex Luthor, then rape Lois Lane, does he?!
Sure Tarantino is talented at what he does; all his directorial flair conjures up great camera angles and clever editing. But 'Kill Bill' as a great movie? I don't think so....