It's a Tarantino film alright (well,half of one)

Rating: Null/10 (2 December 2003)

STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All Costs
In a plot that pays homage to the Bruce Lee martial arts flicks Tarantino loved during his youth (even Thurman's suit towards the end of the film is an exact replica of the one worn by Lee in Game of Death),Uma Thurman stars as 'The Bride' (codename:Black Mamba) who is left for dead,heavily pregnant,by The Black Viper Assassination Squad,in the shape of O-Ren Ishii (codename:Cottonmouth)(Lucy Liu),Elle Driver (codename:California Mountain Snake),(Daryl Hannah),Vernita Green (codename:Copperhead) (Vivica A. Fox) and the as-yet undeveloped Budd (codename:Sidewinder) (Michael Madsen) and her boss,Bill (David Carradine) on her wedding day.Four years later,she awakens from a coma to exact revenge.The story is told,in true Tarantino style,with the use of flashbacks and back story.
Tarantino has never been known as a film maker who skimps on the gory details or makes films for the faint hearted,and this film is so far from an exception it hurts.It is truly one of the most violent,blood thirsty films in recent memory.So many decapitations,in the shapes of arms,legs,hands,ankles,and even heads get slashed off,not to mention all the graphic blood spurting going on (not all of it really necessary and,in one case,even believable) that by the end of the film,you've run the risk of becoming almost totally desensitised to it.
This,would,however match the nasty,mean spirited and often gratuitous tone that runs throughout much of the beginning.This actually ends up as being off putting and even a little upsetting to be honest,and it certainly makes it an arguous struggle to make it through to the middle and ending.It starts to get better and more mesmerising here,but there are other faults that start to creep in.While the visual style and soundtrack magnetize your attention,the actual story and script begin to waver.The story itself becomes almost none existent and the script has a few implausibilities (are we supposed to take the scene where Thurman wipes out so many members of the Yakuza with a sword single handedly seriously?Why do none of the gang members use any guns?).
And,with Tarantino films admired so much for their witty dialogue and banter,this certainly is that (hopefully) rare exception.A lot of it feels too forced and overly sincere,while some ('You didn't think it was going to be that easy,did you?','You know for a second there?Yeah,I kinda did') is just plain clichéd.
Perhaps Tarantino was trying to honour his kung fu film favourites with such bad dialogue,but,to me,it often seemed like the line between homage and parody started to blur uncomfortably together.I'm sure there's some witty social commentary that I'm not getting that some IMDb reviewer will end up pointing out to me,but I found it buried far too deep to be let out.
As I said,the soundtrack and visual style were excellent and the fight scenes themselves were brilliant,extremely well chereographed and sadistically entertaining no end (though you may require a strong stomach).
So,really a film of mixed halves,very good in certain areas with a lot to recommend it,leaving you dripping with anticipation for the follow up.****