Masterpiece Moviemaking from 'The Man'...

Rating: 10/10 (17 April 2004)

Watching both volumes of this wonderfully energetic epic, one is reminded how much Quentin Tarantino adores movies. His enthusiasm in paying homage to the westerns, kung-fu flicks and gangster thrillers that have shaped his life is infectious and tremendously welcome considering the vast sea of banality churned out each year by studios who are more infatuated with the bottom line than with the artistic merit.
'Kill Bill: Volume 2' is a more talkative conclusion than one would expect after having seen 'Volume 1'. Oh sure, it has tons of action sequences and tension filled scenes, but there are signature Tarantino conversations littered throughout. This film gives more weight to the first, explaining and giving dimension to the characters and their actions.
The film picks up where the other left off, as The Bride (Thurman) is half way through her list of people to kill. Budd (Madsen), Elle Driver (Hannah) and of course Bill (Carradine) are still to be found and disposed of in a gruesome manor.
What makes Tarantino so wonderful is his layering of plot threads. He is able to intersperse sequences so that we are given vital information which we are not immediately aware that we will need later in the storyline. He has such complete control of his timing and rhythm as a filmmaker, and keeps us unaware of that directorial manipulation by using humor and wit and intelligence amidst a blur of action and violence. This talent makes watching a Tarantino film an event. I am already looking forward to his next film.
The drudgery of having to slog through another special effects bonanza (yawn), or a teeny-bopper romance (puke), or an animated kiddie-flick (ugh), or a gross-out comedy (frown)... All of that nonsense is made tolerable by those dozen or so films each year that show some originality, flare, passion and brilliance. It is almost guaranteed that a Tarantino film will possess those qualities and be one to remember. That's why they already have courses at major universities devoted entirely to his small repertoire of films.
I only have two quibbles with the entirety of 'Kill Bill'. The film should have been released as one long movie. I don't mind the splice too much, except for the fact that Miramax charged me twice when they said it was not a decision based on financial gain. But I feel the film will be a delight to watch as a whole when it is released as a special edition DVD sometime this Christmas.
I must also admit to being a tad underwhelmed by the final few minutes of the saga. I like the fact that it ended in a manor that was completely unexpected... but... it almost ended with a whimper. I am making a mountain out of a mole-hill here, but I think there is a better ending to be found deep the recesses of QT's mind.
I also want to send out my mocking laughs to those who left the moment the credits started to roll. True film lovers never leave a film that they like the moment the writing hits the screen... I only do that to films I hate. It is disrespectful to the filmmaker and to the other members of the audience who don't want to peer around you and your tub-o-popcorn to see what they paid for. Anyway, those who left missed two more sequences of film. And I hope Tarantino doesn't include them on the DVD so that you'll never get a chance to see them.
As for the 'Kill Bill' legacy... I think it's a marvelous display of a genius filmmaker having delirious fun with all of his influences and showing off every ounce of talent that he can pour onto the screen. Is it as earth-shattering as 'Pulp Fiction'? No. Is it as well written as 'Pulp' or 'Reservoir Dogs'? No. 'Kill Bill' is not an example of masterpiece filmmaking. It is too silly and over-the-top for that description. But is an example of masterpiece moviemaking that very few people will ever be able to duplicate. There is a big difference between filmmaking and moviemaking, and Tarantino is a master of both. His gaggle of imitators should find their own paths otherwise they will languish in paled comparison to 'THE MAN'.
The full feature will be a joy to watch over the years. It will hold up very well over time. The first volume made my Top Ten List for 2003 and I have very little doubt that the second will make my 2004 list. I hope it isn't 2010 before Tarantino makes one of my lists again.