Going in for the Kill... (woo hoo!)

Rating: Null/10 (19 April 2004)

As the last chapter of The Bride's bloodthirsty saga concludes with the inevitable fade to black, Quentin Tarantino completes what is arguably the most beautiful and compelling work of his entire career thus far. With no holds barred and expectations high, Kill Bill Volume 2 was more than just an added continuation of Volume 1. It was something else entirely.
Sheathing her sword for the final act, we find The Bride (Uma Thurman) nearing the end of her "roaring rampage of revenge"... taken from the beginning of the 'Two Pines Massacre' right into Bill's own back yard. The intensity never let's up as we follow The Bride from the bottom of an empty grave to the hill tops of China, carrying the audience with her each and every exhilarating step of the way.
Most will agree that Volume 2 is a far cry from Volume 1, given that it has an emotional depth and greater development of characters that the first is supposedly lacking. The action, of course, is toned down to accommodate these changes in plot and storyline, which perhaps is the biggest difference between both Volume 1 and 2. But be that as it may, each film is as significant to the story as the other is. Volume 1 and Volume 2 are separate parts of a perfect whole, much like the yin and yang. As fantastic as they are when standing alone, the true beauty of 'Kill Bill' is in the combination of the two movies together.
The same can be said of Quentin and Uma.
Tarantino and Thurman have a chemistry that is the equivalent of peanut butter and chocolate. Though pleasing enough to the tastes when taken separately, they are at their most enjoyable when meshed together. Uma portrays The Bride with a passion and emotional intensity that I never believed her capable of, which shows that Tarantino definitely has a way of bringing out the best in her.
To say that the supporting performances are nothing short of excellent is an understatement. David Carradine turns a terrific performance as Bill, (and more than justifies why he replaced Warren Beatty) while Michael Madsen and Darryl Hannah make each and every scene they're in stand out from the crowd. But it's Thurman who carries this movie to it's absolute excellence, proving that her lone place at top billing is 100% deserved.
With spectacular cinematography and Tarantino's usual blend of classic dialogue, 'Kill Bill Volume 2' is a must see for everyone by virtue of the fact that it's quite simply a great movie. To appreciate it to it's fullest extent; however... I'd suggest taking a peek at Volume 1, because this is Tarantino at his absolute best.
Gets the clowns_n_cookies 10 out of 10. (With an extra 10 to boot)