Having something to say

Rating: Null/10 (19 April 2004)

In trying to figure out why Kill Bill Volume 2 lacked the punch of Volume 1, I am left with two possibilities: either, I am a bloodthirsty action-movie addict unsatisfied by the relative lack of limbs, or Tarantino's dialogue did not live up to my expectations. Fortunately, on Saturday night, I recalled the prophetic words of Ms. Mia Wallace who basically asked Vincent Vega one night at Jackrabbit Slims, "Why do people feel the need to fill uncomfortable silence with B.S.?" She then became quite lively when it turned out that Vincent actually had something on his mind, and it turned into a fun conversation. From what I've seen in this movie, Mia Wallace would have walked out on a date with Bill. Here, the majority of the conversations are rather unnecessary. From Budd and Elle discussing "Which one are you filled with" to Bill's long-winded discussions of life and death and superhero mythology, there is a sense of aimlessness to the monologues. Compare "Ezekiel 25:17," or Tim Roth's set-up to introduce himself to the gang in "Reservoir Dogs." Bill is blowing hot air compared to any one of them. (O-Ren Ishii came close to getting somewhere with her warning to the Yakuza.) I seem to be in the minority opinion here, though about the quality of conversation. Frankly, I preferred the silent treatment that O-Ren Ishii gave The Bride to Bill's death-by-monologue style. Dialogue should be led by intention: Bill's questioning towards the end of the film seems to have absolutely no bearing on his ultimate wish to see The Bride dead. So, it seems to be filler material. By the way, (SPOILER) if there's anything to address in dialogue, why not address that The Bride's about to kill her daughter's father? And why doesn't it bother the kid that Daddy's gone, after he's the only one she's seen for years? I suppose it was the climax of the film that disappointed me most: maybe it's just that the Tokyo showdown was so much more elegant and over-the-top that it feels like it should have ended the film rather than (SPOILER) a sitdown bit of swordplay in a backyard. In terms of cinematography and music, the film is also not quite up to the level that Kill Bill Volume 1 scored (b&w sequences, Zamfir music, anime, shadow swordfights.) Fortunately, the Pai Mei sequence harkened back to the cinematic style that was all over Volume 1. Ultimately, Kill Bill Volume 2 is an inferior but still worthwhile product. The showdown with the Crazy 88 and O-Ren Ishii will be Kill Bill's image in popular memory for years to come. VOLUME 1: ****. VOLUME 2:***.