Not as good as the first, still keeps it fresh

Rating: 9/10 (10 June 2017)

Now this is an interesting continuation. It really barely has a lot of what the original has. There is action but it is so much different.
For one, this movie takes influence from many different other genres. The first pretty clearly took influence from samurai and kung-fu movies. And this one very clearly takes influence from westerns. It doesn't feel out of place though, especially with Budd in this movie. This movie is also more dramatic. And comedic. It's a weird tonal shift from the original movie but it still works. Somehow.
The tone doesn't work quite as well balancing the drama and the comedic as say Pulp Fiction or Inglourious or Django or even the first Kill Bill. But just knowing this is a Tarantino movie makes it work. And it doesn't get rid of all Asian influences. Lest we forget the funny and pretty great Pai Mei sequences? Now this movie also takes itself a lot slower. It starts with a great little talking to the audience with a tension filled score under it. And then it slows down with showing us the wedding rehearsal where this whole bloody story begins. Then, she goes after Budd, fails and is buried alive. Then we go back even further so we know how she got all the kung-fu she knows. Then it is fairly linear. I can see how this would feel jumbled, but Tarantino takes real care of these sequences with fantastic editing and shots.
Although done with more western flair, the movie has plenty of style. Just done differently. For one, the battle with Elle is a lot more comedic in tone but shot fantastically. And she doesn't really die, just gets a more poetic justice sort of end. And Elle kills Budd with a black mamba. But style just oozes from the Pai Mei stuff. Plenty of kung-fu creativity.
It's really hard to explain why this movie works because it almost seems like a mess the way I'm describing it. I think one is more of a presence of Bill and Elle because they are both very good characters. I'd say the other thing is that even if it is more of a continuation rather than a sequel, it differentiates itself enough to feel fresh. Especially near the end it is more dramatic with the Bride's daughter being alive. And of course the western edge is also very different as well as the only person the Bride actually kills in this movie being Bill.
But the end of the movie is also where some problems arrive. I thought the writing was great for Bill typically. Especially his thing about superheroes. But truth serum? Really? That has to be the dumbest thing in a Tarantino movie yet. And the actual fight that we have been waiting about 4 hours for lasts maybe 30 seconds. Although very well choreographed and suitably emotional, it is way too short.
But on an overall scale, its a great sequel. It has all the visual flair, style, and fantastic musical choices of the first and keeps it fresh as well. Kill Bill Vol 2 gets a 9/10.