I loved VOL. 1, but I don't love VOL. 2...

Rating: Null/10 (14 April 2004)

KILL BILL VOL. 2 is a very different film from VOL. 1. I don't consider it a continuation at all, but a completely separate film--in essence, "The 5th Film by Quentin Tarantino." In terms of characters, story structure, editing, film style, and even soundtrack choices, the two films are so completely unlike each other that I can't even imagine seeing them together. I simply can't see how VOL. 1 wouldn't be completely dragged down by VOL. 2. I honestly feel that those viewers who have not seen VOL. 1 and are not familiar with the various action genres that inspired Tarantino are in perhaps the best position to enjoy VOL. 2.
VOL. 2 is slower and more devoted to dialogue and character, a task made easier by the much smaller cast of characters (two major characters, four significant supporting ones). Which would be fine if the dialogue was clever or profound or had the black comic edge of the first film. Or if the characters were developed at all. I found the characters interesting (and wonderfully played by the cast) but I didn't learn enough about them. I never got drawn in or emotionally engaged the way I was with the first film. There's a lot of dialogue but not much information. We're asked to believe in a love story at the heart of it, between Bill and the Bride. I never bought it. So the emotional pay-off--when it came--meant nothing to me. I should have been in tears, but I didn't feel a thing. I felt cheated. If, as a viewer, you accept the love story then you'll have an easier time with this film than I did.
There isn't much action: two major fight scenes, neither of which is long enough; a kung fu training sequence; and one quick violent confrontation. The fight staging isn't nearly as clever or imaginative as it was in VOL. 1. The kung fu sequence--a flashback--belonged in VOL. 1. It's out of place here and is inserted smack dab in the middle of a suspenseful plot thread and so completely disrupts the rhythm of the piece that I was thrown off and never got back on track with the rest of the film.
If you're expecting the baroque cinematic flourishes of the first film, with its eye-catching color schemes, fluid tracking shots, spectacular action, diverse range of characters, anime sequence, and eclectic musical numbers, forget it. I didn't find anything comparable in VOL. 2, which is much more stripped down, with much of the action taking place in the desolate stretches around Barstow, California. The soundtrack consists almost entirely of snatches of Italian western music (mostly by Ennio Morricone) and Mexican-style numbers put together by Robert Rodriguez. While the musical choices on VOL. 1's soundtrack were consistently inspired, these seem kind of arbitrary and never adequately blend with the images.

I was deeply disappointed by this film. I intend to see it again, though, to try to get over my initial resistance and perhaps find a way to appreciate what Tarantino was trying to do here. As a fan of his for twelve years now, I owe him that much. But the euphoria I experienced at each of four big-screen viewings of VOL. 1 never re-surfaced during my much-anticipated viewing of VOL. 2.