The difference between two films...

Rating: 9/10 (17 April 2004)

There's a point in Volume 2, where The Bride/Black-Mamba/Uma Thurman is shot in the chest with a shotgun. She flies back a few feet and hits the ground. What happens next is unbelievable- nothing. Blood doesn't fly 12 feet into the air. But isn't this Kill Bill? Isn't it the second Volume of Tarantino's blood saga of vengeance. Yes it is, but then again- No it isn't.
I don't know. Maybe if it was somebody else- blood would have shot up. But nowhere in Vol. 2 do those annoying bursts make an appearance.
The two films are so different that nothing I read could prepare me for how Vol. 2 would flow. Considering I didn't like Vol. 1, this was very good for me. Considering some did... well, this will test their loyalty to Tarantino- or just the KILL BILL saga in general.
Looking back on Vol. 1 I can easy pinpoint many things I didn't like: The over-the-top-sickening anime sequence, the lack of depth, the lack of story, the lack of development, the lack of sanity... I could go on (you know I could)
On Vol. 2, however, there is almost nothing I can say I didn't like. Anime- none. Depth- it's like the deep end of a swimming pool. Story- told with massive heart. Development- so much it would sicken anyone who loved the first just for bloodshed. Sanity- WELL, this IS a Tarantino film (Luckily, because Vol.1- well, its not a film if it doesn't take itself seriously, is it?)
Thurman and Carradine who play The Bride and Bill (respectively) are unbelievably good. Every moment they are on the screen a love-hate feeling just drifts... Their performances flesh out the characters who were empty in Vol. 1. And, the fact that Tarantino decided to finally write helped.
Ultimately Kill Bill ends as a drama, but spins back into Homage for the credits. For those who stick around for the closing credits- you can see just how much fun Q & U (as they credit themselves) had just by the one outtake.
Uma deserves an Oscar nod for this one, and if it's not too much of a stretch, toss one to Carradine for supporting.
Before you see Vol. 2, ask yourself- "Action or Story?" Which do you prefer? Because if all you want from Quentin is a bloody-mockery of a film, you might as well stay home and watch Vol. 1.