Jon Monsarrat review: Not too violent or arty

Rating: 8/10 (26 April 2004)

There's something about violence, where if it's cartoony, then it's just fun to see stuff blow up. Like most action films. But if it's overly realistic, such as Black Hawn Down, a war film, then it's like being in a war. That's just horrifying. Nobody thinks a war experience is a fun thing to see at the movies.
Except for Quentin Tarantino fans, who have something of the sick humor about them. Pulp Fiction has a lot of real pain mixed in with happy music and likable sadists. I sort of liked Reservoir Dogs but the endless blood was too much for me. The pain is realistic, not cartoony.
I'm turned off by that, so I skipped Kill Bill Volume One and I almost didn't see Volume Two. But I went and fortunately the violence was cartoony and generally fine. On a par with Training Day. Not as bad as RoboCop. So having gotten past that, yes, the film was interesting, arty and very creative, often funny, with several neat twists.
Who should see this film:
-- Action film junkies, but not young teens
-- Anyone who's been curious like me but worried about violence, you'll be fine
I'll give Kill Bill: Vol. 2 an 8 out of 10.