True Super Woman

Rating: 10/10 (27 April 2004)

Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill: Vol. 2" completes the 2 volume set that began last fall, and it is simply an amazing accomplishment. The movie is stunning, and is complete onto itself unlike for example, the individual Lord of the Rings movies. One need not have seen Vol. 1 to be enthralled by Vol. 2. Tarantino is a master of context. Vol. 2 even surpasses Vol. 1, largely because this movie is more story driven. Tarantino's screenplay (along with the credited Uma Thurman) breathes life into the characters of The Bride (Uma Thurman), Elle Driver (Daryl Hannah), especially Bill (wonderfully played by David Caradine), and clarifies the juxtaposed plot thread. The dialog has the signature Tarantino crisp, quirky, whacked sensibility. In Vol. 2 Uma Thurman emerges as a powerful and commanding screen presence, a true movie star, and a gifted actor. Tarantino provided the foundation of "Kill Bill: Vol. 2", and Thurman gives it it's soul.
When last we left off, the unnamed Bride killed off 2 members of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad. Yes, she had left a trail of blood and body parts in the aftermath. Budd (Michael Madsen) and Elle Driver (Hannah) remain on her list before she kills Bill. Turns out that The Bride has a name that was actually revealed in Vol. 1-- left here unsaid. Also from Vol.1 we know that The Bride's child lives, and that Bill was named the father. So The Bride's path for revenge is no longer a straight line.
First on her list is Budd, who is Bill's brother. Somehow during their encounter, The Bride ends up buried alive. But this is merely a vehicle for Tarantino's storytelling genius. The Bride recalls her training with Kung Fu master Pai Mei (a truly excellent Gordon Liu). Using humor and amazing kung fu technique, he reveals an axiom of mastery in the martial arts: First, one has to cop to the fact that he or she knows nothing. Secondly, whatever one already knows really means jack. Brilliant.
Though Vol. 2 relies more on narrative and dialog, the action and fighting sequences are breathtaking. They are all brutal, though there is a distinct elegance inherent to them. The training sequences with Pai Mei and The Bride are visually stunning. The battle between Elle Driver and The Bride is captivating with a sense of style and humor (Driver is unable to draw her samurai sword, because they are fighting in a low ceiling trailer home). Daryl Hannah is smart, sexy, deadly, and totally hot. She is perfect as Elle. Both she and Thurman trained intensely to do what they did on screen.
David Caradine is awesome as Bill. He is slick, cool, and flaunts this arrogant air of enlightenment. He has a classic scene with Tarantino's dialog, regarding his fascination of Super Heroes, particularly with Superman. According to Bill, Superman wakes up in the morning knowing that he is Superman-- his alter ego is Clark Kent who is weak. Bill's point is that The Bride is a natural born killer, and everything else is pretense. This punctuates that The Bride even in her singular mission of vengeance, is a hero. This is an acknowledgment of Uma Thurman's performance. Her Bride is so strong of sheer will and spirit, and at the same time she dismisses some of her humanity because it clouds her focus-- to kill Bill. Thurman is that rare combination of beauty, intelligence, power, grace, and vulnerability. Her performance as The Bride is like the perfect haiku-- it's poetry.
"Kill Bill: Vol. 2" is the best movie of the year, thus far. Tarantino is a master storyteller. Uma Thurman has become a powerful and completely captivating movie presence. She should continue to take on commanding movie roles. Vol. 2 is an awesome movie.