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message in the movies
By Rev. Bruce Batchelor Glader
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Kill Bill: Vol. 2
Rated
R
Directed by Quentin Tarantino. Starring Uma Thurman, David Carradine.
Photo © Miramax Films
Kill Bill,
Volume 1 told a story of personal revenge that was so simplistic and bare
bones in plotting that it became the poster child for senseless violence.
But Volume 1 was actually just half of a film; Miramax decided to divide
the movie into two parts and release them separately. The good news is
that the movie becomes more layered and interesting as it goes along.
Through flashbacks we learn more about the wedding day massacre that left
The Bride near-death, and discover her relationship with Bill and the
other assassins that she sets out to eliminate. But, after all is said
and done, Kill Bill is transformed from an ultra-violent tribute to
martial arts movies of the 70s into a supremely silly and deadpan black
comedy that also references other film genres from the Clint Eastwood
Italian westerns of the 60s, Japanese monster movies, horror films, and
more. If a work of literature recycled so much stuff, it could hardly be
called literature, but modern filmmakers seem to delight in honoring the
films that got them interested in movie-making, and former video store
worker Quentin Tarantino is the quintessential film geek. Kill Bill is
not for all tastes – while it is smart, it is still pretty mindless. Uma
Thurman (as The Bride) gives a great performance. She is on screen for
just about the entire length of this 3 hr. 40 min. film, and there is so
much physicality and passion in her role that she is already my choice for
the Best Actress Oscar for 2004. David Carradine, as Bill, is
unforgettable, as well. The whole Kill Bill is greater than the first
part, so this movie gets one more halo and two less pitchforks than my
earlier review.
Halo and
Pitchfork Rating:
Two halos. (Goofy
fun beats out mindless violence every time.)
Three pitchforks.
(Constant profanity, intense violence and brutality.)
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