Miramax Films
Written/Directed by Quentin Tarantino
Starring Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox, Michael Madsen, Daryl Hannah, and David Carradine as "Bill"
How does one truly describe perfection?
I had considered leaving this one sentence as the only content of my review. But, as a reviewer, I must accept that my particular vision of perfection is not everyone's. To that end, I can only revise my original statement a bit by describing Kill Bill - Volume 1 as probably the most well-crafted, best-paced, wildly entertaining piece of escapist entertainment I have ever seen. If you are reading this hoping to gain tid bits of the storyline from me in some lame attempt to avoid seeing this film, don't bother. I have sworn, if only to myself and my own set of samurai swords, to not reveal anything. You have no choice but to rent or buy this movie to become privy to the sheer beauty and scale of it.
Wow. Even I have to be impressed with that glowing description and opinion. But it does not come lightly. Mr. Q has put together a film that faithfully and lovingly pays homage to not just one, but numerous, genres that have all served to influence his film making thus far. From old Japanese samurai martial arts serials, to anime, to the spaghetti westerns of yesterday, this film incorporates them all flawlessly. If you watch this film expecting to not suspend disbelief, if you are looking for a serious drama-like viewing, stay away. You are not the audience for this movie. In fact, you are not even worthy to think about it, so stop right now. Kill Bill - Volume 1 is aimed at an audience who truly wish to be transported into another world, to be entertained on something akin to a comic-book level, to see the adage "an eye for an eye" illustrated in gloriously bloody digital color. It is a fiercely uncompromising piece that never slows down or looks back. So sit down, shut the hell up, and hold on.
Ok. Perhaps I will let slip just a few tid bits. Uma Thurman plays "The Bride", once a member of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad. You read that correctly: DiVAS. For reasons not completely revealed in this installment, "The Bride" is murdered by her compatriots (Vivica A. Fox, Lucy Liu, Michael Madsen, and Daryl Hannah - in probably one of her best roles to date) on the orders of their employer, and The Bride's erstwhile lover, Bill. They only partially succeed. After four years in a coma, The Bride is ready for revenge. We join her on her journey with dripping anticipation, knowing the entire time that poetic justice on an apocalyptical scale is about to meeted out. We are not disappointed......
Tarantino edits the story deliberately out of sequence, but does not fail in presenting a solid picture of the events as they unfold on screen. High point: The Showdown at House of Blue Leaves is absolutely, bar none, among the best fight sequences ever filmed. I stand this sequence over and beyond anything offered in any one of the Matrix movies. The last portion of Kill Bill - Volume 1 is worth the purchase price alone.
Some may argue that Kill Bill - Volume 1 is far too violent and trite for their tastes and does not compare to the great films of yesteryear. Who cares? This is entertainment on its most visceral level. You either get it or you don't. If you don't, keep moving. Kill Bill - Volume 1 does exactly what it is meant to: Entertain and leave you begging for Kill Bill - Volume 2..............