Quentin Tarantino
-
2004
Although I was slightly disappointed with
Kill Bill, Vol. 1 it was mostly due to the very high expectations I have for Mr. Tarantino. He is easily one of the finest directors of his generation. I believe this would be true even if he had only given birth to
Pulp Fiction.
Kill Bill, Vol. 1 didn't achieve the greatness I had hoped, but then again it was only the first half of the film.
Kill Bill, Vol. 2 completes the work and does a magnificent job of it. There was no disappointment this time around. In this film we learn so much more about the characters who were reduced to simple swords and fists in thefirst installment. We learn of their motivations, their stories, and their past.
Where
Vol. 1 largely dispensed with Tarantino's stellar dialogue,
Vol. 2 has it in spades. We get a memorable scene with the Bride and Bill in the early stages of their romance and another beautiful conversation at the climax of the film. These conversations, which include very little action but a great deal of suspense, bring a depth and understanding to the characters that was lacking inthe first installment. There are also great scenes with the Bride and
California Mountain Snake (Daryll Hannah), as well as a morbidly funny sidebarin which we follow Bill's brother Budd (Michael Madsen) to the bar where heworks as a bouncer.
This is not to say that the film has no action. Far from it. It is a satisfying mix of action and character development. I look forward to the time where I can watch both films back to back. I am certain the whole will be even better than the sum of the parts. After
Pulp Fiction, this is Quentin's best film. Let's just hope he doesn't take another 6 years to make his fifth film.
Side Note:Before I saw this film, I won an auction for an unlimited movie pass from
United Artists/Regal Entertainment Group. It cost me $400 and I can use it until December 31, 2004. I'm tracking how cost effective it's being for me on each film.
2 tickets * $8.50 = $17 I would have spent.$400 / 2 tickets = $200 / ticket so far