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Craig Younkin
Movie Review
Kill Bill: Volume 2
By Craig Younkin Published April 20, 2004
US Release: April 16, 2004
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Uma Thurman , David Carradine , Daryl Hannah , Michael Madsen
R for violence, language and brief drug use.
Running Time: 137 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $66,372,000
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Uma Thurman , David Carradine , Daryl Hannah , Michael Madsen
R for violence, language and brief drug use.
Running Time: 137 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $66,372,000
B+
Vol. 2 does so many things right that it's almost a shame that Tarantino didn't take out the more useless material.
(For those who saw my "D+" review on opening weekend, I have one thing to say to you: April Fools!)
It's been four years since The Bride (Uma Thurman) was shot and left for dead at the wedding chapel and now she has dispatched two members of the Deadly Viper Squad. Vernita Green (Vivica A Fox) and O-Ren Ishi (Lucy Liu) are already dead and now her war path continues with the next two names on her list: Budd (Michael Madsen), who is now a bouncer, and Elle Driver (Daryll Hannah), who is still working for Bill. But these two are just side dishes to the main course, which is the final confrontation between her and the leader of this deadly organization, Bill (David Carradine).
We are also treated to two flashbacks; one of which is a confrontation outside of the chapel between her and Bill before the killing took place; the other centers around The Bride's tutelage with a high priest named Pai Mei (Chia Hui Liu). Both scenes become important when her and Bill finally meet again.
Kill Bill Vol. 2 doesn't have nearly as much action as Volume 1, but this one is such a gigantic accomplishment over the first that you really don't care. I was one of the people who thought the fights in Vol. 1 looked cartoonish and cheesy, but this time around director Tarantino doesn?t use any of that. The result is a much more suspenseful and truer dramatic effort.
While the final confrontation with Bill isn't quite the "duke-it-out" showdown I was expecting, it still ends with a really impressive looking swordplay sequence. The real gem comes halfway through with the fight between The Bride and Elle Driver. The punches come fast and brutal as these two beat the crap out of one another, and Tarantino's use of close-ups and double frames really heightens the tension.
Tarantino also proves to be an expert in tapping into our sympathy. Early on, he adds injury to injury when The Bride is buried alive in a frightening and horrific scene. And the music, conducted by The RZA and Robert Rodriguez, expertly gets us to want to cheer her on more. This is all combined nicely with some really goofy humor, the funniest of which coming with the flashback segment of Pai Mei.
Tarantino also gets topnotch performances from everybody. Like the first film, Thurman effectively conveys her character's pain and bloodthirsty vengeance; this is probably the most compelling action hero I've seen in a while. David Caradine is surprisingly versatile in the role of Bill, showing his violent aggression but also has a much softer side, which makes the character interesting; and Daryl Hannah is vicious in her role.
Kill Bill Vol. 2 does so many things right that it's almost a shame that Tarantino didn't take out the more useless material. Things such as talk of regret, a needless flashback as to why The Bride chose to leave Bill, and a confrontation between The Bride and Bill's father figure are needlessly thrown in and detract from the main point. But as I said, this movie does so much right; Tarantino shakes off the silliness of Vol. 1 and comes up with an amazing action film that will blow you away.
It's been four years since The Bride (Uma Thurman) was shot and left for dead at the wedding chapel and now she has dispatched two members of the Deadly Viper Squad. Vernita Green (Vivica A Fox) and O-Ren Ishi (Lucy Liu) are already dead and now her war path continues with the next two names on her list: Budd (Michael Madsen), who is now a bouncer, and Elle Driver (Daryll Hannah), who is still working for Bill. But these two are just side dishes to the main course, which is the final confrontation between her and the leader of this deadly organization, Bill (David Carradine).
We are also treated to two flashbacks; one of which is a confrontation outside of the chapel between her and Bill before the killing took place; the other centers around The Bride's tutelage with a high priest named Pai Mei (Chia Hui Liu). Both scenes become important when her and Bill finally meet again.
Kill Bill Vol. 2 doesn't have nearly as much action as Volume 1, but this one is such a gigantic accomplishment over the first that you really don't care. I was one of the people who thought the fights in Vol. 1 looked cartoonish and cheesy, but this time around director Tarantino doesn?t use any of that. The result is a much more suspenseful and truer dramatic effort.
While the final confrontation with Bill isn't quite the "duke-it-out" showdown I was expecting, it still ends with a really impressive looking swordplay sequence. The real gem comes halfway through with the fight between The Bride and Elle Driver. The punches come fast and brutal as these two beat the crap out of one another, and Tarantino's use of close-ups and double frames really heightens the tension.
Tarantino also proves to be an expert in tapping into our sympathy. Early on, he adds injury to injury when The Bride is buried alive in a frightening and horrific scene. And the music, conducted by The RZA and Robert Rodriguez, expertly gets us to want to cheer her on more. This is all combined nicely with some really goofy humor, the funniest of which coming with the flashback segment of Pai Mei.
Tarantino also gets topnotch performances from everybody. Like the first film, Thurman effectively conveys her character's pain and bloodthirsty vengeance; this is probably the most compelling action hero I've seen in a while. David Caradine is surprisingly versatile in the role of Bill, showing his violent aggression but also has a much softer side, which makes the character interesting; and Daryl Hannah is vicious in her role.
Kill Bill Vol. 2 does so many things right that it's almost a shame that Tarantino didn't take out the more useless material. Things such as talk of regret, a needless flashback as to why The Bride chose to leave Bill, and a confrontation between The Bride and Bill's father figure are needlessly thrown in and detract from the main point. But as I said, this movie does so much right; Tarantino shakes off the silliness of Vol. 1 and comes up with an amazing action film that will blow you away.
Craig's Grade: B+
Craig's Overall Grading: 340 graded movies
| A | 10.9% | |
| B | 41.8% | |
| C | 31.8% | |
| D | 15.3% | |
| F | 0.3% |
'Kill Bill 2' Articles
- Jennifer's review A
April 20, 2004 Ultra-cool and packed with emotion, the concluding half to Tarantino?s fourth film has a kind of magic that keeps you thinking about it long after it has ended. -- Jennifer Alpeche - Crowd Report: "Kill Bill Vol. 2"
April 17, 2004 -- Lee Tistaert - Friday Box Office Analysis (4/16)
April 17, 2004 -- Lee Tistaert - Gareth's review C+
April 16, 2004 While the film disappoints, it is still decent entertainment. -- Gareth Von Kallenbach - Lee's review B+
April 6, 2004 Regardless of any complaints with this volume, fans should be able to say that what we have witnessed over the last six months has been a true classic experience. -- Lee Tistaert
