Kill Bill: Vol. 1

Perhaps shamefully - as is the case with most of my Retro Reviews - I've never truly "seen" Kill Bill Volume 1 or 2.

"Seen" is in quotations because I'm familiar with the story and have seen enough of both of them on TV, in college dorm rooms, etc. to piece together most of what they offer. But I've never properly sat down and watched them which can sometimes be the difference of night and day. 

Immediately I was surprised that Kill Bill Volume 1 was only the 4th film by Quentin Tarantino, but when I did the math it actually made sense and despite these films feeling new/recent, Volume 1 was actually made in 2003, over 15 years ago. For some reason I had them mentally placed in the late 2000s, but yeah...point being that Quentin has come a long way since his pair of arguably most famous films (which is saying something). 

The film itself has a large reputation that precedes it, even with that kinda-sorta "seen"-it hanging above it's head and I was excited to watch something I knew would be tons of fun. As to be expected, the film gets right into the action and rarely lets up. While some moviegoers would/will likely think its corny and weird in parts, I think most are familiar with the fact that it pays large homage to the kung-fu films that came before it which, in their own special way, can be complete madness. 

Kill Bill Vol. 1 instead finds a good balance of being totally wacky like those films, but also featuring compelling characters and plot, like the majority of Tarantino's other films. And while it's only true (read: biggest) fault is feeling incomplete, it sums up to a exciting tale of revenge from one of our generation's most exciting filmmakers. 

Going into the film it's fairly obvious that the complete resolution won't be reached in the next two hours with the "Volume 1" subtitle. If I had any complaint of the film is that it doesn't really seem to be reaching any meaningful crescendo to separate the films but rather the "Volume 1" is there because executives knew it would be far too long for a single film and had to pick a split point somewhere. Originally Tarantino wanted it to be a 3.5 hour film, but Weinstein (yes, that one) pressured him to split it so that no scenes had to be cut. That point basically comes as the Bride (Thurman) is halfway through her list of taking revenge and after a big fight. It's not the biggest of issues, but I would have liked for there to been a true twist or plot development for us to mull over when it came to ending (there is a small one but I found it inconsequential), but alas, not all films necessarily need that. Other than a ill-favored ending/split, which I know other's likely don't share that opinion, I found the only other element about Volume 1 that bothered me was that some of the style felt shoehorned in or it didn't work as well as some of the other obvious call backs to kung fu films. I struggle to really complain about this because I'd rather have Tarantino going all in on his own style and a handful of elements not working out vs. him holding back but at times some of it did feel like overkill. 

Likely not the most practical of martial arts moves...

Hmmm. Something seems
sketchy about that nurse!

Otherwise? Kill Bill is an incredibly entertaining feature that continues to prove Tarantino's talent as a filmmaker - and holds up very well in 2019, proves Thurman's star power, and has a lot of fun with its violence...something that's often par for the course given the director. The story is about as simple as it gets: Thurman was "murdered" on her wedding day and wants revenge against the assassin group that betrayed her. Not having a super intricate plot helps Kill Bill because it allows for the audience to both sit back and enjoy the film, but also to tune in to its intricacies that are stashed throughout. There's actually quite a bit of plot here, almost hidden, but you don't need all of it to get from A to B, it's essentially icing on the cake. For example, an entire anime sequence that depicts the backstory of O-Ren Ishii (Liu) is captivating and ultimately, wholly unnecessary. But for many I imagine it's their favorite part of the film because it adds additional layers and switches up the style. And, whether you're invested in it or not, it adds context to the main, easy plot line.

Much to be expected, Kill Bill features abundant violence of the over-the-top variety. While I think the choreography would have likely been better if it were made today, it's still usually heads above most other action films and the fights are layered, long, and look great. There's no hyper editing or cutting here; Tarantino knows how to make an action scene and a handful of these are some of cinema's best and most memorable. The (in)famous final fight featuring the Crazy 88, Thurman in a yellow tracksuit, and literal geysers of blood feels non-stop but also never lets up on entertaining you and keeping itself fresh. It's truly over the top in the best of ways and represents Tarantino having a blast at his craft while setting a high bar for the film and its sequel. 

Ends abruptly, but shockingly. Don't...lose your head...!

I'm excited to get to Volume 2 in this series mostly because I've seen considerably less of that one than I have the first. Given that they were originally supposed to be a full length film, I imagine a back-to-back showing would have been enjoyable and I almost reviewed them as a single film. As far as a "part I" is concerned though, Kill Bill earns its reputation for being an absolute blast and some quintessential Tarantino that we've come to know and love, even more so since this film's release.

CONS

• Ending feels somewhat abrupt and as if it lacks a crescendo to send it off. Probably better than a nearly 4 hour film, but there have been Part 1s and 2s that have ended better
• Not every weird element works as well as others, but I applaud Tarantino for not holding back

PROS

• Simple plot as the main course, with lots of other delicious details to chew on
• Thurman is an absolute star here and owns the film. Great secondary cast as well, but this is truly her movie
• Strong writing and character development as usual
• Pays fun and wacky homage to the kung-fu films that inspired it. Most of the time the style switch-ups and craziness works totally in the film's favor
• Violent, bloody, and at times unbelievable. This is probably Tarantino's biggest action spectacle and it delivers
• Fun, memorable, and ages well

Rath's Review Score | 9/10