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I saw Quentin Tarantion's latest opus Kill Bill vol. 1 yesterday afternoon and I think it is one of the best films of the year.
Now I know most of you are too young to see this in the theatres, but for those who have, what did you think of it?
It's got the Tarantino trademark style: dark humour, dramatic shifts in time, sharp dialogue, hypnotic music and lots of violence. Uma Thurman plays her role excellently, which shouldn't really be too surprising as The Bride was designed just for her (she actually suggested the concept to Quentin during the making of Pulp Fiction). While Tarantino's scripts tend to feature sharp patter between his characters, dialogue in this film is more understated, taking a back seat to the action sequences. Speaking of the action sequences, Tarantino produces his bloodiest work yet, with dozens of limbs being severed and gallons of blood jetting into the air. Despite the recent trend of filmmaking that makes heavy use of computer effects and actors flying through the air on wires, Kill Bill's scenes are relatively lo-tech yet thrilling and balletic. Everything is hyperstylized, especially the spurting of blood from open wounds. Though some may find that same (over)use of jetting blood, the effect becomes source of laughter itself. That effect was intentional and is strangely effective, while in other films it would be cheesy and excessive.
The decision to split the film into two volumes was a good one, as it allowed two important scenes (one of which is completely animated yet still very much maintaining Tarantino's style) to remain in the film. The second volume, due for release in February, will be eagerly anticipated by anyone who sees this first part.
In the hands of another filmmaker, Kill Bill would have been a satire of the genres which inspire it. In Quentin Tarantino's hands, Kill Bill is a powerful homage to those influences.
Now I know most of you are too young to see this in the theatres, but for those who have, what did you think of it?
It's got the Tarantino trademark style: dark humour, dramatic shifts in time, sharp dialogue, hypnotic music and lots of violence. Uma Thurman plays her role excellently, which shouldn't really be too surprising as The Bride was designed just for her (she actually suggested the concept to Quentin during the making of Pulp Fiction). While Tarantino's scripts tend to feature sharp patter between his characters, dialogue in this film is more understated, taking a back seat to the action sequences. Speaking of the action sequences, Tarantino produces his bloodiest work yet, with dozens of limbs being severed and gallons of blood jetting into the air. Despite the recent trend of filmmaking that makes heavy use of computer effects and actors flying through the air on wires, Kill Bill's scenes are relatively lo-tech yet thrilling and balletic. Everything is hyperstylized, especially the spurting of blood from open wounds. Though some may find that same (over)use of jetting blood, the effect becomes source of laughter itself. That effect was intentional and is strangely effective, while in other films it would be cheesy and excessive.
The decision to split the film into two volumes was a good one, as it allowed two important scenes (one of which is completely animated yet still very much maintaining Tarantino's style) to remain in the film. The second volume, due for release in February, will be eagerly anticipated by anyone who sees this first part.
In the hands of another filmmaker, Kill Bill would have been a satire of the genres which inspire it. In Quentin Tarantino's hands, Kill Bill is a powerful homage to those influences.
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