Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)

KILL BILL: VOL. 1 (2003) / *** 1/2

Directed by Quentin Tarantino, from his screenplay. Starring Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, Vivica A Fox. Running time: 110 minutes. Rated R for extreme violence and offensive language by the MFCB. Reviewed on October 19th, 2003.

By SHANNON PATRICK SULLIVAN

Synopsis: Four years ago, Black Mamba (Thurman) was left for dead on her wedding day. Her attackers were her associates in the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad, acting on orders from their leader, Bill (David Carradine). Emerging from a coma, Black Mamba thirsts for revenge and heads off in pursuit of her betrayers. After seeking advice from aging warrior Hattori Hanzo (Sonny Chiba), Black Mamba tracks down the first two Vipers on her list: O-Ren Ishii (Liu) and Vernita Green (Fox).

Review: After six years, Tarantino finally returns with "Kill Bill: Vol. 1", a film reminiscent of his earlier hits while blazing a trail all its own. The trademark rapid-fire dialogue is still here, if less accentuated. The abundant violence is present too, but it's not as visceral as in Tarantino's earlier works. Instead, taking cues from the Japanese kung fu genre, "Kill Bill" casts its carnage in a much more cartoonish light -- there's lots of blood here, but it's rather less offensive when it's gushing out of a dismembered body like a ghoulishly corporealised Old Faithful. "Kill Bill" is basically a comic book brought to life, complete with code names and secret origins. So although the events of "Kill Bill" are utterly implausible, even the most obtuse of viewers should realise that this is entirely intentional, and only adds to the movie's palpable adrenalin. Tarantino's direction has lost none of its edge. Here he keeps things from getting predictable with a plethora of visual styles, including an absorbing anime sequence. Combined with perfectly eccentric performances from the entire cast (Chiaki Kuriyama as sadistic schoolgirl Go Go Yubari is a particular delight), the result is an exhausting, exhilarating thrill ride. "Kill Bill" makes the six-year wait entirely worthwhile -- and the four months before "Vol. 2" seem like an eternity.

Copyright © 2003 Shannon Patrick Sullivan. Archived at The Popcorn Gallery, http://www.physics.mun.ca/~sps/movies.html

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