So I *Finally* saw "Kill Bill Vol. 1"....WTF?!

[CanuckAmok]

When amd I going to stop watching Quentin Tarantino's derivitive "homages' to other peoples' works?

And in case you're wondering, that's a rhetorical question.

I don't even know how to put my contempt effectively into words...so I won't bother trying. Would anyone else like to take my lead?

[MatrixEscape]

1. It depends on what you like and why ...

I suggest seeing Vol 2 before you finalize your opinion. They are really one movie with two major flavors and realtionships.

For instance, someone I know who is not really into the genre thanked me for warning her to watch both movies before judging.

[CanuckAmok]

5. I'm just about to start watching Vol 2.

I think what bothers me is his obsession with "re-coolifying" obsolete cinematic techniques, like ths snap-zoom and the overbearing score.

People still think the seventies are cool, and we have Mr. Forehead over in LA to thank as part of the problem.

[sundog]

10. Technique is kept to a minimum in Vol. 2...

in comparative terms. It's an interesting contrast.

Vol. 2 concentrates more on character development.

[tjdee]

7. I agree with this---Tarantino wanted this to be one film.

Miramax decided nope.

I preferred the second to the first, more of a story, more acting.

The first was basically so much fighting and histrionics (which I liked, but then I like Tarantino).

[jdots]

2. My reveiw of his films

Nice sets very colorful .

[Threedifferentones]

3. I'll give it a try.

The movie blew, plain and simple.

The best part was the "Old Klingon Proverb" at the beginning. I actually laughed at that. It was all downhill from there.


3DO

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

24. The old "Klingon Proverb" was cribbed by Star Trek from the Godfather,

Mario Puzo's book, originally.

[Cadence]

4. What was Kill Bill a "derivitive homage" to?

[CanuckAmok]

6. Kidding, right?

n/t

[Cadence]

9. No.

I just don't know that much about his films or him. Just tell me.

[CanuckAmok]

11. Cinematically, particularly the fight scenes...

...was right out of seventies martial arts features, like Enter the Dragon.

Even the colour timing in the print was given that hip 'retro' look...why?

Can he not tell a simple story without resorting to cheap parlour tricks?

Reservoir Dogs was a brilliant film (although stolen nearly shot for shot from a Hong Kong B-movie called "City of Fire")...and he hasn't come close, since.

[Cadence]

16. Oh. o.k. now I see.

Your not the first person I've seen say that so I was wondering. Never saw any seventies martial arts films so I didn't know what people were referring to. I thought it was because it seemed kind of comic bookish.

Thanks for fillin me in!

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

25. Bruce Lee wore a yellow track suit with black stripe like Uma Thurman's

in Kill Bill (in the movie "Game of Death").

[madbelgiancow]

23. on Reservoir Dogs

I totally agree with you. I must confess, what I took to be his intrinsic style starts to show as more of a collection of tricks nowadays.

[Susang]

26. Actually, there's more to it than that

Or haven't you seen "Lady Snowblood"? That's the movie that "Kill Bill" is primarily lifted from, both in theme and in style. He even swiped the song. :eyes:

Lady Snowblood is fantabulous, by the way. Possibly one of the best Japanese martial arts movies I've ever seen. I highly recommend it.

[Paladin]

8. You're Entitled To Your Opinions.......

....I thought it was a brilliant film.

[CanuckAmok]

12. Why?

I'm curious. What makes it 'brilliant' in your opinion?

[NashVegas]

27. Because ...

Details, details, details.

Tarantino is in love with his material and it shows. It's as if he's right there saying, "Look, look, is that cool or what?" and slapping your thigh.

Example: The way the Bride is careful of her manners in the sushi shop and sword room, asking if she may sit down before she does, asking if she may reach for a sword before she does. Small details, but very important details.

Uma speaking formalities with a southern accent. "It was not my wish to kill your mother in front of you. But she had it comin'."

Other fight-scene details take on added dimension after you've seen KB2. Jumping on the sword blade, eye-pop, etc.

[graywarrior]

13. Saw 2 first, then 1

It's better that way. I have mixed feelings about Tarantino, but I really enjoyed the whole comic book feel to Vol 1. I was pleasantly surprised.

[madbelgiancow]

14. 1 = POS, 2 = good

just mho of course.

I should say I'm a fan since Reservoir dogs, and for me he's trending down.

[Guaranteed]

19. I only saw the first one, and didn't even pay attention to the second

half. What was better about the second one?

[madbelgiancow]

22. Well the second one has meaningfull dialogue

Tarantino style, so pretty witty at times.
It also features more of a story and good cinematography (a fight in a trailer in the desert comes to mind).
And finally, it ties the shattered pieces of pt 1 together.

It really is worthwile. I only said "good" because it is still not up to par with some Reservoir Dogs or Pulp Fiction.

I read an interview with tarantino on Kill Bill in which he said he got a lot of negative feedback on the lack of dialogue in pt 1, which made him really insert a lot more in pt 2, and as I said it helps a lot.

[salinen]

15. Tarantino

did Pulp Fiction. All else he has done is less than.

[chelsea0011]

17. I haven't got around to seeing I or II yet..........

and the reason is that I find Tarantino to be the most overrated director ever. reviewers gush over him and I just shrug my shoulders. I find his movies watchable and nothing more.

[RagingInMiami]

18. It's one story in two films

I loved them. Mix the old spaghetti westerns with the old kung fu movies and that's what you got.
If you're accustomed to the typical Hollywood movie, with the predictable formula, then you'll be disappointed.
Hat's off to a guy who wants to be different than the status quo.

[AfterBang]

20. Changes the way things are done

Tarantino had changed Hollywood after Pulp Ficttion, like Marlene Gorris did in "A question of Silence." If any one can do that, he friggin' rocks. What I would have done in KB, is talked about the 5-palm exploding heart in the first movie, then people would have forgotten about it.

[UCLA02]

21. "Wiggle your big toe."

n/t

[thedailyshow]

28. are you crazy? Kill Bill Vol.1 and Kill Bill Vol.2 are the best films

that I've seen yet from Tarantino.

[Raiden]

30. I agree!

Don't get me wrong, I've also seen Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction (I have yet to see Jackie Brown) and I loved them, but I enjoyed Kill Kill more. Kill Bill had a lot of great elements: Asian cinema (with a lot of wuxia influence), spaghetti westerns, cool dialouge, great cinematography, awesome characters, a great storyline, great acting, etc. It was a really arty film and I liked that about it.

I agree with what most have said: Vol 1 wasn't as good as Vol 2. Vol 1 was full of nonstop action and I liked this about it, but it left little room for character development and dialogue. That was where Volume 2 came in. It tied up all the loose ends from Volume 1 and was full of emotion, great acting, and wonderful dialogue. The two volumes complement each other extremely well: Vol 1 - kinetic energy, action, Asian cinema, wuxia and comic book elements, and had awesome fight scenes. Vol 2 - Spaghetti western elements, character development, background info, great dialogue, and a happy ending.

I think you can only judge Kill Bill vols. 1 & 2 as one film, that's how QT wanted it. Kill Bill is probably my favorite movie EVER. I especially appreciated how likeable and relateable all the characters were (with the exception of Elle). I mean even though Bill was a cold-blooded killer, he was just so cool and such a badass. All in all, Kill Bill was a pretty kickass movie.

[gottaB]

29. Watch them both, then decide

I agree with the others here. We refused to see it in the theatre, and avoided renting volume 1 until both volumes were available. After the first half, I was kind of restless and annoyed. Boy, was I glad I sat down for part two. It was one of the best movies I saw in 2004.