I
give Kill Bill Vol 1. my highest recommendations. It is a must see for pretty
much anyone. This is Tarrantino's Opus. This film answers what's he's been doing
the last 6 years. Putting together this fucking movie is what.
He turned Uma Thurman into someone who seems like she could kick Keanu Reeves
ass (the director's claim that Keanu's skills in fighting are now as good as
Neo's just without the flying and super strength). I'd say based on Uma's
performance here, she could blow him into the fucking water and kill him three
times, and when it comes to acting, she also could probably move a big toe
quicker than he can wink (if you've seen the movie, this analogy will make great
sense), but Tom Arnold these days blinks quicker than Keanu. The Bride is now
seriously the best action star ever.
This film may also be the most violent film that is non-Japanese or from Japan,
and not a Horror EVER. It's not even American film though. It's surprisingly a
British production, distributed through Miramax (I noticed this from reading the
credits all the way till the end). On top all the great action, which actually
there isn't much of in terms of screen time, but it's there and it's bloody and
it is violent, there is also this amazingly engrossing story told in an amazing
fashion.
The 70's style of the film is wonderful too, from the old school "And Now
Our Feature Presentation" to the cheesy graphics, both the "blackploitation"
and "kung fu" film types. Everything about this film just rocked. The
girls were gorgeous, the fighting rocked, the dialogue was crisp, funny and
sharp, the camera work, the animated sequence, the choice to do parts of the big
fight in black & white.
The music was awesome as well, Tarrantino chose some classic tracks from past
action films, as well as original music written by Wu-Tang's (the other major
modern distributor of Kung Fu films in America next to Tarratino's Rolling
Thunder) RZA and then awesome live tracks by the band The 5.6.7.8's. Their live
music made the lead up sequence into the HUGE fight section of the film just
ripple with fun and explosion.
I'd also be naught if I didn't end this review commending Sonny Chiba's
excellent showing in this film. He brought everything he could to his role and
delivers beautifully and hilariously… a true king of his field and genre, and
a truly wise choice by Tarrantino proving he really knows his history, nostalgia
and also what will make a film good and what will make it suck.
One other thing I want to mention is Tarrantino is definitely a freaking
pervert. Some of the shots chosen, he's just a perv.
EXTRAS TO THE THIS ARTICLE:
Comment on the use of Black & White:
I think it was a nod to certain Japanese films. A lot of the best ones were artistically filmed in black and white. I think the black and white caused such a powerful showing, and especially with how it becomes color again. It had to be a perspective/camera/design choice on Quentin's part. I mean, look at the rest of the violence. I can't see the MPAA saying making just a few minutes black and white affecting the rating. Especially since there are reports that there was footage chopped from this American release. That was MPAA. Not the black & white. It worked too well for it not to have been intentional.
Here's the 5.6.7.8's (live band in the film) website:
www.fujiiya.com/the5678s/
You'll need to Alta-Vista Babelfish it
to read it, but it's worth it.