Kill Bill

As a tribute to classic martial arts films, Quentin Tarantino transforms this classic genre into a contemporary cult favorite. The film expressed series of action, comedy, drama from scene one to the closing credits.

 The story began with “the bride”, Uma Thurman waking up from a coma. She did not desire to be treated. Her main objective was to get out of the hospital to “Kill Bill” and the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad (Lucy Lui, Vivica Fox, Darryl Hannah). Abruptly, the scene shifts to the foundation of the story. Uma no longer desired to be an assassin. Therefore, she made a decision to retire from the DIVAS and marry her love interest. Bill (David Carradine) was not happy about her decision so he decided to assassinate Uma Thurman’s character. The “DIVAS” shot up her wedding. It was reminiscent to famous gun battle scenes within classic western films. The movie returns to her recovery. She creates a hit list to kill everyone involved in her assassination attempt. One by one, she kills each member of her former co-workers. She assassinates Vernita Green (‘Copperhead’ – Vivica A. Fox) in front of her child, Elle Driver (‘California Mountain Snake’ – Daryl Hannah) in a trailer park by removing her eye after a grueling fight scene, and finally O-Ren Ishii (‘Cottonmouth’ – Lucy Liu) was beheaded in a wintery wonderland scene. One question went unanswered throughout the film. Who and where was Bill (who was later revealed in Kill Bill 2, played by actor David Caradine)? The expectation of finding Bill was my final thought. I hate cliffhangers and desperately wanted to know when Tarantino would reveal the true identity so Bill would be killed. There was one strange thing about the movie. Uma Thurman’s character was not given a name. She was referred to as “The Bride”.

It was a visual masterpiece. The costumes, mixing of colors within the scenes, set design contributes to the contemporary martial arts fantasy. I felt like I obtained a glimpse of the Japanese culture. The fight scene within the school was inspired by the film, “Enter the Dragon.” The martial arts choreography was spectacular. Uma Thurman wore a classic yellow leotard similar to Bruce Lee. There was no stone unturned visually, jumping from black & white scenes, to breathtakingly violent fight sequences, and finally a climactic battle bathed in blue.  

If you can stand the blood soaked fight scenes and constant film transitions. You will love this movie.