Movie Review: Kill Bill Vol. 2

By Zack Roddy

On April 16, volume two of Quentin Tarantino’s two part revenge epic Kill Bill came to theatres. The first film was a commercial success, garnering Uma Thurman and Tarantino nominations at the Golden Globes. Volume one of the revenge quest was labeled Quentin Tarantino’s “splatter opera”, while the second volume is what Tarantino self-labeled his “spaghetti western”. The former video store clerk struck it big with his first film Reservoir Dogs, but then became a household name when his critically acclaimed Pulp Fiction hit theatres back in ’94, with Tarantino taking home the Best Original Screenplay Oscar. After brainstorming the idea of Kill Bill with Uma Thurman, Quentin waited almost eight years to finally present Thurman with the script for her thirty-first birthday. After the film was finished Tarantino was ready to present his three hour epic to audiences around the world, but Miramax thought it to be too long. So Tarantino suggested they cut the finished project in half, thus making two parts to the series.

Vol. 2 picks up with the Bride (Thurman) having slayed former Deadly Vipers: Vernita Green (Vivica A. Fox) and O-Renn Ishii (Lucy Liu). All that is left on her Death List Five are Budd (Michael Madsden), Elle Driver (Daryl Hannah) and of course, Bill (David Carradine). Vol. 2 explains Vol. 1 loose ends. For one, when the Bride was supposedly murdered on her wedding day, it was not really her wedding, but her wedding rehearsal. Bill had finally tracked the pregnant Bride down after a three month search. After finding her with another man, with his child no less, he hired a hit on her. When the Bride finally tracks Bill down, she discovers that her daughter is still alive, which leaves her shell-shocked and vulnerable.

The second volume of Kill Bill still retains some traits from the first half of the film. In the first film, while the Bride tries to revive her unconscious limbs after being in a four year coma, she goes into flashback of the death of her rival O-Renn Ishii’s parents, and the story of O-Renn’s life. This same thing happens in Vol. 2. This time however the Bride has been buried alive by Budd after being shot in the chest with rock salt. She then goes into flashback of when she had no combat skills whatsoever, and had first met Bill. Bill recommends her to be the apprentice of Pai Mei (Gordon Liu). Pai Mei is an ancient Chinese sensei who transforms the Bride into a woman warrior. Pai Mei absolutely despises Americans, and women, but soon the Bride garners his respect.

Kill Bill Vol.2 is an excellent movie. The second volume defined Thurman’s talent as an actress, because Tarantino went back to his Pulp Fiction roots by making part two have a decent amount of entertaining dialogue. In Vol. 1 all Thurman had to do was brandish a samurai sword and act tough, but in Vol. 2 it was important for her to have decent acting abilities. Adding to the fun is the enchanting score by Robert Rodriguez and The RZA. The film also has a great soundtrack featuring Charlie Feathers, Johnny Cash, and Malcolm McLaren. You can currently rent or purchase the first volume at your local video store. If you pick any movie to see this weekend, see Kill Bill Vol. 2, it is an excellent follow up to the first film.