, I commended Tarantino for creating a visual masterpiece, that paid homage to past film masters, but lamented the one dimensional nature of the 24/7 revenge plot. While revenge remains ever present in this second installment it doesn't detrimentally dominate Kill Bill Vol. 2 to the same degree. It's this slight variation in thematic emphasis that propels Kill Bill Vol. 2, and Vol. 1 retrospectively, from brilliant gore fest to cinematic masterpiece.
In Vol. 2, Tarantino is more concerned with substance than style. That is not to say that the visuals are not remarkable, they are, but after watching Vol. 2 you'll realize what essential Tarantino ingredient was missing in Vol. 1. The secret recipe that separates Tarantino's films from ordinary fare, and which is present in abundance in Vol. 2, is....drumroll...thought provoking dialogue.
Think back, if you will for a moment, to Pulp Fiction. What made that movie unique was the surreal insight, expressed in conversations regarding Whoppers and other mundane subjects, and not the violence that elevated the genre to a new level. Whether its Bill and The Bride engaging in verbal foreplay on the church steps or Bill's Superman soliloquy, Tarantino reminds us, once again, of the power and importance of thoughtful dialogue. Hasta La Vista Baby this ain't.
These brilliantly crafted oratory duels have the capacity, that cinematography and special effects don't, to simultaneously put the unfolding events into greater perspective as well as expand our boundaries of comprehension. All the flying Samurai's in the world can't make up for a badly written script.
In the process of developing the characters, more fully, Tarantino turns the violence down a relative and realistic notch. Fewer people not only die, in Vol. 2, they do so in a less gratuitous manner. Less is more, in this regard, in that each passing serves as a reminder of how precious having the opportunity to live one's life in peace actually is.
Some may take offense at being asked to have sympathy for the devil. The Bride, is after all, a retired assassin. Everything is relative and Kill Bill serves as a potent reminder that those who live by the sword more often than not are destined to die by the sword. You can't make that point without unsheathing your Hanzo sword.
This review wouldn't be complete without giving kudos to both Thurman and Carradine. This odd couple have chemistry and that enhances the potency of their respective character's motivations. Their performances are so convincing that you too will want to Kill Bill.
Tarantino hits his stride in Kill Bill Vol. 2 and turns this two-part epic into a cinematic masterpiece.
Running time - 136 minutes
Roger Ebert's Review
Peter Travers / Rolling Stone Review
Rotten Tomatoes Reviews
Kill Bill Official Web Site
