This Day in Theaters: Oct. 10, 2003

Kill Bill Volume 1 (2003)

 Quentin Tarantino will more than likely go down in history as one of the greatest directors of his generation, and for good reason. He brings something unique to the silver screen in each of his films and is never scared to rely heavily on the influence of the movies he enjoyed throughout his life. With the "Kill Bill" films he goes for broke bringing a highly stylized revenge story told in the mold of an east Asian action thriller. Originally intended to be one film "Kill Bill" was split into two films in order for Tarantino to tell a fuller story while at the same time not forcing audience to sit in the theater for 4 hours. In Volume 1 we get introduced to The Bride, codenamed Black Mamba, who is played by Uma Thurman. The plot revolves around her seeking out revenge on her old boss Bill and her old assassin team colleagues who attempted to kill her, while pregnant and at her wedding, for leaving the group. We then follow her on a trail of revenge from the moment she wakes up in the hospital to half way around the world in Tokyo with plenty of bloodshed along the way.

Peter Reiner of New York Magazine:

"There is no ironic overlay in Tarantino’s movies, no “commenting” on the pop schlock he’s replicating. He simply wants to remake in his own way the kinds of movies he’s always loved, and he’s about as uncynical as a movie geek can be. When French New Wave directors like Truffaut and Godard paid tribute to Hollywood pulp, they poeticized it and gave it an infusion of feeling. Tarantino’s tributes are, for the most part, far less complicated: He’s a fan, and Kill Bill is his mash note."

David Edelstein of Slate gets it short and sweet:

"When he's told in one of his movies that sex without love is an empty experience, Woody Allen says, "Yes, but as empty experiences go, it's one of the best." That's how I feel about Quentin Tarantino's fourth feature, Kill Bill, Volume 1." 

Of the few critics who weren't impressed Mike LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle is one:

"To be fair, Tarantino never asked anybody to take him seriously. But critics did anyway and set him up for the fall that he is about to take with "Kill Bill: Volume 1," a 90-minute orgy of endless sword fights, multiple severed limbs and gushing blood. It boggles the mind that after six years of silence, all Tarantino has to offer is this garbage."

Will 88 crazy Japanese gangsters get in Uma's way?

Let's get one thing straight. This movie looks great. The cinematography and directing are second to none. It also keeps itself straight to the point: The Bride is out for revenge and will do whatever it takes to kill her attackers. And to tell you the truth that is the movie in a nutshell. There aren't any scenes in which she sits back and reflects on her life, she doesn't look up an old flame, she doesn't even feel sorry for herself. We know she's pissed off and we know she will get what she wants and we also know anyone who stands her in her way will end up shooting blood out of their torso like Old Faithful. If you like action, violence, and some great fight scenes this ones for you; granted you don't mind feeling like you need a shower with all the blood that gets sprayed around. The only negative I can see is that some scenes may lag on a bit but it won't ruin the ride at all. I remember this being the most talked about movie of the year before it hit theaters and after six years out of the game Trantino delivers. So go out and rent this one today if you haven't seen it and make sure your first viewing isn't spoiled by TV editing. But I have to warn you it is definitely not for the queasy.

IMDb Score: 8.2

Rotten Tomatoes Score:  85%