Paperjam

Kill Bill Volume 2

Film // Sledge // 10th May 2004

We'd come a long way to get to this point, and when we got there we were going to watch Kill Bill 2.

It was actually a 5 minute walk from the flat but I wanted to try and be clever with those cool lines used by our Uma in the Kill Bill 2 trailer.

Friday night at the Jug had got a bit tasty of late

Having seen the first installment on Satuday night, Sally and I (2 of Jim's paper-jam footsoldiers and Jug and Jester drinking buddies) were keen to enjoy Quentin Tarantino's fifth film whilst still in the mood i.e. the mood to see loads of people being slain by Uma Thurman's Samurai sword.

Thurman: Deadly, dodgy toes

This film is quite different to the gore fest of Volume 1, with Tarantino spending far more time developing thecharacters of Beatrix (Uma), Bud (Madsen), Elle (Hannah) and Bill, played superbly by the excellent David Carradine. The film starts releatively slowly, and continues at a pretty moderate pace throughout. As Tarantino breaks the film up into chapters, continuing from the first film, Kill Bill 2 is typical of his style of almost making a series of
short films and weaving them into one. Each scene is superbly done, though there is a slight issue of the excellent script just trying to be a bit too cool in places i.e. when 'Bill' explains that his favourite Superhero is Superman and explains exactly why, you can almost hear Tarantino saying the words.

Carradine: Cool, leathery

We discover in this film exactly why Bill brought such cruelty on Beatrix Kiddy, the key member of his 'Deadly Viper Assasination Squad', at the dress rehearsal to her wedding. Though not wanting to spoil things too much for prospective viewers, Kill Bill 2 is a good old fashioned love story. Bill cannot handle his disappointment at losing Beatrix on a professional basis, but more importantly a personal one. I think in reality, Bill could have dealt with her resignation from a team that killed people and her decision to have her child raised in a more appropriate environment rather more tactfully but you can't expect such decency it seems from a hitman, what is the world coming to?

As with each of Tarantino's films to date, Kill Bill 2 has an excellent script, brought to life by a cast of exceptional talent and ability. When the action is at a minimum the film is just so watchable thanks to the excellent dialogue. There is, I admit, a kind of nervous excitement when watching this film, you find yourself just waiting for something horrible to happen, and it invariably does.

A few comments on the main characters:

Madsen: unconcerned, hat

Bud (Michael Madsen) - Has this man ever exerted himself I wonder? Madsen's character just strolls through this film, seemingly unconcerned that there is a trained hitwoman likely to pounce on him at any moment. He plays the role superbly and though this character is slightly less evil than Mr whatever colour he was in Reservoir dogs he is still a nasty piece of work and very handy.

Elle Driver (Daryl Hannah) - Tarantino has an almost unique ability of casting people in unexpected roles. He does this with Hannah's character and it is a massive success. She is pure evil in this film and is very convincing. She is involved in some of the nastier scenes, which some may not have the 'eyes' for!

Lucy Liu's Character - Can't stand this actress so no review from me.

Beatrix Kiddy (Uma Thurman) - The only sad thing about Uma Thurman is that she only seems to do Quentin Tarantino films. I wish she was in more. She is superb in both films and is as strong a female lead you could hope for in a movie. She is excellent in these films, managing to display all the human emotions. We see her maternal side, her violent side (on many occasions), her sexy side, her vulnerable side etc etc. Her on screen chemistry with Carradine is also excellent.

Bill (David Carradine) - Carradine is superb. Though his lines are sometimes a little over the top, he manages to display one of the hardest skills of an actor. He manages to make the audience warm to him as a ruthless killer, indeed the guy that shot our heroine through the head! It is his love for her that makes us love him, though the fact that he is super cool does help - an excellent performance.

Also, watch out for the character Beatrix meets in Mexico before she meets Bill for the final scenes. She meets a Mexican Pimp, a supposed father figure to Bill, who is at best an evil man. The way he undresses Beatrix with his eyes is enough to make even the sleaziest of men squirm, he is horrible, but very watchable.

So, all in all I would recommend a visit to your local cinema to catch this movie, Its nowhere near as good as Pulp Fiction, but the quality of that film is only magnified by the fact that Kill Bill 2 is a very good film - enjoy.