April 27, 2004 > Kill Bill: Vol. 2

by Jeremy Inman

Kill Bill Vol. 2 is another of the recent revenge films to hit theaters, but if you go into it expecting massive sword fights and the same over-the-top action as the first volume, then you'll be missing out. In Kill Bill: Vol. 2, The Bride (Uma Thurman) continues her quest to kill Bill, the man who shot her on her wedding night four years ago, putting her into a comma and killing her unborn child, or so she thinks. The film picks up where Vol. 1 left off, with The Bride having slain two of the five assassins under Bill's control, and gradually working her way up to Bill himself. While Kill Bill: Vol. 2 has a lot less action than its predecessor, it has much more content. For instance, the film goes into great detail of The Bride's prior relationship with Bill, her rigorous training to become an assassin, and the truth about some misconceptions revolving around her wedding night.

Tarantino is at the top of his game, and once again proves to be a master storyteller. Kill Bill: Vol. 2 is filled with parallels and homage to the various Saturday morning kung-fu movies of Tarantino's childhood injected with his trademark style. As a director, Tarantino has truly evolved, as his compositions and camera work leap off the screen to create one memorable scene after another. Even compared to Kill Bill Vol. 1, Vol. 2 is much more focused. Tarantino isn't as all over the place as he was in the first film, and this aspect allows his art to really shine through. It seems he has really honed his skills for this movie.

Accompanying Tarantino's spectacular tale is a roundup of excellent performances delivered by Tarantino regulars and newcomers alike. At times, Uma Thurman delivers an Oscar-quality performance as she portrays the rage and frustration of woman who believes her child to be dead, and David Carradine delivers a chilling performance as the ruthless but believable Bill. Rounding out the ensemble of Bill's remaining assassins are Michael Madsen as the sadistic Budd, and Daryl Hannah as Elle Driver, Bill's vengeful and jealous right-hand assassin.

As expected from Tarantino, Kill Bill: Vol. 2 is full of references to his past films and other fan favorites. With spectacular compositional filming and storytelling, beautiful choreography by Woo-ping Yuen, and spot-on performances all around, Kill Bill: Vol. 2 comes together as one of Tarantino's finest achievements, a true modern day masterpiece.