Certification. 18
Running Time. 2 hours 17 mins
Director. Quentin Tarantino
Cast. David Carradine, Daryl Hannah, Michael Madsen, Uma Thurman.
Rating. 58%
Kill Bill: Vol. 2 resumes where Kill Bill: Vol. 1 ended. The Bride (Uma Thurman) still has two members of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad (Budd (Michael Madsen) and Elle (Daryl Hannah)) to eliminate before turning her attention to the titular Bill (David Carradine).
In splitting the revenge epic into two chapters, Quentin Tarantino has been able to deliver two very different films, tonally. While Kill Bill: Vol. 1 was a violent action spectacular, drawing inspiration "from Spaghetti Westerns, alongside Japanese samurai, Chinese martial arts and Kung Fu movies", Kill Bill: Vol. 2 is a more sedate and dialogue-driven piece.
There's considerably less action, a lot more talking, and a legitimate effort to develop the principal characters The Bride and Bill.
In my review of Kill Bill: Vol. 1, I wrote that "Uma Thurman is The Bride, in a career-defining performance. Bruised, battered, and bloodied in almost every scene, Uma Thurman more than manages to convince in a physically demanding female role." If Kill Bill: Vol. 1 showcases Thurman's physical prowess, then Kill Bill: Vol. 2 allows the actress to demonstrate her emotional capacity. She produces a memorable character, acquitted with considerable panache.
But rather than flowing smoothly, Kill Bill: Vol. 2 repeatedly falters and lurches from scene to scene. The abrupt change in tone means the second instalment is a disappointment, especially the muted conclusion when compared to the exquisite conclusion of Kill Bill: Vol. 1 - the beautifully choreographed swordfight with O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Lui) in the Japanese formal garden in the falling snow.
Comments
Post a Comment