Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)

Simply A Masterpiece

Admirable film.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Kill Bill Vol. 2 is the more Tarantino-esc of the Kill Bill movies, with less emphasis on action (although Vol. 2 has my favourite action scene from the 2 movies, that being the trailer fight) and this time I greater focus on his trademark dialogue and character building. While the Bride stole the show in Vol. 1, this time it's Bill who's the standout, with the actor having the perfect balance of charm and creepy that makes you buy his history with the Bride.This movie also has one of my favourite Tarantino moments, which makes one inch punching look like the most badass move ever invented by man! Overall, Vol. 2 acts as a very satisfying conclusion to what Vol. 1 set up, and while it may be slower, it's just as memorable, and just as rewatchable.

'Kill Bill: Volume 2' is the better, perfect half of Tarantino's bloody affair. While Volume 1 was a fast-paced and quirky action film, Volume 2 is a steadily paced drama. Toning down on the excessive violence from the first film, Tarantino adds emphasis more on dialogue. This results in a much more serious and slow-burning atmosphere that makes the ever-so-brilliant fight scenes a whole lot more entertaining. In this case, less is more. During this film, the missing puzzle pieces are all put together into the outstanding, non-linear plot line that makes this film so memorable. Despite being filled with unpredictable plot twists and a satisfying ending, the film really shines through it's superb screenplay. The film has amazing monologues and dialogue that captivates it's audience and showcases mastery of Tarantino's writing. Another great aspect of this film is the developing portrayal of The Bride. Depicted as a ruthless, invincible fighting machine in Volume 1, we see her vulnerability in this film while also learning how she came to be such a deadly assassin. Just like in Volume 1, Uma Thurman plays this role perfectly. It is also David Carradine, who plays the infamous Bill, that plays his character exceptionally well, and delivers great monologues. Overall, this is a flawless conclusion to a great and entertaining film by the ingenious Quentin Tarantino.

At the time "Kill Bill" came out, movies were a totally minor thing in my life. I watched them relatively often, but I did not pay any attention to "details". I had no idea who the director was, and the question is whether I knew at all what the director was. Besides Uma Thurman, I think I never heard of other actors back then. I rated movies on a very simple scale - whether it's fun or not. This one was fun for a ten. Fifteen years and several thousand films later, I look at movies from a completely different angle and "fun" is no longer at the top of the criteria that distinguish good movies from bad ones. Now I analyze them in more detail and I still haven't found any flaws in this one.It could be said that Quentin Tarantino's talent is a gift from God, but I think it's far more likely that he sold his soul to the Devil. The lowest rating I have ever given to one of his films is nine, and I'm not a "fanboy". "Kill Bill" is an action thriller, and for me action films are the lowest form of the seventh art. But Tarantino's ability to create an action movie which is also an art film is fascinating. The story is crazy and great, but the least important. Camera work, fight choreography, use of color and sound and feeling for details make this film a masterpiece of cinema. The cast is more than good, and Tarantino manages to get the most out of them. I doubt that any of these actors have ever given a better performance than in this movie. And, of course, music! Music is very diverse, totally unexpected, often even unsuitable for the scenes it follows, yet again in such a perfect (dis)harmony with the divine scenery and crazy choreography, that it all leaves the viewer breathless. For movies like this one even ten is depreciation.10/10

I watched this for the 1st time last night on television (11 May 2018).Pros: Michael Madsen receiving a grilling from his bossMei's temple trainingDaryl Hannah was hot as hell.Cons: Uma Thurman possessed zero grace and poor sword-wielding skills. She stomped about like Brigitte Nielsen in Red SonyaShe also cannot actThe long-winded (and equally annoying) speech made by David Carradine as he prepared a sandwich for his daughterThe dialogue was yawn-inducing. Stop droning on and get to the f_ckin' point.