Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
Silly caucasian girl likes to play with samurai swords.
Presentation:
Epic, funny, glorious bloodshed, martial arts, this is one of the most fun films of all time if you can stomach the violence. It’s of no surprise it’s Quentin Tarantino, whom up until this point never revealed his inspirations from Japanese cinema. Everything from the cinematography and wardrobe, iconic soundtrack, memorable lines, humor and classic revenge story is flawlessly executed with exacting Tarantino personality. Although I loved Vol. 2 for it’s incredible backstory and hilarious relationship with Pai Mei, this one is the clear winner. Sometimes the best experiences are the most simple and how to execute is equally as important as the content. Fight scenes are cartoonish yet satisfying with occasionally cheesy though always amusing dialogue. This film can be a barometer, you probably won’t get along with those that are offended by this film. Or maybe American sensibilities are just not your cup of tea.
Conclusion:
The only people that won’t like this film are pretty much uptight critics that only watch movies for serious storytelling. But what makes this film great is that it defies those pretentious notions, making a cathartic entertaining movie for the fans as opposed to critics. At its core it’s just a flick, one of the best flicks, but it’s done so well that it transcends above the genre. It’s very clear Tarantino doesn’t care what critics thinks of this film, it’s unapologetic and made for himself. And it’s a devilishly guilty pleasure like the comic books and fast food that most people pretend they don’t like. Sure, it may not have gravitas of a serious drama, but this film never tries to be that. It’s consciously over the top violence, because it’s so much fun, Jan!
Recommendations
War isn’t about who’s right, rather who’s left.