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KILL BILL VOL. 2 Send This Review to a Friend
Unlike the initial "Kill Bill," the follow-up isn't drenched in seemingly endless bloodletting and martial arts combat. There is a helping of action and violence, to be sure, but this time it doesn't seem to be the point of the film. Quentin Tarantino already proved that he could parody the genre by outdoing it, and he does know how to make a movie, even if it is one that can turn off an audience. His customary inventiveness is found in Kill Bill Vol. 2," but more geared to storytelling.
After a recap in black and white to remind us what happened before, and perhaps to clue in those who missed the first film, writer-director Tarantino gets down to the business of following Uma Thurman as the Bride on her road to seek revenge and kill Bill, played with evil cool by David Carradine. Along the way she is nearly killed herself by Budd (Michael Madsen), who has his own agenda.
There is a particularly creative and harrowing scene. Bride is tied up, put in a coffin with only a flashlight, the lid is nailed down and the coffin is buried in a deep grave with the earth poured on top of it. The viewer gets the sense of being placed inside the coffin with her and the sound of the earth dumped on the lid is unnerving. Maybe not even Houdini could get out of a spot like that. Ah, but Houdini never studied with the marital arts master Pei Mai (Gordon Liu). When we watch scenes of grueling lessons in which Bride gets taught to repeatedly poke her bleeding fists through wooden boards, we can expect what is coming. But there is still the earth to crawl through.
As in the old serial "The Perils of Pauline," the lady always finds a way. When Tarantino adheres to scenes with smart camera technique to match, the film is fun to watch. Its most trying section is when Bride and Bill finally confront each other in lavish surroundings and chat away with pompous, posturing dialogue as a prelude to the actual face off. It may be in corny movie tradition, but if you are looking for credibility, the likelihood of so much palaver before getting down to basics is nil.
Otherwise, "Kill Bill Vol. 2" is quite enjoyable in comparison with the initial onslaught that I could have done without, despite recognizing Taranatino's talent. Daryl Hannah is amusing as Bride's nemesis Elle, who must be dispatched. Michael Parks is also good as the nasty Estaban, who has a stable of women. The film also makes much of Bride as a mother. Almost needless to say, watching Uma Thurman is a treat in itself, and she is so striking here that it is difficult to look at anyone else. A Miramax Films release.
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