Kill Bill - Vol. 1
2003
Quentin Tarantino returns to the director's chair with KILL BILL after a six-year hiatus. The movie proves once again that he is a hyperactive visionary and the master of cinematic coolness. Split into two volumes by Miramax in order to ensure that Tarantino's vision would not be compromised (and presumably to sell more tickets).. Read more
| Starring | Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox, Daryl Hannah |
|---|---|
| Director | Quentin Tarantino |
| Genres | Action/Adventure, Thriller |
loading...
Kill Bill - Vol. 1
Quentin Tarantino returns to the director's chair with KILL BILL after a six-year hiatus. The movie proves once again that he is a hyperactive visionary and the master of cinematic coolness. Split into two volumes by Miramax in order to ensure that Tarantino's vision would not be compromised (and presumably to sell more tickets), KILL BILL: VOLUME 1 tells the first half of the sprawling story, which is quite simple at first glance. A female assassin, referred to as "The Bride" (Uma Thurman), is attacked on her wedding day. Dead are her soon-to-be husband and unborn child. However, she doesn't die. Four years later, she wakes up from a coma looking for revenge. Although her ultimate target is her former boss, Bill (David Carradine), it's quite clear that The Bride is saving the best for last. And before she can track him down, she must methodically take out the minions who ruined her life. VOLUME 1's targets include Vernita Green/Copperhead (Vivica A. Fox), Sofie Fatale (Julie Dreyfus), and the heartless O-Ren Ishii/Cottonmouth (Lucy Liu). Using a blessed sword handmade by Hattori Hanzo (Sonny Chiba), The Bride begins her relentless assault.
Turning up the style and energy levels that he kept under a threshold with 1997's JACKIE BROWN, Tarantino's obvious glee and reverence for the underground kung fu action pictures of the '70s, and Sergio Leone spaghetti westerns, makes for a stunning visual spectacle. Employing split screens, slow-motion, an anime sequence, and his trademark ultra-hip musical selections, Tarantino's film dares viewers to be unimpressed.
| Starring | Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox, Daryl Hannah, Julie Dreyfus, David Carradine, Michael Madsen, Michael Parks, Sonny Chiba |
|---|---|
| Director | Quentin Tarantino |
| Studio | WALT DISNEY STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 51 mins Blu-ray: 1 hr 51 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Action/Adventure, Thriller |
| Language | DVD: English Blu-ray: English |
| Released | DVD: 16 Apr 2004 Blu-ray: 03 Nov 2008 Production year: 2003 |
| Format | DVD |
-
Critics' reviews (5)
View all -
Quentin Tarantino marshals a bewildering amount of multi-genre references into a hypnotically entertaining whole in this violent martial arts revenge drama. The former video shop worker's love of everything from Brian De Palma split screens and Eurotrash horror to Hong Kong exploitation and Ennio Morricone music finds its way into this guilt-by-association cinematic celebration. Giving a searing performance, Uma Thurman plays one of the Deadly Vipers, a crack assassination squad led by the eponymous Bill (David Carradine). Left for dead on her wedding day, she falls into a coma, only to awaken four years later swearing revenge on her traitorous co-workers. Vol 1 deals with two members on her Death List Five: Vernita Green (Vivica A Fox) and O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu). Dripping with bloody ultra-violence and using startling flashbacks, knowingly fake dubbing and a quite brilliant animé section, Kill Bill is both a daring experiment in sampled cinematic language and scrounged style, and a gloriously enchanting work of neo-art in itself.
-
Tarantino takes his audience back to the martial arts movies of the 1970s, with gushing blood and severed limbs, a bigger budget and American actors. This first part is just one fight after another, culminating in a spectacular blood-fest which, because o
-
Most helpful member's review
View all -
71 out of 81 people found this review helpful
a stylish effort but disgraceful profiteering!
Kill Bill is an visually impressive film, and clearly displays Tarantino's impeccable taste for influential cinema. The jury is still out on whether Tarantino is adept at ripping off various genres or providing a flawless homage. In any case, let's hope a few of his fans hunt down the source of his inspiration.
The main flaw of Kill Bill is an unforgivable decision to release the film in two parts. I suspect this is disgraceful profiteering on the part of Miramax.
What could have been a genuinely accomplished film is flawed but an unexpected and illogical halt in story (to pick up in Kill Bill 2). Whatever you think of Tarantino, his films are never boring. The audience would have sat down for the entire movie and he should have let them. Can you imagine Scorcese releasing Casino Part 1 and Part 2, or Lord of the Rings as six movies? Tarantino should have stuck to his original plan. Then again, now there's twice the box office, twice the DVD sales, twice the album sales etc.
Sadly, in my humble opinion, this obvious gain has halved Taratino's ability to deliver a masterpiece. -
Most recent members' review
View all -
8 out of 9 people found this review helpful
You'll come back for more...
Volume 1 of this excellent film will make you root for Uma and her silly yellow jumpsuit. Evoking sympathy for 'The Bride' very early on in the film (the first 30 seconds), Tarantino then proceeds to show you why you should be cheering for every kill she makes.
Perfectly executed, and as with all his other works, this film will keep you quite happily occupied for the entire duration, as not a dull moment passes. Not as much quirky dialogue as 'Pulp Fiction', and not as much depth in the plot as 'Jackie Brown', but just as much brutal violence as both of them, plus 'Reservoir Dogs'!
The beautifully animated section in the centre of the film may make a few viewers go 'huh?' When it first appears, but as an animator myself, this is the part of the movie which stuck out for me as being sheer genius.
As always, Tarantino provides you with the songs you will be humming, whistling, singing, or just plain 'Woo-Hoo'-ing for the next few weeks, and the soundtrack once again is perfect in adding atmosphere.
Get Volume 2 as well... -
News and features
View all
Hilton: 'I'll act for Tarantino'
- 25 May 2009
Socialite Paris Hilton wants to return to the big screen - but only if she can work with legendary director Quentin Tarantino. Reality TV star Hilton has scored a number of minor movie roles including 2005 teen horror House of Wax and more recently in last year's (08) Repo! the Genetic Opera. Hilton loves Tarantino's new picture Inglourious Basterds and is adamant he is the only filmmaker who will be able to properly showcase her acting talents. She says, "I've always preferred doing reality... Read more
-
Image gallery
View allShowing 1 to 4 of 4
-
-
More like this
View allShowing 1 to 4 of 20
Related user collection
The Good Stuff (157)
72% from 101 members
Buy from the LOVEFiLM shop
-
-
- Kill Bill Vol.1 - BLU-RAY Version
- Blu-Ray: £11.93
Free Delivery - RRP £26.49 (you save: 55%)
Quentin Tarantino returns to the director's chair with KILL BILL after a six-year hiatus. The movie proves once again that he is a hyperactive visionary and the master of cinematic coolness. Split ... -
-
-
- Kill Bill - Vol. 1
- DVD: £6.93
Free Delivery - RRP £19.79 (you save: 65%)
Quentin Tarantino returns to the director's chair with KILL BILL after a six-year hiatus. The movie proves once again that he is a hyperactive visionary and the master of cinematic coolness. Split ... -