Kevin's Watch

I started watching Kill Bill this afternoon (I've carefully avoided all spoilers in this topic) but was interrupted by mum coming home (I'm visiting for the weekend). Watching a film during an air raid would be easier than watching a film when my mum is in the building. She's one of those people who can bustle even while completely immobile, and there are few things that annoy me more than people fidgeting and shuffling around while I'm trying to watch a film. So I've had to postpone the rest til tonight, and I'll let you know what I think. So far, I'm in the middle of the anime bit about the little girl.

Well, Kill Bill Volume 1 is the most violent film I've seen since Natural Born Killers. It's like live action anime Live action anime crossed with a western But I quite liked it. I liked some bits more than others, and I wasn't as awestruck as I'd been led to believe. Meh.

I didn't think it was violent at all, as the level of blood and the fighting was to an almost cartoonish level. And if you think Natural Born Killers is violent, then you need to see Irreversible .

Also crossed with Monty Python (with the spurting blood), and the old Hong Kong kung fu flicks (the opening credits & music). That's what I think is so great about it, that he put all those references to different genres into it, and still told what I think is a good story. Anyway, Vol 2 is much less violent, more characterization, and a much bigger nod to the Hong Kong kung fu flicks. A great pair of movies.

I watched Kill Bill Vol 1. last night, and to be honest the cartoon violence gets quite tedious. Uma is good, but otherwise it is quite uninspiring (thankfully, I suppose one shouldn't be inspired to cut people up). Making it in two parts seems to me just a great way to make extra bucks. I haven't seen the second part yet, but I hope that it is significantly different in style to warrant it being in two volumes. Is there really a story??? Or just a 'theme'. Po-mo at it's least interesting.

Yes, Kill Bill vol. 1 is nothing but a highly stylized revenge flick, but vol. 2, as said before, really lays down the characterization and depth, etc., so maybe you won't be as disappointed with it.

It's strange, everyone I've spoken to up to now has put it the other way round - that Volume 2 is tedious and lifeless.

Yikes! Vol 2 is nothing like tedious and lifeless! There are conversations that put me on the edge of my seat! We assumed all hell would break loose at some point, but hoped we'd get to hear as much about why they each did what they did BEFORE it all went down.

Some good comic relief too. Eh Foul? The long, white beard?

Vol. 2 tedious and lifeless?? You cannot be serious! CovJr, are you sure those people didn't see Scooby-Doo 2 by mistake?

Well, "Kill Scooby Volume 2" doesn't sound like a bad idea

Yes! And now that you've said it, it seems so obvious!!

Matrixman wrote:Vol. 2 tedious and lifeless?? You cannot be serious! CovJr, are you sure those people didn't see Scooby-Doo 2 by mistake?

watched Kill Bill last night and loved it! I'm not a QT fan, (hated pulp fiction but I did like From Dusk til Dawn.)

Can't wait to see Vol 2 now!

Kill Bill 1+2 is definatly QT's best work to date, in my eyes. It incorperated his trademark wit and dialogue as well as tons of violence. And yet he was able to soften this by adding B&W and anime to cover a lot of the extreme fighting and blood shed. A very clever way to get around the censors if you ask me.Out of the two I enjoyed 1 a lot more because of the fight scenes but 2 was good as it pulled all the loose ends together and added closure.Put them both together and you have a brilliantly made film set. But that is also QT for you-Dusk Til Dawn showed this when he also tried for two different movie styles in one.
Granted his style of film making isn't for everyone and he does have a love for violence and bloodshed but still better that some of the rubbish that is filtered out of Hollywood these days like it is on a production line just out to make a few dollars while it is the 'in' thing.

But as I said-this is just my opinion

Well, I am so not into violent films it's not funny. But I finally gave part 1 a try this morning. Most of the violence was so over-the-top and cartoonish (the spurting blood like in Monty Python and the Holy Grail that I was able to handle it.

I actually thought it was sort of stylish and fun.

Pretty straight forward revenge film, though I have to admit I wish she had hurt those two rapists a bit more.

I'll try to watch part 2 later this week.

I haven't seen 1 yet, but 2 was great, and everybody I know likes 2 way more than 1.

I agree, Vol 2 was better. Glad you liked it, Duchess!

I suppose that if one needed to be cynical then you'd say they made two parts in increase the revenue stream; howeve, the story I heard is that when they were editing all their raw footage it was found there was way to much for single movie unless it would be like a four hr. thirty minute movie.

Like Duchess I have issues with violent movies. (I've mentioned before that, IMO, the violence in Kill Bill is less realistic than the violence in Sin City)

I believe that Kill Bill is classic because it will in some way inspire and motivate new filmmakers to make movies. IOW, just as the Godfather inspired current movie makers and films like the Great Escape and the Magnificent seven inspired Coppola's generation.

Tarantino can make crap films the rest of his life, but I will always revere him as the guy who made Reservoir Dogs and this bloody brilliant piece of cinema called Kill Bill. I love both volumes just about equally, but there's no doubt that the presence of a 2nd Volume adds to Kill Bill's greatness. I'm glad you had fun watching Vol.1, duchess! Hope you have just as much fun with Vol.2!

The issue of violence in movies is so broad and deep that it deserves its own topic. Where does one begin? To be simplistic about it, I admire the "artistic" violence of a film like Kill Bill or Sin City, but I have no patience for the witless, generic violence of, say, a teen-slasher flick like Friday the 13th, or any Steven Seagal action vehicle.

I prefer Vol 2, but not by a landslide. I love both! Pure genius! The obvious homage to many things (Python, Westerns, old kung fu flicks), while giving it all its own personality is brilliant!