Kill Bill, Volume 1 [DVD] [2003]

There is, of course the issue of violence and gore associated with this film. Anybody who can laugh at Monty Python's infamous Black Knight scene can cope with it but even still will be shaking their heads in a mix of emotions somewhere between sheer horror and pure hilarity. One scene within the climactic battle scene was even purposely put into black and white in order to keep an R rating. Overseas in countries used to that level of ferocious death, like Japan in particular, it was shown in full bloody color, while if seen over here by our children's minds the entire project would've had an NC-17. It's truly a shame when true art can't be expressed to the world in its full glory (or whatever you'd personally want to call it). Another problem about the film is the cutoff in the middle of the script. Howard Stern said that he would've loved to see it in its complete four-hour length, and even though salivating can be good I'm a little tired of waiting after this many months.

Still, despite the little concerns, this is a fantastic movie. And yet, there is a certain magic about it that's almost impossible to explain. From the deep benevolent yearning to pick up The Bride and cuddle her with her bloody teeth, to the way you can truly relate to those times when hate has surged through your body like a powder keg as it does hers, you can feel this movie. Not in a Braveheart sort of way with naught but bagpipes to carry the emotion, but in a true and real way. Uma Thurman's already been nominated for a Golden Globe in this. Hopefully she'll win and when the next installment (which will completely outdo the first, I already cheated and looked at the screenplay) comes around I'll be the first in the theater for the midnight showing. And oh yeah, buy the DVD.

From thereon, it's blood and limbs all the way. To those of you who don't like too much violence, I am sorry to say that Kill Bill is not the film for you. A shame as I would like to recommend this film to everyone. Tarantino has delivered another trump card in film making here and it would be a travesty to miss out on it.

You may have gathered that the film is good, but why? Well there is a whole list of plus points ranging from the well orchestrated bloody fight scenes to the equally bloody but informative Anime sequence half way through the film. The dialogue is as clever as it is witty and blunt. A high percentage of the films dialogue is spoken in Japanese with subtitles which doesn't distract you from the film as much as some people think it does. As always I find the Tarantino soundtracks to be a tad quirky but they do always work. The soundtrack here is no exception. Included are songs from Nancy Sinatra, the theme from the Green Hornet and the RZA tune from the trailer. You know the one. Knowing nods and winks to past samurai films, costumes and fight scenes make this an entertaining film all round.

There will be some of you who just don't get the whole idea of the film. From the cheesy opening feature presentation, through the Anime and the spouting bloody limbs everywhere. It's homage to films gone by, mainly Japanese and it's brilliant.

Overall, yes it is bloody and yes there is foul language and yes there are disturbing scenes. But yes it is one of Tarantino's best films and brings something a little different to the screen. Buy it, rent it, whatever...just watch it.