In October 2003, Writer/Director Quentin Tarantino returned to the film scene after a six-year lull following his 1997 “Jackie Brown.” With a unique cast including the likes of David Carradine (“Kung Fu”), Daryl Hannah (“Splash”), Lucy Liu (“Charlie’s Angels”) and Uma Thurman (“Pulp Fiction”), Tarantino delivered “Kill Bill, Vol. 1.”
The film combined intense martial art combat, a clever, revenge-driven storyline, and of course a smooth, retro feel characteristic of Tarantino. Now he has delivered the sequel and conclusion, appropriately named “Kill Bill: Vol. 2,” taking his series, and sequels in general, to an entirely new level.
The film picks up where the last film left off, with The Bride (Thurman), seeking out two more of the four assassins that left her wedding party in a bloody massacre. At the end of her quest lies the the object of her revenge, assassin ring leader Bill (Carradine).
In Vol. 2, Tarantino takes every aspect of Volume 1 to the next level. Action sequences, though not as frequent as the first installment, are presented with much more emotion, passion, and intensity. The plot is also somewhat different than the first, having more of a character-driven base and explaining some of the origins of the main characters.
The Kill Bill series has presented a new kind of film for Tarantino. Compared to his previous cult classic “Pulp Fiction,” he concentrates less on his trademark ’70s look and pays tribute to older martial arts flicks with a kung-fu feel.
Another notable difference was that “Kill Bill,” particularly in Vol. 1, involves an extensive use of gore, which has generated quite a reaction among critics and moviegoers. While the gore is extensive, its abundance is a product of Tarantino’s unique cinematic sense and somehow takes the experience further.
While “Pulp Fiction” was the cornerstone of Tarantino’s reputation, “Kill Bill” is a series of epic proportions. In the story’s beginning (Volume 1) and its climatic finale (Volume 2), the story spans the globe and features a variety of characters who all fit together to make the series an unstoppable epic.
When all is said and done, the supreme fight scenes, the exquisite story and the incredible performances by Thurman on-screen and Tarantino off-screen make “Kill Bill: Vol. 2” a masterful conclusion to a well-executed series; at the very least, it is a powerful, fun film experience.
A+