|
Kill Bill - Volume 2 (2004) [Blu-ray]
|
Rated: |
R |
Starring: |
David Carradine, Sonny Chiba, Vivica A. Fox, Daryl Hannah, Samuel L. Jackson, Lucy Liu, Michael Madsen, Bo Svenson, Uma Thurman, Michael Jai White. |
Director: |
Quentin Tarantino |
Genre: |
Action | Thriller |
DVD Release Date: 09/09/2009 |
| Kill Bill 1 | Kill Bill 2 |
Quentin Tarantino's sprawling homage to action films of both the East and the West reaches its conclusion in this continuation of 2003's ultra-violent Kill Bill Vol. 1. Having dispatched several of her arch-enemies in the first film, The Bride
(Uma Thurman) continues in Kill Bill Vol. 2 on her deadly pursuit of her former partners in the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad, who, in a furious assault, attempted to murder her and her unborn child on her wedding day. As The Bride faces
off against allies-turned-nemeses Budd (Michael Madsen) and Elle Driver (Daryl Hannah), she flashes back to the day of her deadly wedding, and we learn of how she was recruited to join the DiVAS, her training under unforgiving martial arts
master Pai Mei (Liu Chia-hui), and her relationship with Squad leader Bill (David Carradine), which changed from love to violent hatred. Originally planned as a single film, Kill Bill grew into an epic-scale two-part project totaling
more than four hours in length; as with the first film, Kill Bill Vol. 2 includes appearances by genre-film icons Sonny Chiba, Michael Parks, Larry Bishop, and Sid Haig; Wu-Tang Clan producer and turntablist RZA and
filmmaker and composer Robert Rodriguez both contributed to the musical score.
Editor's Note: "The Bride" (Uma Thurman) gets her satisfaction--and so do we--in Quentin Tarantino's "roaring rampage of revenge," Kill Bill, Vol. 2. Where Vol. 1 was a hyper-kinetic tribute to the Asian chop-socky grindhouse flicks that have been
thoroughly cross-referenced in Tarantino's film-loving brain, Vol. 2--not a sequel, but Part Two of a breathtakingly cinematic epic--is Tarantino's contemporary martial-arts Western, fueled by iconic images, music, and themes lifted from any source that
Tarantino holds dear, from the action-packed cheapies of William Witney (one of several filmmakers Tarantino gratefully honors in the closing credits) to the spaghetti epics of Sergio Leone. Tarantino doesn't copy so much as elevate the genres he loves,
and the entirety of Kill Bill is clearly the product of a singular artistic vision, even as it careens from one influence to another. Violence erupts with dynamic impact, but unlike Vol. 1, this slower grand finale revels in Tarantino's trademark dialogue
and loopy longueurs, reviving the career of David Carradine (who plays Bill for what he is: a snake charmer), and giving Thurman's Bride an outlet for maternal love and well-earned happiness. Has any actress endured so much for the sake of a unique
collaboration? As the credits remind us, "The Bride" was jointly created by "Q&U," and she's become an unforgettable heroine in a pair of delirious movie-movies (Vol. 3 awaits, some 15 years hence) that Tarantino fans will study and love for decades to
come. --Jeff Shannon --This text refers to the Theatrical Release edition.
Storyline: The murderous Bride is back and she is still continuing her vengeance quest against her ex-boss, Bill, and taking aim at Bill's younger brother Budd and Elle Driver, the only survivors from the squad of assassins who betrayed her four
years earlier. It's all leading up to the ultimate confrontation with Bill, the Bride's former master and the man who ordered her execution! Written by Anthony Pereyra {hypersonic91@yahoo.com}
Reviewer's Note: Reviewed by Ben Williams on September 6, 2008 -- As Quentin Tarantino made his way through the production of what was originally planned to be a single Kill Bill film, it became painfully obvious that he had created enough
footage for two full length movies. Tarantino wisely realized that he would be selling his story short by limiting it to one super-long film. Thus, Kill Bill as a two part story was born. This turned out to be somewhat of a happy accident as
dividing the Kill Bill saga into two films allowed for him make two vastly different movies that give the entire series a more epic feel.
After the cliffhanger ending of Kill Bill: Volume 1, Kill Bill: Volume 2 begins by introducing the second set of players from the "Deadly Viper Assassination Squad. We'll finally get a look at the titular Bill (David Carradine), his lazy
brother Budd (Michael Madsen) and Ellie Driver (Daryl Hannah), who was seen briefly in the first film. Most of the other players from the first flick will pop up in a flashback or two, but Kill Bill: Volume 2 is really more about The Bride's (Uma
Thurman) checkered past as well as her motivations for leaving the world of professional assassins. While Kill Bill: Volume 2 has its fair share of action sequences, this is a film more focused on character development and dialog. Where Kill
Bill: Volume 1 was exciting and action packed, Kill Bill: Volume 2 is the heart and center of the story.
I think many viewers of Kill Bill: Volume 2 were a bit taken back with how vastly different this film is from Volume 1. Tarantino really emphasizes character development and dialog here - - something that was there in the first film, but was
overshadowed by all of the action sequences. Tarantino, once again, jumps around in time in Kill Bill: Volume 2. We travel back to The Bride's training sessions with martial arts master Pai Mei (Gordon Liu), an ornery old cuss with a strong dislike
for Caucasians. The Pai Mei sequences are some of the most enjoyable in the film as The Bride spends years training and eventually winning his respect. We also experience some more tender moments as scenes involving Bill and The Bride focus on their
romantic past. The Bride's quest for revenge is infinitely more powerful when we are given so much more information on who she really was as a person. She's not just some hell-bent killing machine, she's a real person who experienced fear, love and
pride.
Kill Bill: Volume 2, for me, has the feel of a western. The first half of the film takes place in the desert shouthwest and that choice of location adds to the decidedly western tone of the picture. The movie rolls along, zig-zagging forwards and
backwards in time, while the plot steadily moves toward the eventual confrontation between Bill and The Bride. Upon viewing Kill Bill: Volume 2 for the first time, I half-way expected for Bill and the Bride to have a showdown in some abandoned old
west town. Fortunately, that's not how the flick plays out, but it wouldn't have been much of a stretch for things to go that direction. Musically, Kill Bill: Volume 2 differs from the first film in its adherence to more traditional musical cues
provided by Tarantino's good friend Robert Rodriguez. The change in musical style gives this film an entirely different feel from Volume 1. Kill Bill: Volume 2 is a fitting and wonderful end to a very compelling story. Don't hate it because it's
not action-packed. Love it for its unique and stylistic approach to telling a very entertaining story. Highly recommended.
Kill Bill: Volume 2 serves as the final installment of Quentin Tarantino's epic Kill Bill saga. Taking an abrupt turn from the frenetic action and relentless pace of the first film, Volume 2 settles down and allows the plot to progress at a
more relaxed tempo. Character development is key in Kill Bill: Volume 2 and Tarantino has done a masterful job of breathing life into seemingly one-note personalities. On the video side of the equation, Disney has given Kill Bill: Volume 2
the royal treatment and this reference quality transfer is a true sight to behold. Audio is also expertly presented with an enveloping soundstage and occasional flourishes of action and excitement. Kill Bill: Volume 2 is an exceptional Blu-ray and
comes with my highest recommendation!
Cast Notes: Uma Thurman (Beatrix Kiddo/The Bride [Black Mamba]), David Carradine (Bill [Snake Charmer]), Michael Madsen (Budd [Sidewinder]), Daryl Hannah (Elle Driver [California Mountain Snake]), Chia Hui Liu (Pai Mei/Johnny Mo [as Gordon Liu]),
Michael Parks (Esteban Vihaio/Sheriff Earl McGraw), Perla Haney-Jardine (B.B.), Christopher Allen Nelson (Tommy Plympton [as Chris Nelson]), Bo Svenson (Reverend Harmony), Jeannie Epper (Mrs. Harmony), Claire Smithies (Clarita), Clark Middleton (Ernie),
Larry Bishop (Larry Gomez), Sid Haig (Jay the Bartender), Reda Beebe (Lucky).
IMDb Rating (07/24/14): 8.0/10 from 397,621 users
IMDb Rating (06/29/09): 8.0/10 from 153,636 users Top 250: #230
Additional information |
Copyright: |
2004, Disney / Buena Vista |
Features: |
A Quentin Tarantino Movie
• The Making Of
• "Damoe" Deleted Scene
• "Chingo" Musical Performance |
Subtitles: |
English SDH, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean |
Video: |
Widescreen 2.40:1 Color Screen Resolution: 1080p |
Audio: |
ENGLISH: Dolby Digital 5.1
ENGLISH: PCM 5.1
FRENCH: Dolby Digital 5.1
|
Time: |
2:17 |
DVD: |
# Discs: 1 -- # Shows: 1 |
UPC: |
786936767148 |
Coding: |
[V4.0-A5.0] MPEG-4 AVC |
D-Box: |
Yes |
Other: |
Writers: Quentin Tarantino; running time of 137 minutes; Packaging: HD Case.
|
|
|