My favourite mistake. (Kill Bill Vol. 1 (DVD))

Member Name: TheDrowningMan

Product:	Kill Bill Vol. 1 (DVD)
Date:	31/10/03 (177 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Brilliant script, as weve come to expect!, Great fight scenes, Wonderful storyline.

Disadvantages: Having to wait for Vol.2!!!!!!

My mate and I went to the cinema, after deciding we would really like to see 'Finding Nemo'. Much anticipation ensued as we bought tickets and were ushered to the screen on which it was showing. During the half hour of trailers and adverts, (which, as we are told, are all relative to the main feature), we were settling down to watch one of disneys best films this year. 'ahhhh at last, the films starting' i thought to myself, but just as i did 'This version of Kill Bill Vol.1 is certified as 18' flashed on the screen! Confused and slightly disappointed at the fact we were in the wrong film, we gave a look as if to say ' I didnt want to watch this film, but im not gonna make a fool of myself by telling anyone i wanted to watch Finding Nemo instead'.

But this turned out to be one of the better/best mistakes ive made! (The worst being to actually drink some of that Tango Strange Soda that they were giving away on the way out.)

Now, ive heard good things about this movie, so i wasnt too disappointed, but i was all psyched up to watch a nice heartwarming disney film, not a blood and guts revenge movie! but alas, i was more than pleasantly suprised.

The film starts a few years in the past, at a wedding, only there were more than your average number of dead relatives lying around. In fact the only person still alive is the badly beaten pregnant Bride. Something then happens that wakes you up to the film youre watching, a man named only as 'Bill' shoots her in the head.

This really sets the story. As we discover next, she survived the gunshot wound, and after 5 years in a coma, is now on the rampage to avenge the murders on that fateful day, including that of her unborn baby.

Uma Thurman plays 'The Bride', and she does so quite equisitely. The film is obviously set around her, and in the usual Tarrantino way, is not shown in true chronological order, but it is also set in chapter for
m, which really is an excellent idea, and makes the film almost read like a book, or a comic.

'The Bride' was once a member af an elite assassination gang called 'The Deadly Viper Assassination Squad', consisting of 'The Bride' A.K.A Black Mamba (Uma Thurman), 'O-Ren Ishii' A.K.A Cottonmouth (Lucy Liu), 'Elle Driver' A.K.A Californian mountain snake (Daryll Hannah), Vernita Green' A.K.A Copperhead (Vivica A Fox), 'Budd' A.K.A Sidewinder (Michael Madsen). They all answer to the boss man, a mysterious figure named 'Bill' (David Carradine).

The Bride, (curiously we arent told her real name, and when it is ever mentioned, its beeped out! Interesting), like any warm hearted criminal, wanted to get out and settle down. But as we can see from the way the wedding turned out, 'Bill' wasnt having any of that, and sent the other members of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad to 'do her in'.

We watch her as she sets out to eliminate the people of her Death List 5, ultimately culminating in 'Bill' himself. The directing is very original, and the almost 'comic book' style of action is very endearing. If you dont like the sight of blood, maybe you should steer clear. (im not saying i DO like the sight of blood, but you know what i mean). In true Amine fashion limbs are removed, and blood gushes at an alarming rate. In one scene Tarrantino actually uses amimated Amine (?) to show the history of 'O-Ren Ishii'. This is very very effective and flows beautifully, showing the true class of directing on offer here.

The action scenes are teriffic, the martial arts fighting of Uma Thruman and the rest of the gang is awesome to watch, especially as there isnt a CGI machine in sight, and the swordmanship is awe inspiring!

Tarrantino, and of course the great acting of Thurman, Liu and others, makes this film so enjoyable, and not heavy like other su
ch films (the Crow springs to kind, even though i really like that movie). Not to say it isnt acted seriously, some parts will really jerk your tears, such as the scene where The Bride awakens and realises she has lost her baby, but Tarrantinos writing is truly epic. Some might say there is so much needless violence and gore, but i say that its essential to the way Tarrantino is trying to portray the story in a wonderful comic strip style.

I dont waish to say anymore about the storyline, as i wouldnt want to spoil what should be one of your best cinematic experiences, but just to say its absolutely awesome, and not to be missed! Its definately my favourite Tarrantino film, and one of my all time favourite movies. There really is just one drawback, and thats having to wait for Vol.2 to arrive, and i truly cant want.

Definately go and watch it, everyone, but just make sure youre in the right screen, or you might end up having to endure two hours of Calendar Girls *shudder*.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the film!!! Andy.

Summary: