Review of Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) by Matthew R — 06 Apr 2013

Kill Bill volume 1 (2003) directed by Quentin Tarantino, and based on a character co-created by Tarantino and star Uma Thurman whilst they were filming the earlier film "Pulp Fiction", is a brilliant but grotesquely ultra-violent revenge fantasy exploitation flick that draws heavily on, and pays homage to Asian pop culture especially Martial Arts films, Asian Crime Cinema, and Manga/Anime.

Uma Thurman is perfectly cast as 'the Bride'. She's a tough, no nonsense, ex-assassin determined to get revenge on the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad and it's head, Bill, who killed 9 people at her wedding and beat her up, shot her and left her for dead.

The rest of the cast are also brilliant and includes Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox, Daryl Hannah, Julie Dreyfus, Sonny Chiba, Michael Madsen and David Carradine as Bill (but you don't fully see him yet).

Tarantino's direction is perfect and very visual and with a keen eye for detail. Much is made of Tarantino's knowledge of and appreciation of cinematic history but I think he is also a great enthusiast of music as well and like all his films, Kill Bill vol.

1 has a great soundtrack that perfectly encapsulates the mood of each scene. The violence is a little too graphic and over the top and some scenes are hard to watch but I don't think you could have made this film without the graphic violence.

I actually quite enjoyed this movie.