Review of Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004) by Luke K — 08 Feb 2016

The second half of Tarantino's pulpy revenge epic sees the conclusion of Beatrice Kiddo's tale of bloody vengeance in a super satisfying manner, matching the intensity, stylistic ingenuity and fun of Vol 1. In my experience, many people consider this film to be somewhat disappointing, but I couldn't disagree more.

Complaints tend to focus on the slower pacing, and that none of the action sequences match the excitement of Vol.1's insane Krazy-88 battle. Maybe I'm just a sucker for Tarantino's meticulous storytelling, but I can very easily look past this structural difference. Vol.2 is definitely slower paced than 1, but in no means does this make it less thrilling.

Everything from the opening scene of Bill and Beatrice at the "Massacre at 2 Pines" to Budd burying her alive, to her final confrontation with Bill is so engrossing. The action spectacles stand out even moreso in their sparsity, with The Bride vs. Elle Driver in Budd's RV being my favourite. And while the final confrontation with Bill may not be as relentlessly bloody or action-packed as the film maybe foreshadows, I've grown to admire and love this choice so much. The choice to make the climax of The Bride's revenge so subversively quiet and dialogue-driven was a bold but very smart choice. The graceful quietness and subtlety of letting these two characters calmly speak face to face resonated way more emotionally than any final sword fight could've - its impact made only more powerful in contrast to the film's louder moments. And Tarantino's dialogue is at its very best here, with Thurman and Carradine expertly conveying all the nuances and extreme complexity of this messed up relationship.

All in all, Vol.2 is an amazing finish to The Bride's revenge tale, smartly using quieter moments to flesh out her character and relationship with Bill, allowing the film to hit emotional beats and reach a depth that wasn't hit in Vol.1. It's action spectacles were as well crafted and it's aesthetic was as rich as ever, and the ultimate conclusion of Beatrice and her daughter is as refreshingly touching and heartfelt as a Tarantino movie gets.