Review of Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004) by Eli B — 21 Jun 2015

****.

Now this is more like it.

As much as I enjoyed Volume 1 of Quentin Tarantino's 'Kill Bill' saga, I couldn't help but feel something was missing. The action, the style and the amazing soundtrack were all present, but the script was slightly lacking. In Volume 2, some much needed character development is finally realised, and the notorious Tarantino dialogue has returned. I felt much more invested this time round, in both the character of 'The Bride' as well as her endeavour. Bill is fleshed out, and the whole revenge plot finally takes on some deeper meaning, rather than just a bunch of cool fight scenes. Those fight scenes, by the way, are still absolutely there, but they feel more grounded; which I also appreciated. She doesn't take on a room full of people and emerge as the last woman standing like in Vol. 1. Instead, she appears much more vulnerable, and the fights are all one-on-one; making them far more engaging. I still have a problem with the way Tarantino has structured the story - in terms of how some parts are told out of order. It worked really well in some of his other movies like 'Pulp Fiction', but it doesn't quite have the desired impact here. Certain scenes, like Vol. 1, are also in black and white, and the reasons for this - whether it be stylistic or otherwise - were a poor choice because it does take you out of the movie. Luckily, in Vol. 2, it's far less prevalent. The performances are all great, and by the end Uma Thurman has really come into her own as this character. It was definitely a step above the previous instalment, and I would highly recommend seeking it out.