Review of Working Girl (1988) by James H — 30 Sep 2008

[b]The Shawshank Redemption (1994)[/b].

One of the best films of the 90s. Like a fine wine, it seems to get better with age. What exquisite filmmaking, and Morgan Freeman, one of my favorite actors, gives one of the best performances of his career. I've lost track of how many times I've seen this movie. And still, the last scene brings me to tears every time.

[b]Kill Bill, Vol. 1[/b].

Kill Bill is a disappointing mess. (Please note that I rated Pulp Fiction 10/10.) This is just a really bad movie. Tarantino has chosen to give us style over substance, doing away with little unnecessary details like plot and character. Even the fight choreography, that is presented so well in the opening scene, falls flat by the end when the monotony of the interminable gore-fest in Tokyo had me checking my watch. Has Tarantino forgotten what an editor is for? And since the ultimate outcome of the dual between "the bride" (whose proper name is pointlessly and loudly bleeped any time someone speaks it) and O-Ren Ishii is known from the end of the first scene, there isn't even the smallest bit of suspense to sustain the viewer's interest. The characters are all two-dimensional at best. And Tarantino emphasizes their "cartoon character" nature by even showing one character's backstory as an animated cartoon. The only aspect that really matters is that they are all vicious and ruthless killers. And I don't intend to waste any more of my time watching any more of them in the concluding chapter. Whether the bride without a name ends up killing Bill or Bill kills her, I couldn't care in the slightest.