Kill Bill 2

[fpw]

I saw KB2 yesterday and loved it -- LOVED it. The attention to detail is fabulous -- the over-exposed black-and-white sequences, the faded colors in the Pai Mei flashback (which included a super-fast eye zoom that was obligatory in old school kung-fu movies).

I can't believe some people thought it slow and talky. Relative to KB1, yes, anything is slow and talky, but if you hadn't seen KB1 you'd call KB2 a wild ride.

As for talky, I did not experience a single restive moment (and I have the attention span these days of a gnat). Bill's Superman analysis floored me. I've read comics for half a century and I never saw the fundamental difference between Superman and other super heroes. And it's not just talk -- it relates to the story.

Some people thought the end didn't pay off. Huh? She'd already sliced and diced and gouged her way through almost 4 hrs of film. Her final revenge called for something more.

I can't wait for the deluxe DVD set. This is a keeper.

[Marc]

I agree with you. KB2 is a great movie. I'm really excited to be able to watch these two as they were originally meant: one long movie. I would say one of the best moments in KB2 is when she's but in the coffin and being buried alive. Great use of sound which created a very eerie, very real feeling of claustrophobia. This series is probably one of the best to have come out in the last few years.

[Brett]

I agree wholeheartedly. This was the second time (KB1 was the first) that I realized halfway through a movie I was grinning like a drooling idiot. 100% pure entertainment. I watched my KB1 dvd the day before I saw it. I just watched it again last night and am planning to go see KB2 again very soon.

I loved Carradine and continue to be a huge fan of Michael Parks. His dual roles in 1 & 2 confirm he's a perfect fit for Tarantino vehicles (as if From Dusk Till Dawn hadn't already done that).

Can't wait to see what bonus material the inevitable deluxe edition will have.

As for the coffin scene, it was very well done and it reminded me of one of my favorite movies, THE VANISHING (the Dutch version, not the lame U.S. remake).

Hats off to Mr. T. for another wild ride.

[jimbow8]

I loved Carradine and continue to be a huge fan of Michael Parks. His dual roles in 1 & 2 confirm he's a perfect fit for Tarantino vehicles (as if From Dusk Till Dawn hadn't already done that).

Can't wait to see what bonus material the inevitable deluxe edition will have.
I am not 100% sure which one was Michael Parks (I think I know), but did you notice he played the character Earl McGraw in Kill Bill Vol 1 and in From Dusk Til Dawn?

I am definitely waiting until a Deluxe Version comes out on DVD.

[Scott Hajek]

I can't wait for the deluxe DVD set. This is a keeper.
Aren't all of QT's movies keepers? The special editions of Pulp Fiction and R.Dogs are really nice.

[Blake]

Add me to the list of happy viewers. :) KB2 was excellent. My favorite overall scene is probably still from KB1 (the big fight with the Crazy 88s), but I think it was a huge mistake to break the film up anyway. It really belongs in one piece! I agree about the Superman speech. As cool as the fights were (the one with Black Mamba was great fun... I'm trying to restrain myself from calling it "a real eye-opener"), I think the dialogue was the most riveting thing about KB2.

I unfortunately went on a Friday night, and my fiancée and I had to put up with a bunch of high-school-age kids who were all too vocal about their displeasure with the film. I was mesmerized the whole time, so I just don't get why they had a problem with it. It's as if you can't expect people that age to enjoy anything that requires more attention than a music video.

Blake

[Blake]

I am not 100% sure which one was Michael Parks (I think I know), but did you notice he played the character Earl McGraw in Kill Bill Vol 1 and in From Dusk Til Dawn?

Is it supposed to be the same character? It's been a while since I've seen FDTD, so I don't remember what happened to him. (Great movie.)

Blake

[jimbow8]

Is it supposed to be the same character? It's been a while since I've seen FDTD, so I don't remember what happened to him. (Great movie.)

Blake
I am not sure if it is supposed to be the same character. QT has a habit of using similar names throughout his films. The obvious ones are Vincent and Vic Vega. There are several others (which don't immediately come to mind - I can find some if you want) like the name Alabama being used in Reservoir Dogs and in True Romance.

[fpw]

Is it supposed to be the same character? It's been a while since I've seen FDTD, so I don't remember what happened to him. (Great movie.)

Yes. Parks plays Texas Ranger Earl McGraw in both films. A big surprise for me was learning he also played the pimp, Esteban Vihaio, in KB2.

[Kenji]

I saw Kill Bill 2. Yes,this is great action movie!

Uma Thurman,David Carradine,Daryl Hannah,Michael Madsen...everybody great actors and actress.but most great is Gordon Liu. I like Kung-fu action.

I think it will makes part3. California mountain snake is still alive! :D

BTW, at this openig B/W scene, church pianist was Samuel L. Jackson. Somebody noticed him? ;)


Kenji Asakura

[Bastard]

BTW, at this openig B/W scene, church pianist was Samuel L. Jackson. Somebody noticed him? ;)


Kenji Asakura


Yeah, I particularly liked that cameo. btw, I know that Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez are good friends and often have exchanged creative ideas and homages in their films, but FDTD is technically a Rodriguez flick, even with the Tanantino input...
I also liked the Superman analogy. I've read comic books all my life and in a conversation almost 2 years ago, with horror comic writer Mitch Hymen (yes, that really is his last name), we discussed the exact same thing. That made the use of the same topic in KB2 that much more poingant for me. Oh, keep an eye out for his latest creation "Bubba the Redneck Werewolf" to hit the shelves. I have a copy of his 1st issue from Brass Ball Comics, but he was being courted by Image Comics when I enlisted in the Corps...

[Maggers]

...the scene [from Kill Bill Vol. 2]... reminded me of one of my favorite movies, THE VANISHING (the Dutch version, not the lame U.S. remake).




I've not yet seen a reference on this board to THE VANISHING, the original version from the Netherlands, not to be confused with the tame and tepid US remake.

THE VANISHING (Spoorloos) is a horrific movie, and there is not an ounce of blood or gore. It plays on your nerves and the final scene is the most awful I've ever seen. It is on my list of top 10 films of all time, though I am not sure I could sit through it again. It shook me to my core.

I recommended it to a friend, back when it was released in the US. He saw it and wouldn't speak to me for a week because, as he said, he hated being that horrified.

I've written frequently about how easily I forget the plot or scenes in movies and books. Not so with THE VANISHING. This is a movie I've never forgotten.

[Mike Hanson]

It plays on your nerves and the final scene is the most awful I've ever seen. It is on my list of top 10 films of all time, though I am not sure I could sit through it again. It shook me to my core.

I couldn't agree more. I saw the original in a mostly empty movie theatre and I found the denouement to be relentless unrepentent. After hearing a few rumors and reviews about the american remake, I refused to go see it.

Mike

[APhew]

I couldn't agree more. I saw the original in a mostly empty movie theatre and I found the denouement to be relentless unrepentent. After hearing a few rumors and reviews about the american remake, I refused to go see it.

Mike

The American Remake was a joke compared to the original. Everything that made the original suspenseful and unrelenting was thrown out the window in the remake. Jeff Bridges character made no sense whatsoever when compared to Lemorne in the original. It just boggles the mind how they could take a brilliantly made film and completely f#$k it up for American audiences.

The problem lies mostly with joe-blo moviegoer. Studios know that most people would rather be dipped in a vat of boiliing fat than have to actually "read" while watching a movie. If they go the dubbing route nobody would take the movie seriously. Therefore: Remake.

I know a lot of people who:
a) Don't want those stupid black bars taking up their TV screen
and
b) Don't want to have to "read" their movies

At least DVD opened the way to making widescreen and subtitles more mainstream, but I fear there is a long way to go.

[Maggers]

...I know a lot of people who:
a) Don't want those stupid black bars taking up their TV screen
and
b) Don't want to have to "read" their movies

At least DVD opened the way to making widescreen and subtitles more mainstream, but I fear there is a long way to go.

I also think the general American movie going audience doesn't like and doesn't want to see movies that are not tied up neatly with a bow, movies that leave you hanging or, heaven help us, movies that might make you THINK about what was just seen. And most importantly, the general American movie going audience wants a happy ending.

Phooey on all of that! Give me dark, uncertain, unhappy endings. Bring on the thoughtfully provocative movie.

[Mick C.]

The original of THE VANISHING was amazing, one of my favorite thrillers. It's right up there with WAIT UNTIL DARK.

When I was a kid, Michael Park's TV series THEN CAME BRONSON was one of my favorites.

[sublime1983]

Looks like I'm alone on this one. I didn't think Kill Bill Vol 2 was a good title. I thought it should have been called Bill Won't Shut the Flip Up. So annoying. Couldn't get into it. A completely different movie from the first. When I was going into it expecting another kick-butt movie, and saw this...a little disappointed.

[KRW]

Looks like I'm alone on this one. I didn't think Kill Bill Vol 2 was a good title. I thought it should have been called Bill Won't Shut the Flip Up. So annoying. Couldn't get into it. A completely different movie from the first. When I was going into it expecting another kick-butt movie, and saw this...a little disappointed.

I can see your point of view. It's not even arguable! If I had to wait between the two after seeing the first, I would be expecting a major fight movie. Fortunatly I waited and bought both DVD's and watched them back to back. With no expectations or building up the movie between the two, I felt they complamented each other and it was just one storyline. Almost perfect I thought. I wish everyone had watched it like I did! Truly amazing!


KRW

[nijimeijer]

I got the DVD for Christmas, and I'd heard all the "no action", "too talky" comments (while deftly avoiding spoilers!). However, I thought the movie was fantastic. As a drama about "supermen", it was wonderful. So many people found it unbelievable, or too dramatic--I thought it wonderful. I mean, yes, they weren't wearing the latex, or shooting beams from their eyes, but they were operating at different levels than your average Joe. They had their own rules, codes of conduct, everything. They were villains, all of them, and they knew it.

It was as much a story about "Immortals" as any vampire movie, Highlander movie, superhero story or what have you. In that context, the ending, taken as is, wasn't a letdown.

[Scott Miller]

I also think the general American movie going audience doesn't like and doesn't want to see movies that are not tied up neatly with a bow, movies that leave you hanging or, heaven help us, movies that might make you THINK about what was just seen. And most importantly, the general American movie going audience wants a happy ending.

Phooey on all of that! Give me dark, uncertain, unhappy endings. Bring on the thoughtfully provocative movie.

Maggers if you haven't seen Audition yet, you should. It is unlike anything I have ever seen; it is very unsettling.

[Mike]

undefinedundefinedundefined

What I don't understand is why Darryl Hannah didn't turn back into a
mermaid when Uma Thurman shoved her head in the toilet. Splash 2 (heh,
heh, heh).

[Kenji]

undefinedundefinedundefined

What I don't understand is why Darryl Hannah didn't turn back into a
mermaid when Uma Thurman shoved her head in the toilet. Splash 2 (heh,
heh, heh).


Hahahaha! :D

Mike, that's cracked me up! Oh, I remember the movie, Splash. That Darryl Hannah was beautiful! But now, she is killer.......times have changed. :rolleyes: