MoveeTime - Now Playing - Kill Bill Vol. 1(2003)

MoveeTime Review / August 7, 2005: This is my review of the movie Kill Bill Vol. 1, made in 2003. First I would like to warn this movie is not suitable for children. This is due mostly to it's strong language and graphic violence. This movie revolves mostly around Bill's (David Carradine) assassins, The Deadly Viper Assassin Squad where the members are nicknamed after snakes. Unfortunately one of his gang is with child, and leaves the fold. That person is "beeeep" :-) played by Uma Thurman. Since I discovered the great acting talents of Uma Thurman, I have been a total fan of hers. Loved her role in "The Avengers" hated her role in "Pulp Fiction" then loved her again in Kill Bill. I have yet to see "Be Cool" so time will tell. You can find the full cast of Kill Bill, and other facts of this movie HERE

Kill Bill consists of a cast of well known people, and I think they mostly did it for the fun of it all. It is based on a short story written by *Q" Quentin Tarantino, and "U" Uma Thurman called "The Bride" The screenplay however was written by Quentin Tarantino aka "Q" who also directed the movie. It was released by Miramax Films, produced by Lawrence Bender, and executive producers, Bob and Harvey Weinstein. The music is a sort of potpourri of different classic songs, including "Nobody But Me", a remake of "Bang Bang" originally done by Sonny & Cher, and one by a group I had never heard before now, doing their version of the song "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" originally done by Eric Burdon and the Animals. The group's name is Santa Esmeralda, a Latino / Disco music style group. I have since bought their version, and play it to death. Later you will understand why :-)

Now to the movie: The movie begins with an opening sequel in black and white of Uma aka "beeep" aka "Black Mamba" in a really bloody mess. Bill is there talking to her..(you won't see his face actually, just hear his voice) explaining why he is so sadistic. She tells him her baby belongs to him, and Bill shoots her. Guess he didn't hear her comment :-) Then the opening credits roll, and then on to the next sequence in color.

Black Mamba arrives at the home of Jeanne Bell (Vivica A. Fox), the now retired assassin, Vernita Green aka Copperhead residing in Pasadena, California. This I think was one of the best choreographed girl / girl fights to ever emerge from Hollywood. Even the WWE would be impressed with it. Applause to Keith Adams, and his stunt crew for this one. But, Black Mamba prevails in the end, and let's just say it gives breakfast cereal a whole new meaning. I would like to also mention the part of Jeanne Bell's daughter Nikki, played by Ambrosia Kelley. She did not have many speaking lines, but she definitely made up for this with her expressions. A really cute kid.

Next the movie goes back in time, and you meet Elle Driver (Daryl Hannah) aka California Mountain Snake. Yet another of Bill's gang bent on destroying Black Mamba, but Black Mamba is saved by the bell in this one also. Sort of speak. (an no I don't mean Jeanne Bell) This movie's time portal will skip around a lot, but that is one of the things that makes it so unique.

Last comes the cinematics pitting Black Mamba against O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu) aka Cottonmouth, the leader of the Tokyo underworld. There is a brief "Japanimation" sequel about the life of O-Ren Ishii, then a sequence about Black Mamba's sword, and then it moves on to the Showdown at House of Blue Leaves. This is the final battle for part one. Here you meet Julie Dreyfus as Sofie Fatale, and Chiaki Kuriyama as Gogo Yubari. After a lot of sword fighting in the club, comes an awsome scene where Uma Thurman and Lucy Liu have their showdown. The scenery in this sequence is beautiful, and may remind you a bit of the scenes from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. This is where you will also hear the song by Santa Esmeralda in the background. So if you ever get the song, and listen to it without the movie. I can assure you these scenes will pop right back in your head :) This movie as I said is campy. Campy meaning that in the future, this film will become another cult classic loved by many. You won't see Bill in this movie. You will have to get Kill Bill 2 for that, and Budd played by Michael Madsen does only a cameo speaking appearence at the end. Finally, I want to mention Sonny Chiba as the sword maker, Hattori Hanzo. I like this guy :-) This movie is definitely a great addition to your library.
Running time approx: 1 hour, 51 minutes / Rated: R // Re-Edited 9 / 19, 2006

Official Kill Bill web site.

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