rating:
(out of
4 stars)United States; 2004
Directed by Quentin Tarantino; produced by Lawrence Bender; written by Quentin Tarantino
Starring Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Lucy Liu, Daryl Hannah, Michael Madsen, Vivica A. Fox, Julie Dreyfus,
Quentin Tarantino's great exercise in visual style continues, but this time we have a story. Things are explained, characters developed. This is the main reason 'Kill Bill: Vol. 2' is better than the first part, although I feel the films should be seen together as a whole. 'Kill Bill', especially then, is a modern masterpiece, praising many things we have seen before.
In 'Kill Bill: Vol. 1' we met The Bride (Uma Thurman), getting even with O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu) and Vernita Green (Vivica A. Fox), both part of Bill's team that left her for dead in El Paso, Texas. That means in 'Vol. 2' she still has to deal with Elle Driver (Daryl Hannah), Bill's brother Budd (Michael Madsen), and Bill (David Carradine) himself. The first part was heavy on action, light on dialogue, character development, and story. This second part makes up for that.
The dialogue is one of Tarantino's strong points, and here he uses it to the fullest. Hannah, Madsen and Carradine bring their lines somewhere between the sadistic and the entertained, probably because they are both at the same time. The three are more interesting villains than Liu and Fox. Although I liked the part with martial art legend Sonny Chiba in 'Vol. 1', this film brings another legend, Gordon Liu, giving us one of the best parts in the entire 'Kill Bill'-saga.
Like I said there is less violence and blood here than in 'Vol. 1' but when it comes it is as good as it gets. The choreography is once again flawless and Tarantino knows again how to get some laughs at the most unexpected violent moments. As a single film 'Kill Bill: Vol. 2' is the best film from 2004. Combine the two halfs and it becomes very hard to find its equal.