It's amazing how films now are being split into two parts.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,
Breaking Dawn... but from what I know is that the only two-part masterpiece from the last decade is Quentin Tarantino's
Kill Bill.
Vol. 1 (not part 1,) is an introduction to The Bride, played by Uma Thurman. She has woken up from a coma, been raped by dirty hospital workers, and her baby is missing. It's shocking, I imagine, but she picks up her ears and realizes the only person to gain vengeance from is Bill, the father of her missing baby.
Bill was the leader of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad, which the Bride took part in. Not surprisingly, The Bride, code-name Black Mamba, left to raise her and Bill's baby and is soon to wed with a record store owner. Assuming this upsets Bill, he shoots The Bride, resulting in her 4-year coma.
Probably the best action scene in
Vol. 1 (and the whole film together,) is when The Bride fights the Crazy 88 in Japan. It's a stylized fight, with Uma jumping off walls, Japanese men in Green Hornet like masks, and Lucy Liu watching from above. It's disappointing that Quentin had to split the two films, resulting with almost all action in the first film, and talking the second.
Vol. 2 is the masterpiece that binds the two together. There's flashback to the Bride, now referred to as Beatrix Kiddo, wedding rehearsal. It's a black-and-white segment that looks just fine. Throughout this part, Kiddo goes on to kill Bill, his brother, and his assistant.
There's a flashback with the Bride training with Pai Mei, a sterotypical Chinese kung-fu master. It's a funny performance, with him hollering unsubtitiled Chinese gibberish.
Disappointingly, the final fight with Bill is almost talking, and it's a little weak compared to the Crazy 88 finale in
Vol. 1. The conclusion, however, is very heartfelt. It's amazing how two flawed films like
Vol. 1 and
Vol.2 stand together. I'm glad to say both together complete Quentin's original dream.
Kill Bill, Vol. 1- 3/4 Stars
Kill Bill, Vol. 2- 3.5/4 Stars
Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair (The two films put together,)- 4/4 Stars
In my opinion, this is one of the most pointless categories. Not surprised to see that J. Edgar didn't make the cut. Hugo did, and I think the Academy is giving some much deserved love to Martin Scorsese.
