Customer Reviews

Kill Bill - The Whole Bloody Affair

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1 star:		(3)

 

 

"There are consequences to breaking the heart of a murdering bastard."-Bill
Yeah, well there are similiar consequences to shooting the world's greatest assassin in the head at her wedding rehearsal without finishing the job, as Bill and his crew of murderers find out. Finally we get the real uncut, spruced up, reconfigured, and awesome martial arts masterwork from Quentin Tarantino as it oughtta be seen. Don't get me wrong, I LOVED the original cut(s) of the films and nobody does out-of-sequence storytelling better than Tarantino, but seeing the saga's two parts melded into one cohesive, linear story promises to be a real treat for those of us who can't get enough of Uma Thurman as a murderous assassin (known by many names but usually referred to as "The Bride") and her gore-filled quest for vengeance. "Kill Bill: Volume 1" was an awesomely gory extravaganza of excess, action, violence, and homages to Japanese cinema. "Volume 2" was an entirely different creature, favoring acting over action and fleshing out the world and the characters living in it with scenes straight out of westerns, a discussion about comics, the madatory strip club, a suprisingly low-key final confrontation, and plenty of the kind of dialogue you only hear in a Tarantino flick. Fusing the two into a single entity is something I've pondered with much excitement since the day I last walked out of the theater when "Volume 2" opened. Due to certain "problems" with Miramax's parent company, this cut was shelved for years and the planned theatrical run was killed. What makes "Kill Bill" such a one-of-a-kind experience is the unique blending of all of the things we film geeks love: samurai swords, gallows humor, yakuza gangs (namely the "Crazy 88's", named not because there are 88 of them, but because it sounds cool), kung-fu masters with long beards, stark horror (check out the burial scene straight out of a Wes Craven flick), femme fatales, pimps, and Samuel L Jackson (as a blind pianist) for starters. There is even an anime segment that is so brutal and harsh that it makes the stylized live-action violence that follows seem cartoonish by comparison. Then, of course, there is the vengeance; sweet, sweet revenge. All that is just a sampling of what this film offers. And let us not forget the soundtrack, a cornerstone of any Tarantino product. Where else could Uma Thurman cut down scores of yakuza ninja to the sounds of Motown after calling out their leader as a Native-American war chant sounds? There's also Johnny Cash (always in style), a Japanese all-girl rockabilly trio, and a whistled ditty that will stick in your head for weeks. Tarantino even lifted the theme song from the film he pilfered the most from (the legendary "Lady Snowblood") to really put us into the genre. The RZA, who has since become THE name in Asian-American crossover film scoring, proves an excellent collaberator and treats us to the best theme song this side of "Shaft" for yakuza boss O-Ren Ishii. No expense was spared to put us into the world of the genres Tarantino loves; and you can tell he wants us to love them as well. Nobody does soundtracks better, period. The standout performances are too numerous to mention, but major cred points to Quentin for bringing in the legendary Sonny Chiba for a brillaint role as a swordmaker, and Chiaki Kuriyama of "Battle Royale" fame who engages Uma Thurman in one of the greatest duels I've ever witnessed. This new cut promises to incorporate the small things we Americans missed out on the first time, including an entirely full-color version of the epic "Showdown at the House of Blue Leaves" (though the black-and-white segment was so classically cool, one would think it was a creative decision) among other things. So yeah, you could say I've been looking forward to this cut....for years....many long, long years. Whether or not it's a major improvement will have to wait and be seen, but I can assure you it will be a new way to see an already unbelievable filming accomplishment that I never could get enough of.

After I saw Kill Bill v2 in the theaters I made the conscious decision to hold off buying the DVDs till I could get both volumes in one, big, awesome special edition, and not as separate disks. Now at last it's here... or is it? I as type this review out I see that not only is "The Whole Bloody Affair" is NOT available from Amazon, but I don't even see it available from the second-hand/partner vendors either! At this time there isn't even so much as a "Notify Me When This Comes Available" option. So that begs the question, what good is a movie that can't be gotten in any way, shape, or form, no matter how great it may be?

Be that as it may, when this comes back to the market, (and it's bound to sooner or later, be as a DVD, HD-DVD, or BluRay), I WILL get this one no matter what.

*** NEWS UPDATE *** Not that Quentin is finished with Inglorious Bastards, he has publicly stated that he intends to work on getting the last few additional bits of The Whole Bloody Affair edited into the Kill Bill saga, and (cross your fingers, folks) finally get it on to the market, (according to an August 11, 2009 interview I just found). Our very long wait and all-due patience is about to pay off, people. =^)

"Kill Bill" was either a disaster-in-the-making or a one of a kind hit -- a sprawling revenge flick that had to be cut in two and released separately. But director Quentin Tarantino finally gets to show the world his epic salute to homages -- newly fused back together, as it was originally meant to be. Hallelujah.

Tragedy strikes the Bride (Uma Thurman) on her wedding day: The Deadly Viper Assassination Squad (DiVAS) attacks and slaughters the guests, the groom, and wounds the very pregnant Bride herself. Her former boss/lover Bill (David Carradine) finishes the bloodbath by shooting the Bride in the head. But despite his efforts, she isn't dead.

A few years later, the Bride wakes to find that she has been in a coma for a few years, and has been being used as a sex toy for rent. After recovering enough to move, the Bride gets a sword sharp enough to "cut God," and goes on a revenge spree against the people who wrecked her life and killed her baby, including Cottonmouth (Vivica A. Fox) and the deadly O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu).

In part one of "Kill Bill," the Bride continues working her way up the list until she gets to Bill himself, with the intent of getting revenge. But a monkey wrench is thrown into the Bride's revenge plans when she learns the truth about her baby and whether it died, and her conflict with Bill...

Don't expect cinematic posturing. "Kill Bill" is cinematic pop art, a loving tribute to cheesy martial-arts flicks and westerns. It's pure homage, untainted by typical directing methods and immensely entertaining if you switch off your critical faculties, refrain from asking "How the heck could that happen?"

It also isn't for the weak of stomach; over 450 gallons of fake blood are used in both movies. But the blood usage is more "Monty Python" than "Braveheart"; it's so over-the-top that it's gloriously sick rather than disturbing. So is the violence -- hacking dozens of people down without getting so much as a scrape is impossible, but it's sure fun to watch.

But though the first half is a stylized revengefest, it's not all gore, gouged eyes and severed limbs. The second half of the full movie is more character and dialogue-driven, in between gory killings, and explores the pasts of the DIVAS. Additionally, Tarantino throws some brilliant one-liners like "Those of you lucky enough to have your lives take them with you. However, leave the limbs you've lost. They belong to me now."

Uma Thurman, with her yellow tracksuit and katana, rules the screen as the Bride (name revealed in the second half, but she'll ALWAYS be the Bride). She cuts down people by the dozen, but it's impossible not to appreciate her. And the best supporting performances come from Liu as the ruthless O-Ren, the underrated Chiaki Kuriyama as an evil schoolgirl, and most importantly, Carradine as the quiet, ruthless Bill -- a primo performance.

Little is known about the exact details of the "Whole Bloody Affair" presentation, but apparently it's going to include some interesting new reworkings that Tarantino wasn't permitted to do before -- two bonus discs with (presumably) loads of extras, and some additional and/or alternate material that would make it flow more like one movie. No complaints there.

It's weird, it's creepy, it's brilliant, and somehow it's vastly entertaining. Tarantino's special triumph in "Kill Bill -- the Whole Bloody Affair" is to somehow rope his vast store of movie homages into a gory, action-packed storyline, and one that is one big bloody thrill.

First & foremost Kill Bill 1&2 are the my favorite Q movies, period. This is about "The Whole Bloody Affair" offer from Hastings Co for this most sought after Special Edition.....IT DOES NOT EXIST! What I got in the mail was a used copy of KB 1 & 2 in the yellow cardboard box. Nothing different, these are the rated R theatrical releases. Suffice to say I am VERY DISAPOINTED! 30BUCKS FOR 2 USED MOVIES THAT GO FOR 10BUCKS A PIECE NEW? Good news is Hastings is refunding me in full, but they state that they have no copies of TWBA in stock & are not getting anymore. I can only surmise they send these used copies out hoping to dupe folks or as most wont bother to make the call ,just eat the deal. Maybe one day Q will release the definitive edition....I just have to wait.

I've waited 5 years for this DVD to come out. Back in 2006 they promised it would come out in time for Christmas. It didn't. Last I heard, Tarantino was saying May 2009. Nope. I just bought the two individual movies at Target today, because I just don't care any more. QT should be ashamed of himself for not keeping his fans up to date on whats going on with this hotly anticipated item he's been promising since 2003.

I've owned the Japanese import of "Kill Bill, Vol. 1" for nearly two years and it's spectacular! The House of Blue Leaves showdown is in full color with about a half dozen extra action shots, including a spectacular backflip by Uma, her first encounter with the "kid" Crazy 88 (which explains her shock at his second appearance near the end), and some mind-bending additional gore. It's just unbelievable. This version also contains extras not on the American version, including fantastic behind-the-scenes production footage where you see raw takes and Uma and company practicing the fight scenes.

This version is easy to own, too. If you have a region-free DVD player (they're incredibly cheap from Internet retailers), just order the Japanese version of "Kill Bill, Vol. 1" from the many DVD Internet importers. You can have it now and not have to wait! Believe me, it's worth it.

This Review is Dedicated to my Amazon Friends....

Tarantino is a fan of Asian cinema; samurai films and martial arts seem to have taken a hold on the acclaimed filmmaker. Kill Bill volumes 1 & 2 is his tribute to Asian cinema, even the Shaw brothers logo shows up in the beginning of the films. The MPAA in the U.S. forced Tarantino to cut down the blood and violence to gain an "R" rating. I had to buy the Japanese region-2 releases to see the uncut NC-17 version. Finally, "KILL BILL: The Whole Bloody Affair" is set to be released on dvd with the Japanese version in one dvd set that includes a version where footages from volume 1 and two are edited together.

Volume 1- Four years after taking a bullet in the head at her own wedding, The Bride (Uma Thurman) emerges from a coma and decides it's time for vengeance! Having been gunned down by Bill (David Carradine), and his deadly "viper" squad of assassins, it's a kill or be killed fight that she is determined to finish.
Uncut version includes:
1) Almost 6 minutes more of additional footage
2) Extended Oren-Ishi origin (animated)
3) The Showdown in the "House of Leaves" is in full color, displaying its whole bloody glory. While the theatrical cut's Black & White footage seemed stylish and cool, it was originally intended to be seen in full color.
4) Extended fight footages; scene with the Bride lopping off limbs and heads of a "crazy 88" member. The Bride also cuts a member in half (vertical dismemberment, I'm making up terms).
5) Includes an extra encounter with the young Yakuza member
6) Gogo Yubari's (Chiaki Kuriyama) stabbing of the pervert in the bar is shown in all its bloody details.
7) The continuity issue with Sophie Fatale; The Bride cuts off both her arms. In the theatrical release, the Bride didn't cut off the other arm, which is why I wondered how come Sophie Fatale didn't seem to have arms when she rolled down the hill of dirt.

Volume 2- After crossing off two names in her death list, The Bride takes aim at Budd (Michael Madsen) and Elle Driver (Daryl Hannah), the remaining survivors from the squad of killers who betrayed her four years ago. It all leads up to the climactic confrontation with Bill, The Bride's former master and the man who ordered her execution.
However, Bill has an ace up his sleeve...
Uncut version includes 1 minute of additional footage. There is an extended cantina scene after the end of the film and the Japanese version has more blood and gore in the encounter with Elle Driver.

This 4-disc set is expected to include a re-cut version that includes footages from both volumes edited together. I guess Tarantino listened to some fans and critics that the film shouldn't have been cut in two parts.
The first volume of the Kill Bill franchise is actually a commentary on how Tarantino loves Asian cinema, Spaghetti westerns and maybe even Japanese Anime. While volume 1 definitely feels more like a chambara film with stars of Chinese Wuxia mixed in (Gordon Liu), Sonny Chiba and legendary fight director; Yuen Woo-Ping (Fearless, Kung Fu Hustle). Kill Bill is more a melting pot of everything you love about Martial Arts Asian films. The Soundtrack taken from Asian greats; such as "The Green Hornet", "Lady Snowblood" and many others. (I could write an essay on this)

Volume 2 feels more like a Tarantino film. The raw attitude, dialogue and grittiness of the proceedings exudes coolness. It also explores the rivalry between The Bride and Elle Driver as well as her relationship with Bill. Tarantino's films may be a bit "talkie" at times but it didn't really hurt the film either. I wonder how he draws the line in the amount of references he puts in a movie.

The only complaint I have with "Kill Bill" is that the finale isn't as climactic as I wanted it to be. The encounter with Bill may carry a lot of emotional sense but the showdown isn't what it was built up to be. Thankfully, the bloody fight with Elle Driver saves the film for me. Anyway, with this minor complaint, Kill Bill is a near-excellent outing for Tarantino. I don't care if you like volume 1 better than volume two or vice versa. Kill Bill may not be Tarantino's best, but I'm really happy that the uncut versions is finally set for U.S. audiences. (I do hope that this will be the last postponement, originally scheduled for Christmas 2007)

I will update this review once I see the re-cut edition. (I guess this is more of a shout-out than anything else!)

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! [4 ½ Stars]

Hey it may not be out yet but all you need is the Japanese DVDs. It's an epic length film with an intermssion minus the tags and cliffhangers. Just end Vol. 1 right after the Bride's speech to Sofie Fatale ("they'll all soon be as dead...") take a little break and then start Vol. 2 by skipping the previously on tag (go straight to Chapter 2)

Finally we get to see the much talked about and seldom shown full version of Kill Bill as Tarrantino originally intended. Now if we could only see the dvd release of Grindhouse in the original double bill format!

It took QT and company 3 years to release this film in its full version. That's quite a wait especially with the 2 "decoy" versions out there already (which most of us having probably caved in and bought by this time, sadly). But I'm sure the wait will be worth it!!

To finally get the chance to see this epic masterpiece in its completed version is a very exciting proposition. I'm hoping there's quite a few scenes that we haven't seen already.

Note to QT: be sure and make Inglorious Bastards in the mold of Kill Bill and not the weak Death Proof. Return to your roots QT.