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 As
the saying goes, good things come to those who wait.
At
least, that’s the case with maverick director Quentin Tarantino.
Even though I’ve been a huge fan of his ever since I first saw
“Reservoir Dogs” back in 1992, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit
that I was disappointed by last year’s “Kill Bill Vol. 1” – his
first film since 1997’s under-rated “Jackie Brown.” Sure, his
loving homage to the chopsocky kung fu flicks of the 70’s was
an incredibly stylish and action-packed bloodbath, but there really
wasn’t much to it beyond a thinly veiled plot, a ridiculously
high body count and a killer soundtrack.
Well,
I guess Tarantino was saving the best for last, for not only is
“Kill Bill Vol. 2” superior to “Vol. 1” in just about every way,
but it just might be as good as 1994’s “Pulp Fiction” in terms
of sheer brilliance. The dialogue is sharper, the humor is more
ironic, the performances are stronger and there’s a lot more emotional
depth to the characters. This is vintage Tarantino, and while
the violence is toned down quite a bit when compared to the first
movie, it still features plenty of knock-down, drag-out fights
to keep you on the edge of your seat.
The
Bride (Uma Thurman) has already defeated two of her former colleagues
from the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad, but the worst is yet
to come. Still left on her “death list” are Budd (Michael Madsen),
the washed-up veteran of the squad, Elle Driver (Daryl Hannah),
the crazy one-eyed assassin who’s obsessed with finishing her
off, and of course, Bill (David Carradine), the former lover who
left her for dead. Nothing will stop the Bride in her quest for
vengeance, but when she finally reaches the end of the road, she
makes a shocking discovery that will force her to re-evaluate
the whole purpose of her deadly mission.
Even
though “Vol. 1” and “Vol. 2” were shot as one long film before
being cut in half, they both feel like two completely different
movies (and while you don’t need to see “Vol. 1” to appreciate
“Vol. 2,” it certainly helps). After seeing the Bride slice and
dice her way through the first film, we finally get the backstory
as to how she became Bill’s lethal weapon and why she eventually
tried to leave him. This is where Tarantino shines as a director,
as he seamlessly blends the martial arts and western film genres
while letting key scenes play out with his penchant for clever
dialogue. He also gives the characters a previously unseen complexity,
and as a result, you can’t help but feel much more emotionally
vested in the entire epic story.
For
a filmmaker who has only 5 movies under his belt, it sure is amazing
how much passion, dedication and intensity Tarantino gets out
of his actors. Uma Thurman once again delivers a physically and
emotionally grueling performance that’s all over (and under) the
map, and after being buried alive and kicking the crap out of
Daryl Hannah, she still ends up being more beautiful and vulnerable
than ever. Hannah also gives an amazing performance and seems
to relish playing such a deliciously evil foe, while Michael Madsen
makes his down-and-out character much more likable than he deserves
to be.
Ultimately,
the film’s standout performance belongs to none other than Bill
himself, “Kung Fu” legend David Carradine. After casting career-resurrecting
roles for John Travolta in “Pulp Fiction” and Robert Forster in
“Jackie Brown,” Tarantino continues the trend by casting Carradine
as the wise, charismatic and deadly Bill. Since he was heard,
but not seen, in “Vol. 1,” Carradine practically steals every
scene he’s in with confident gusto, and he gives a soulful performance
that should all but ensure a spot on next year’s Oscar ballot.
If
“Kill Bill Vol. 1” was the tease, then “Vol. 2” is the payoff.
This is what “Pulp Fiction” fans have been waiting for, and not
only will it hold up under repeated viewings, but the real thrill
will be in watching both movies back-to-back on the eventual “Kill
Bill Complete DVD Collection.” It’s enough to make you hope that
Tarantino doesn’t wait another six years to make his next movie,
but even if he does, I suppose that it will be worth it.
After
all, good things come to those who wait.
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